Retreat-Holidays
Brittany
Dinard
The guidebooks all describe Dinard as an elegant seaside resort. It is actually much more interesting than that! In particular, it has a wonderful coastal path - miles and miles of it - running all round Dinard, past the dam on the River Rance and all the way up the estuary to Dinan.
The centre of Dinard is 3 kms by the coastal path from our base. There are four buses a day (except on Sundays) or a taxi costs about £5. Dinard has numerous châteaux and 20 art galleries as well as its fine sandy beaches and sea views. You can take a boat-trip from Dinard round the islands in the bay or up the estuary to Dinan.
There is an excellent market three days a week.
Saint-Malo
Across the estuary is the fairytale walled city of Saint-Malo, built on a former island and surrounded by water on three sides. Saint-Malo was superbly restored after being badly damaged by bombing in the war. 
This picture (right) of Saint-Malo was taken from a viewpoint 100 yards from our base in Dinard. An excursion to Saint-Malo is included in our package.
Dinan (as opposed to Dinard!)
Dinan has one of the most picturesque river-ports in France. Leading down to it from the town centre is a cobble-stoned street, lined with the 15th and 16th century shops of artists such as sculptors, weavers and glass-blowers.
The town centre of Dinan is medieval, with a castle and ramparts as well as half-timbered houses and shops leaning at improbably picturesque angles. An excursion to Dinan is included in this retreat-holiday.
In September 2008, we offer a retreat-holiday with a diference in Dinard:
"Footprints, Memories & Photographs"
- a creative writing retreat
Follow the links below for further information.
Brittany: the Maison Saint-François
Brittany: Creative writing programme
Brittany: Dates, price and flights