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Bienvenue à La Belle Vilaine
Self-catering, holiday cottages on the South Brittany/Loire Atlantique border in France.
Friendly family run gite accommodation where dogs are welcome.
BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS - Invaluable Local Knowledge FOC for our customers.
BLUETHROAT, BLACK KITE, HOOPOE ........
Gîte rental from £245 for one gîte/week (each gite sleeps up to 6)
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS - let us help you find some amazing wildlife ....... Swallowtail, Camberwell Beauty, Red Squirrels .......
On-site Activities |
| We offer several on- and off-site activities and advice. Guests are welcome to join in, but are under absolutely no pressure to do so! Activities are based upon our own hobbies and areas of knowledge and are subject to our availability and the weather. Many previous guests have very much appreciated this facet to our service:- |
| Wildlife |
- Detailed information about the best local wildlife sites;
- On-site moth-trapping (don't dismiss moths as small brown things - you'll be amazed!);
- Butterfly and dragonfly safaris - guided by Elaine and her trusty butterfly net (on- and off-site);
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| Dogs - all dogs on-site must be kept under strict supervision and on a lead when going to and from the car and when in the large garden at the front of the gites. We also apply this rule to our own, highly-trained dogs when we have guests. Guests with and without dogs have always got-along very well in the 4 years since we opened - for this very reason. Each gite has its own private garden (fenced and screened between the gites) where the dogs can be free and there are endless opportunities for walks just outside the gate. |
- Advice on beaches where dogs are permitted - all year round;
- Detailed local walks (many from the door-step of the gite - our dogs often take a swim in the river en-route);
- Agility and doggy dancing displays - on-site (featuring Gracie, Ficelle and Haïyla and sometimes Harry the cat!);
- If you have a dog, we offer you the opportunity to try-out our agility course (on-site and under supervision); Elaine is also available for obedience, clicker training, agility training and beginners' dance training.
- If you compete in agility already, we will do our best to organise for you to compete in a local competition during your stay (subject to notice, available places and an entry fee of around 12 euros). Previous guests have enjoyed this - a chance to see the differences in standards, organisation and rules here in France.
We have over 20 years of experience training our own dogs and Elaine has passed dog-training certificates to a high standard with Gracie both in the UK and in France - the latest in November 2009 "Moniteur en Educaion Canine Premier Degré" - delivered by the French Kennel Club - qualifies her to teach dog training courses and to act as examiner for the Certificat d'Aptitude à l'Education Sociale du Chien, which is the French equivalent of the Good Citizen's Dog Scheme award. These certificates are proof of her ability to train her dogs to a high standard - the French award allows her to compete in agility in France. Elaine has also done several displays with our dogs (including the youngest - from when she was just 5 months!) - these displays include events for local dignatories, dog clubs and local primary schools. Elaine is also frequently asked by local people (word of mouth) to give advice on puppy training - which she gladly gives free of charge with good results and happy dogs and owners. We supervise to ensure that the equipment is being used safely and correctly. Dogs under 18 months and very large dogs will have restricted use of the equipment for obvious reasons. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that their dog is fit to take part and has no underlying health problems which would be aggravated by such exercise.
PETS PASSPORT SCHEME
All dogs visiting from outside France will require the PETS scheme passport to enter France. To re-enter the UK a dog must have undergone a blood test to show that the rabies vaccination was successful and then wait a period of 6 months. From start to finish the PETS passport for re-entry to the UK takes a minimum of 7 months and cannot be started until the dog is at least 3 months old. A dog can enter France during this 6 month waiting period. This information is intended as general advice only - please see your vet for professional and up-to-date advice regarding the scheme.
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Activities in the Area |
Golf - 20 minutes by car
An 18-hole golf course set in the grounds of a beautiful,
lakeside château. There is also a restaurant, shop and equipment hire.
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Fishing
La Vilaine River - easy walking distance ( fishing permits sold locally)
Kernevy lake, St. Dolay - 10 min drive ( fishing permits sold locally)
Sea-fishing - Several companies offer sea-fishing trips in the area. |
Local Amenities
Whilst La Belle Vilaine gites are situated in a quiet hamlet in the countryside, all necessary amenities are easily accessible by car -
5 minutes to Nivillac, for boulangerie (bread and groceries), post office, bars, tabac (newsagent - postcards etc)
5 minutes to St. Dolay, for all the above, plus a chemists, and a butchers.
10 minutes to La Roche Bernard - see Local Area
The St. Dolay and Nivillac boulangeries both provide a mobile service, stopping at the gites every day (except Sunday, when they trade from the square at St. Cry at 10.15 am).
Local Bar - Le Cycriens, St. Cry
Around a 15 minute (1 mile) walk along country lanes and you come to the village square in St. Cry. The bar is a child- and dog-friendly establishment, run by a friendly, French couple. There is a free games area offering pool, bar-football, darts and a video games console. They offer very basic snacks (hot dogs / pizza wraps - no chips!). Close at 8 pm weekdays and Monday closed all day.
Click here for details and photographs of local traditional fêtes.
Adventure Parks
Tree-top adventure course - Guérande. We have not braved this ourselves, but have it on good authority from previous guests that it is great fun! (Open April - Sept).
Zap Paintball adventure park- apprx 25 mins drive
Set in woodland just north of Guérande. Also has an equestrian centre.
Adventure Quad - Auray (45 mins - 1 hour drive)
Courses set out for children from 6 years to adults. (Open Feb - Nov)
Butterfly house and Acquarium - Vannes
Dinosaur Park
Parc de Préhistoire de Bretagne - apprx. 45 mins
Set in 20 hectares, with 5 lakes. Life-size models help to tell the story of the region's pre-history through to the building of the menhir sites around 2000 BC- English translations.
Sailing
Ecole de Voile - La Roche-Bernard - apprx 10 mins drive.
Sailing lessons for children (sailing craft and kayaks) and boat hire on the banks of the River Vilaine. English-speaking instructors. There is also a circus school!
River Cruises
Vedettes Jaunes - La Roche-Bernard and Arzal
Take a cruise up the river - with or without meal. Prices for 2006 were in the region of 38 euros per head for a 4-hour cruise and 5-course meal.
Pony Trekking
There are several centres which offer horse riding / pony trekking in the area, some of which take you through the Grande Brière nature reserve.
Birdwatching
La Belle Vilaine garden - on-site!
See Nature Notes and Wildlife pages.
La Grande Brière nature reserve - apprx. 20 min drive.
A miniature version of the Norfolk Broads. Several way-marked walks take you through the marshes. You can also explore the area by horse-drawn cart, by punt with a guided tour or by hiring a rowing boat and following the way-marked routes through the peat-rich canals. Bird highlights include Black Kites, Purple Heron and Bluethroat for the birds and Swallowtail and Camberwell Beauty for the butterflies (Apr. - Sept.), Marsh Harrier and Sacred Ibis (resident), Cattle Egret (winter).
Sept Iles Nature Reserve - Golfe du Morbihan - apprx. 30 - 40 mins drive
Several companies offer boat trips in the Golfe, some of which include sorties onto the islands. Prices in 2005 started from 14 euros for an adult.
Vilaine Estuary - apprx. 20 mins drive
A mixture of rocky coastlines, sandy coves, lagoon marshes and mudflats. The way-marked cliff-top walk is worth following if only for the spectacular views - perhaps topped-off by a meal in the sea-front restaurant at the Pointe de Bille.
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Châteaux
Château de Ranrouët is situated in Herbignac, just into the Loire Atlantique region and is approximately 20 minutes drive away. During July & August they stage enjoyable re-enactments here.
Le Château de Léhélec this Louis XIII castle is set on the other side of the river at Béganne. Guided tours available July & August. This is approx 20 minute drive away.
Château de Careil between La Baule & Guérande offers guided tours (English spoken) & animated candle-lit soirées during July & August and again only about 25 minutes away.
There are a number of other Châteaux in the region all within easy reach by car.
Other Attractions
The city of St Nazaire is home to a museum of maritime - including an old cruise liner, a submarine and a Naval boatyard. You can also explore the production line of the A380 Airbus aeroplane here. A further 30 minutes drive will bring you to the city of Nantes where you can go on board the Naval destroyer Maillé - Brézé which is now a floating museum.
La Maison du Cidre - situated on the Presqu'île de Rhuys, approx. 30 minutes drive - offers guided tours and cider tasting.
La Maison de la Mytiliculture - at Penestin approx. 30 minutes' drive - one of many oyster farms in the region offering guided tours and sales.
Menhirs - the region is littered with ancient standing stones. The largest site being at Carnac. west of Vannes.
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Self-catering, holiday cottages on the South Brittany/Loire Atlantique border in France.
Friendly family run gite accommodation where dogs are welcome.
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