Motor Boat & Yachting — August 2017

BRITTANY

Odet River

Baie de

Anse du Trez la Forêt

Plage duTeven

Atlantic

Ocean

N Quimper

Bénodet

Ste Marine

Loctudy

Lesconil

Concarneau

ÎLE AUX MOUTONS

ÎLES DE GLÉNAN

BRITANNY

English Channel

Brest

St Malo

Lorient

Vannes

BELLEÎLE

nautical miles

012 3 45

The Odet River was my fi rst ever landfall in South Brittany,

as a young cabin boy on a delivery passage from Dartmouth

to Bénodet. I vividly remember that arrival. On a balmy

evening, we cruised in past golden beaches at the entrance,

past the slim white lighthouse among the trees and the spacious

family villas looking out from waterside gardens. We made

fast to a peaceful mooring and a yacht club launch took us

ashore for dinner – a prodigious plateau de fruits de mer with

proper mayonnaise.

The retired owner of our boat would be spending the summer

here and, while busier now, Bénodet is still lovely for family

holidays. The surroundings are delightfully Breton and the

weather is noticeably warmer than in the Channel.

There are two friendly marinas. Sainte-Marine on the west

shore has a prominent visitors’ pontoon and fi nger berths

for longer stays. Bénodet’s Penfoul Marina is a little further

upstream on the east shore, just before a high road bridge.

Both marinas also have attractive river moorings, which

I prefer when staying here.

MARINA BOOKINGS

Contact Monsieur Gilles Le Roux at Sainte-Marine, Tel: +33 (0)298

563872, Email: [email protected]; Monsieur

Pierre Drouet at Bénodet Port de Penfoul, Tel: +33 (0)298 570578,

Email: [email protected]

LOCAL DAY CRUISES

ANSE DU TREZ BEACH This soothing sandy bay is just inside the

Odet River on the east shore. Anchor here for lunch, swimming,

boat watching and lazing in the sun.

PLAGE DU TEVEN Anchor off the enticing two-mile Teven beach

stretching west from Bénodet entrance towards Loctudy. The best

spot is near the Bénodet end, within a mile of Pointe de Combrit.

ÎLE AUX MOUTONS This small uninhabited island with a neat

white lighthouse lies fi ve miles south-east of Bénodet. In quiet

weather, you can anchor in a bay on the south-east side – a slice

of paradise.

CRUISING UPRIVER At half fl ood, follow the channel under

Bénodet bridge to explore one of France’s fi nest rivers, its wide

lower reaches fl owing past woods and rolling pasture. Soon you

pass Château de Kerouzien, looking out across green lawns. Then

the banks draw closer and the Odet starts winding, each bend

opening more vistas to lead you on.

ROUND TO LOCTUDY This charming estuary three miles west

of Bénodet is marked by a distinctive black-and-white chequered

beacon. The marina is on the west shore, with an easy visitor

pontoon. On the east shore, the low Île-Tudy peninsula has a lone

pine tree and a line of Breton cottages. From Loctudy Marina you

can catch a launch across to Île Tudy for lunch at Hôtel Moderne,

a favourite of mine which is actually agreeably ‘un-moderne’.

VISIT ÎLES DE GLÉNAN Ten miles offshore from Bénodet, the

BÉNODET

3

Peaceful comings

and goings in the

Bénodet estuary

TRAVEL