Brittany and Guernsey

You also might consider dropping off the car in Brittany, and flying into Guernsey. It has been years since I have done so, but I understand there are more than one cheapo airline that service St. Peter Port. (GCI) I know that Flybe goes out of Brest to the Island and that Aurigny flies out of Dinard.

I've planned five ferry trips from France to the Channel Islands and on to Englamd. Two of the five were cancelled (one of thise being from St. Malo to Guernsey. From where I sit, flying seems more reliable, though I realize my luck has been unusually bad. On the other hand, my trip was a long one, so I was in a better position to roll with the punches.

Bus service on Guernsey is quite good, and of course there are also taxis. A rental car will make you more efficient in Brittany, but I was able to manage with trains and buses. I saw Dinard and Dinan while staying in St.-Malo, and I day-tripped to Fougeres and Vitre from Rennes. I didn't try to get to Mont-St.-Michel.

Not aware of any flights from Brest to here. From Brittany its only Aurigny flying from Dinard and Condor sailing from St Malo, which i am sitting on at the moment! No delays! Do come and visit its a beautiful island very walkable, one side to the other 1.5 hours and a good bus service. Also next May Victor Hugo house should be re-open after a major restoration. Its an odd and amazing house and is where he wrote Les Mis. You wont see anything like it anywhere else in the world, really puts the appartment in Place des Vosges to shame. But do check on line re opening hours!

One other thing, have done three trips by ferry this summer with no delays, 3 trips by plane one of which was cancelled so ment i could not use the return. Boats do get effected by high winds, but planes get effect by fog (everywhere not just islands). You roll your dice and take your chance. But for me a 2 hour ferry is the ultimate relaxed travel, especially when leaving historically stunning St Malo and arriving in the beautiful St Peter Port!

Only one more thought on Guernsey, Dave. Do NOT partake of the local drink called "scrumpy"! It is a rough home made version of hard apple cider made from left over apples. I once shared a gallon jug with a couple of jolly chaps while sitting on the seawall of St. Peter Port. While the cost was low, and the taste not really bad, death would have been most welcome the next morning.

Thanks, nukesafe, that is good advice!

Scrumpy is not a local drink it is from Cornwall, local Rocquettes cider is delicious and should definately be tasted and enjoyed!
Note, in britain cider is alway an alcoholic drink, what you call hard cider isnt a thing, cider is cider and apple juice is apple juice! It is always high alcohol, like beer, so yes if you drink a gallon jug (where did you get that?) in the sun, a hangover is definatwly coming your way! Its always sold in pint glasses or bottles
No idea what 'left over apples' are

Saint Malo is one of the good bases to visit the north coast of Brittany, while being a place to reach Guernsey.
You may easily reach St Malo with a direct TGV train from Paris Montparnasse (or even with a TGV train from the airport Paris Roissy CDG, with a change of train in Rennes). Around St Malo you may have day trips to many interesting places (Dinan, Dinard, Cancale, Rennes, Mont St Michel, Fougères...) : for some of these places, it is rather easy with public transportation, within an hour. Of course renting a car gives you more freedom and the ability to reach places for hikes along the coast or towns inlands.

Korriganed, thank you for the helpful information. One question...if we rent a car in Brittany, would either Rennes or St. Malo be better as a base, especially with regard to hotel or BandB accommodations?

I think you'll probably find lodging to be less expensive in Rennes. Which area is better logistically depends on your planned day-trip destinations, and probably also on your decision about mode of transportation.

I based in both cities and used public transportation last year, visiting Dinan and Dinard from St. Malo and Fougeres and Vitre from Rennes. I think hitting all those places from a single base via train and bus would mean more time in transit than most tourists would accept, and it would involve a lot of repeated trips along the same stretches of road or rail lines, which really tries my patience.

I have to accept your local expertize on scrumpy, Caro, but the only place I ever encountered it was in Guernsey many years ago. I think the product in which I overindulged was home made because it was in white gallon containers that looked like they had held milk in a previous life. I was there visiting my kids during a rather contentious divorce, and had nothing to do in the evenings. Just wandering along the seawall and met these two jolly chaps who introduced me to their lethal witches brew. Tasted fine, but I did note bits floating in the jug.

After that, i confined my evenings' activities to the cosy bar of my hotel, where I limited my alcoholic consumption to much more refined products of Scotland in the company of another gentleman who had an interesting story. He was staying there as he was sort of a tax refugee from Britain; stayed in Guernsey and visited his kids in England on weekends. Since we had similar family problems we got on quite well, and he told me how it was to work for a band. Turned out he was John Bonham, the drummer for Led Zeppelin; a group of which I had never heard, at the time. Nice chap.

Never new there was a Led Zepplin link! And yes that must of been ages ago, as acording to Wikipedia he died very young in 1980.

Hi Nukesafe,
Got curious and asked around, seems the whole of Led Zepplin re located to Jersey (the other island) for tax reasons, so he must of been doing a mini break!!!!!

Right, Caro, I really am an old fart. That was in 1974! Have always intended to get back to Guernsey before I take my big dirt nap, as that island cast a spell over me. Jersey, too, as I stayed there for some time while outfitting a boat I bought.

Definately not an old fart!!! And we would love you to visit again and i promise to introduce you to delicious cider😁