Self Drive barge in Britanny
 

There are a lot of threads having to do with self-drive on Canal Midi, Nivernais and Burgandy, but I've not seen anything on the Britanny area. Has anyone cruised there? If so, where and with which outfitter? I'd love to hear some thoughts and trip reports.

Brittany isn't known for cancals; that's probably why you, and I, haven't seen cruises advertised. It would be nice, though.

Daniel,

There are, in fact, canals and navigable rivers in Brittany. Here is a link to a Dutch hire firm that is an agent for self-drive boats. http://tinyurl.com/g6kgn

I have never done those canals, but this might be a start.

Let us know if you book one there and how it was.

Whatever you decice, have a wonderful trip.

:-)

Close to Brittany... in the Anjou area, there are canal trips possible with Locaboat. http://www.locaboat.com

We've used this company often for our canal trips and like them.

I just looked at their catalogue for this year and they're opening a base in Brittany in 2007, so the info might already be up on their website.

Patricia

That's good news...Brittany is so picturesque, with all those beautiful flowers.

Crown Blue Lines and Locaboat have penichettes for hire, one cruise runs south of Rennes at Messac and continues past Rennes north to Dinan. The other course runs south Messac to Nantes or west Messac through Redon, Malstroit to Josselin and its chateau. We have driven some along the canals and seen the boats tied up in Dinan and elswhere. We have also rented from Locaboat, but not in Brittany, And highly recommend them. But Crown Blue is also a very popular (as evidenced by the # of boats on the canals) and reputable company.

You can find these and other companies online; they all have websites with info including prices. In the summer the waterways are probably crowded but in September, when we usually are in the area, it is much less crowded. If going on a "shoulder season" I would definitely go in the fall than in the spring--it can take Brittany a while to warm up.

Hope you do it!

Thanks, Klondike - we have done the Midi twice, the Nivernais and a short trip on the Burgandy - have always used Rive de France. However, they have only out and back trips in Brittany and we would perfer one-way, so we will probably go with Crown Blue Line.

Great! Do report back on how it goes. La Bretagne is very dear to me, and we will surely spend more time there once our closest Breton friends, currently living in S.W. France, retire home to Brittany. Some day we will do the canal and I'd love to have your insight/impressons. Kenavo!

Do read Narrow Dog to Carcassone if you like boating in France. It's so funny!

Caroom - I looked at this book on Amazon and definately will get it. The description also compares the author to Bill Bryson, another travel writer who absolutely cracks me up.