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