Huelgoat and arround

We only stopped in Carhaix-Plouger, a Roman foundation, to go to the toilet, but we bought some nice chocolates from a chocolatier and then discovered that the weekly markets were on. We picked up fruit, bread, roast pork, and drinks and sat by a church to have lunch - the pork was fantastic!

Arriving in Huelgoat, we found a homely B&B run by an Englishwoman. We wanted to see various attractions before they closed, though, so we had a quick coffee and cake and then drove off.

First stop was the Moulin de Kerouat, an outdoor museum with a large collection of old farm houses and furnishings, including a working mill; it also had displays illustrating changing land use. Then we looked at the Allee Couverte Du Morgau Bihan, which sits next to a farmhouse on the edge of a field, before visiting another outdoor museum, the Écomusée des Monts d'Arrée - Maison Cornec, near St Rizoal. This is an old farm with tools, ovens, etc. along with heath ecology displays. A short track winds across a little creek and a washing place.

We went up to the local high point of Menez Michel — nearly 400m above sea level — where there were dramatic views from the windswept little church on the top, despite the somewhat gloomy light.

We returned to Huelgoat via Brasparts and Pont Keryau, getting back to our B&B around 6.45pm and moving in properly. There was still enough light for us to do a a short walk in the Huelgoat forest, looking at Devil's Grotto, Trembling Rock, etc. After that we had dinner in the Hotel du Lac — duck skewers and trout, which were excellent but not as good as the previous night's meal.

Sunday 24th June

We couldn't get the wifi to work, unfortunately, but we chatted to the owner over breakfast - she'd opened at Easter and we were the second lot of Australian guests to come through.

We went to look at the barrage at Brennilis, but there wasn't much to be seen there. At the dolmen Maison des Fées, the megalith provided some shelter from the rain, which was coming down "cats and dogs", or "ropes" as the French say.

We headed north, through Plounéour-Ménez (where some of the ethnographic fieldwork in We Are Not French! was done) to le Relecq, where there was an event on so we couldn't look at the church. It was still pouring with rain, so we went on into Morlaix.

Next: Morlaix + Roscoff
Previous: Dinan + Bon Repos
Up: Brittany