Brittany Ferries do great offers out of season & we could not resist this one for a 3 day break to St. Malo. The Ferry left Plymouth on a lovely calm afternoon and we enjoyed following the coastline & passing the Eddystone Lighthouse. We had treated ourselves to a Commodore Cabin (very hard to get in season) & it made all the difference. A room with a view! Spacious, fresh fruit, TV & all facilities. The hotel bedroom was large & flawless, a gorgeous room in a perfect location so close to the sea & shops. It also has an 100 metre roof top terrace which sadly was closed. It would have had a panoramic view. The hotel has lifts. Breakfast was delicious with plenty of choice.
Dinner was served & Brittany Ferries do a stunning buffet of sea food & as many large prawns you can eat. After that we crashed out & woke up to breakfast being served in our cabin. We then drove 5 minutes to the hotel & checked in. Very helpful staff and we went straight out on to the Walls to look at the view. It was very windy & cold but stunning. St. Malo is a famous Corsair town where sailors left for Canada. We went round the Cathedral which was shelled in the war and needed a bit more love. We had a look at the shops but most were closed at the end of November.
We drove to Cancale to see the amazing Oyster beds & could not resist lunch on the waterfront at the Cancalaise restaurant serving the most delicious oysters and a cidre rose which tasted like pink champagne but was cider. The neapolitan ice cream was to die for, enhanced by the sugar spun decoration. We had a look around Cancale & bought some very good Muscadet for much less than we pay in the UK. On the way back to St. Malo we walked out to Petit Be, the tidal island. Park at the Bon-Secours beach and watch out for the tide.
Next day we drove out to the famous Solidor Tower not far from St. Malo in Saint-Servan, It was built during the X1Vth century to control the town of St.Malo & then converted into a prison. Now it is a museum. The area is most attractive on the mouth of the Rance River.
Most restaurants were closed in St. Malo in the evening but we found a good Creperie with the best crepe ever. Creperie Le Tournesol.
All too soon are brief holiday was over and we were back on the Brittany Ferry but the weather was almost gale force. The Captain decided to brave it! but not many people took advantage of the delicious Buffet lunch. Leaving St. Malo in a gale was quite a thrill on a big ship like the ferry. I thought of my brother who had done a single handed race from Canada to St. Malo and hoped he had a calmer entry.
It is a wonderful refreshing sea air blow but wrap up warm.
