A wonderful collection of child-friendly cottages and lodges suitable for different size family groups set in Cotes – d’Armor, Brittany France. Emerald Coast Gites have recently been featured in the France magazine as three of the best breaks for little ones! The French call Emerald Coast Gites ‘Entre Mer et Terre’ – which translates to ‘between the land and sea’ as the location is fab being so close to some lovely beaches, forests, lots of history and many walks.
Within the grounds there are a total of 10 self-catering holiday homes all of which have been converted from 19th century farm buildings. The Willis family (owners of Emerald Coast Gites) spent two years renovating the buildings and have been running the lovely complex for 11 years!
They have made sure that there is huge amount within the grounds to keep the whole family entertained! There are two shared covered heated swimming pools, ride on toys, swings, slides, a mini acrobranche and a giant trampoline.
There is an onsite bar where owners hold a cheese and wine tasting evening and have major sporting events being aired. In the bar, owner Simon has got very handy with his cocktail making. Guests are able to enjoy their cocktails at the bar, on the terrace or even have them delivered back to the gite/lodges.
Next to the bar is a soft play area, where you will find children’s entertainment, including movie night on the large screen, treasure hunts and previously before COVID, hopefully coming back next year, some arts and crafts which is always enjoyed by many!
Other services the Willis family offer are food related, perfect to give families a break from cooking on holiday. Outside July and August they offer a Plat du Jour service, this does depend on the season, for example during October they offer more of a savoyard menu with fondues, raclettes and tartiflettes. During the months July and August they use a wonderful local chef who offers a take away service ‘La Cuisine de Mon Pere’. This takeaway service was inspired by the Chefs daughter, who when she left home to go to university, complained she could not get dinner like her dad’s. So chef dad decided to create a ‘ready meal’ which owner Lesley would say ‘really under plays it. His food is lovely, and like no other ready meal you will have ever tasted before’
If families can take themselves away from all the excitement and entertainment at Emerald Coast Gites then the area is a lovely place to explore! Beaches are all within 20kms which are the most amazing and offer some of the best walks in Brittany. There is a lovely walk at Cap Erguy and Cap Frehel which is buggy friendly, recently awarded the classification of ‘ Grand Site Touristique de France’ which is the highest accolade they can receive.
If guests fancy a break from beach days then no need to worry as the owners know exactly what there is to do in the area for families. The medieval towns of Dinan, 35 minutes away with a little train offering tours and St Malo, a walled town with lots of restaurants and great for shopping are lovely places to visit with beaches and surfing available. Guests are able to hire bikes close by and cycle along the river from the monastery at Lehon to the port at Dinan – car free and flat!
There are also some lovely French markets close by, tree climbing activities with trampolines in the trees, kayaking, canoeing and archery, enough to keep everyone happy looking to have a family holiday in Brittany.
Perfectly based for families looking to have a beach day one day and a countryside retreat the next, owners have put together a leaflet that they give guests when they arrive. The leaflet lets the guests know what the owners recommend locally including beaches, restaurants, walks, days out and even ideas for those rainy days.
If you are looking for a family friendly holiday home you can enjoy with your own little family or even extended families in other gites where children can knock for one another to have a little play outdoors, then Emerald Coast Gites is the one, with lots to keep them amused onsite and even more in the surrounding area for the whole family to enjoy.
