Help with Itinerary Brittany to Western Loire
 

We will be staying overnight in Dinan and the next day we want to drive to our friend's house in Cholet. What would the drive from Dinan to Fougeres, to Vitre and on down past Angers to Cholet be like? How are the roads? Would it be better to skip the scenic villages and go from Dinan to Rennes, to Nantes, and then to Cholet? They both seem to take about 3+ hours. Scenery or efficiency, that is the question!

We drove Dinan-Azay with stops in Fougeres and Vitre. The towns were scenic, the countryside not so. The roads were fine.

You might want to look into a detour by way of Saumur, which is quite scenic. I haven't been there, but certainly Rennes and Nantes are scenic too - but quite a bit larger, I believe.

I'd take the scenic option, though as Tuck mentions, the countryside isn't overwhelming but the towns are. Saumur is a good suggestion - very pretty town.

Thanks you two. We will be in the area for a week, and have seen parts of Saumur before, so we will probably skip it on our way down. Perhaps we will return on a day trip. We will also go to Nantes, Angers, Azay, and Chinon on daytrips. Any advice on other places?
It sounds like we can't lose if we go thru the Fougere and Vitre from what you say. I guess I was concerned that we'd be worn out from a two-lane highway drive that took the majority of our day!

If you do go to Nantes, dine at the beautiful, "La Cigale," (a favorite of Jane Birkins also.)

I will add the restaurant to my list! Thanks!

>>Any advice on other places?<<

Yes - Fontevraud Abbey, Langlais, Villandry, Usse. The minor road along the left bank of the Loire between Villandry and Usse is a pretty drive.