Paimpol, Liquivy de la Mer and Abbaye de Beauport.

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A scooter day out today and it was altogether very enjoyable.



First stop Paimpol which delighted us. A busy harbour town with the harbour spread across two sides of the lock access to the open sea. We noticed that the majority of the boats have sails so presume this is a good piece of coastline for sailing.



To brighten up the harbour’s edge there was an exposition of Cochons, similar to ones we’ve seen before of decorated cows but these, somewhat amusingly, were a line of brightly coloured pigs.



The town itself is quite a reasonable size and has a lot of roads crossing it as we found out later when we tried to find the right road out of town. We went for a stroll through the streets, most decorated with colourful bunting and filled with lots of rather lovely shops. This is obviously an artist’s town given the number of artist’ studios we passed.



We had a lovely lunch opting for sweet crepes for once instead of savoury galettes and have to say the apple, vanilla icecream, caramel du sel and crème chantilly, topped with sugar crisped almond flakes, was a triumph.

We found a little supermarket as we needed a couple of basics and then returned to Kisbee.



Bob had hoped we might be able to ride or at least look at the steam train which runs from Paimpol down the valley but it seems it isn’t running this summer.



Next stop was Liquivy de la Mer. A wonderful little fishing village, very calm and peaceful.

The coastline along this part of Brittany is amazing as there are all sorts of little islands just off the coast making for a lovely outlook to sea. We walked along the pebbled beach and commented on how many low tides we have seen this trip. It’s been quite unusual to see any beach actually covered with sea water and most boats have been resting on their hulls on the muddy sea bed.

Fortunately it’s not been warm enough to consider a swim in the sea as it would for the most part have been difficult.



Last stop was the superb Abbaye de Beauport. This was founded in 1202, originally on the small island just off the coast but then moved to the mainland. Quite a masterpiece in its time for logistical planning with sea water trapped to form fishing beds, direct access from the sea for delivery of victuals, especially wine.

We walked round the buildings first or what remains of them. Very impressive and beautifully ‘decorated’ throughout by plants, as these are ruins, with honeysuckle, white scented roses, lilies, ferns, hydrangea, clematis.



Some of the buildings have been restored, all sympatherically, others stand as testament to their history.

The walled gardens were a delight and we walked right round enjoying the perfume of the scented flowers, little views to the sea through the gates and the ever constant bird song as this must surely be a bird paradise given the number and variety of fruit trees and bushes grown here.



Back on Kisbee to the campsite and a swim in the pool then ‘bird watching’ outside Tandy as we have tame robins on the pitch as well as thrushes, blackbirds, dunnocks and a blackcap. All the most beautiful songsters.

It did rain as forecast later on but we were not worried as forecast for tomorrow is sun again.

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