Thanks! Unfortunately I can only really do the middle of August so we'll have to brave it with all the other campers. Saying that I think we will avoid the big campsites and try and do a bit of inland Britanny which might be calmer.

On the food issue, I'm sure we will be more than okay on fresh fruit and veg supplemented by bicycle pannier-imported vegan pate! Sadly there are no veggie/vegan restaurants listed for Britanny on Happycow.net although I may try and persuade my partner to detour to one of the guesthouse listed: L'Arc en Ciel or the Ferme de Peneoch just for a decent bit of cooked grub that doesn't involve a camping stove - anyone been there?

Dawn

It's a bit weird replying again to my own message but this is just in case anyone ever needs this information as now I have the answers!

Basically, on the edible issue, you can easily survive in Brittany, France being a vegan if you are near supermarkets. And if you are in touristy or town areas then there is always one nearby! Although we never ate out as we didn't find any restaurants or eateries selling anything vegan, if you do self-catering then all the supermarkets (even smaller ones) have a 'special diet/wholefoods' section with various kinds of stuff suitable for vegans - nut burgers, soya milks, quinoa, sauces, and sometimes tofu. We always found tinned chick peas and lentils too. In the fridge sections, there was also usually soya yoghurts and chocolate puddings. But don't forget that if there are any French bank holidays then everywhere is closed. We survived on salted peanuts, a carrot salad and chocolate for dinner from a petrol station when we got caught out

Normally, I try to use local, independent, healthfood stores as much as I can, but we only discovered one in the whole two weeks in a big town called St Brieuc. Anyway, we managed to eat fine making meals on my little stove with plenty of fruit and veg and bits and pieces from the supermarkets which we then ate out of Swedish Glace tubs. Camping is the life!

It's a nice holiday cycling along the north Brittany coast. Even in August, all the campsites we reached managed to fit us in, one was even full but the owner managed to get two camper vans to move up and make way for us two-wheelers. I think the campsites know it's a lot harder for you to find somewhere else but you should definitely always arrive between 4-6pm and no later. It's a good work-out too with all the panniers (half-filled with food) and hills! Don't let anyone tell you it is gently rolling countryside either. Maybe, in a car on the main roads.

Finally, if anyone else ever gets there, there is a lovely campsite called Les Madieres just north from St Brieuc near to Pordic and Binic. The campsite is so pretty and the owners are really friendly. It's a really good place to stay for a couple of nights resting.

Dawn

Sounds like a nice trip. Is Brittany = Bretagne?

You have at least got me interested in some cycletouring in france

Yes it is Bretagne!
On that note, it is useful if you speak a little bit of French if you are doing that kind of trip too. I always try to learn a few words of the language wherever I am going anyway, it's just useful and you feel a bit less like a blundering tourist and more like a pleasant, respectful guest! But especially with the campsites it's nice if you can say 'Avez vous une emplacement?'. They often reply in English anyway if you've got a terrible accent like mine but will appreciate (and maybe be amused by) the effort.