Many visitors to Brittany skirt around its edges but, tempting as its long coastline is, there’s something to be said for delving a little deeper. Away from yachts and rocks and far from the crowds, is where you’ll find Pont de Calleck. Situated in the forested heartland of central, southern Brittany it’s the perfect place for a quieter camping trip and a closer look at this region’s countryside and nature.
Camping de Pont Calleck offers grassy pitches on the edge of a forest alongside a trio of well set-up glamping tents and a handful of mobile homes. The River Scorff runs close by, offering the opportunity for fishing and kayaking, and the woods are great for a stroll. You can find your way to the remains of a medieval village or, in the summer season, wait for Breton heritage to come to you; every Wednesday there’s traditional Breton music and food served up at the site’s sociable entertainment area. This part of the campsite is also where you’ll find boules, badminton, table tennis and some playground equipment for the kids. It’s a fairly traditional French campsite but on a small scale with under 40 families staying here at any one time ensuring a wonderful sense of calm.
The glamping options (two safari-style tents and a wooden cabin) are perfect for families who’ve got enough in the car without bringing the tent on top. Sleeping four or five, they are kitted out with camp beds and bedding and have an outdoor but undercover kitchen and seating area, which means shade in the summer and shelter in the rain. There’s a fridge for cold drinks and a gas stove for cooking on, along with some pots, pans and other kitchen basics.
There’s no restaurant on site, but if you don’t fancy cooking, there’s a restaurant less than a kilometre up the road and it’s only half an hour to Lorient and the coast where seafood is the speciality. Of course, this also means that the beach remains within easy day-tripping distance but if you hear a local saying they’re heading to the beach they might well be off to the shores of Lac du Bel Air, which is closer still at Priziac (14 kilometres away). There’s also Le Sterou wildlife park, which you tour in golf buggies, a tiny museum devoted to bats and, thanks to the south-central location, Breton villages in every direction. The entertainment round here is pleasingly small and pleasantly natural – a little like the campsite itself.