Beaches & things to do:
There is a great variety of things to do in the area without having to spend hours in the car. Within 45 minutes drive there are countless beaches to choose from such as le Val-Andre, Erquy, Sables d’Or, St Cast-le-Guildo, St Jacut-sur-Mer, St Briac, St Lunaire, Dinard, St Malo, Cancale to name a few. Mediaeval Dinan (10 minutes) is a wonderful place to visit, market day is Thursday. Mont St Michel and the cathedral city of Rennes are within an hour’s drive. Within 2 hours drive the tapestries of Bayeux (near Caen) and the war cemeteries of Normandy (Omaha beach) and World War II museums are also worth considering. Closer to home there is horse-riding in Plelan-le-Petit, golf in St Michel de Plelan, swimming, sailing, cycling and pedaloes at Jugon-les-Lacs (10 mins), go karting at Lamballe, a lovely aquarium at St Malo (also walk the ramparts), coastal walks at Cap Frehel, from St Pabu (park on Plage de Caroual) to Erquy or west to le Val-Andre are also recommended.
Places to eat:
There are highly recommended restaurants in Plancoet (Creuzil’s – Michelin starred) or more reasonably priced Le Relais de la Source on the Plancoet/St Michel de Plelan roundabout is a highly recommended quality restaurant), Ploubalay (Restaurant de la Gare), and Dinan (Le Viaduc), while for the less-sophisticated but more demanding palate (the kids!) there are lots of nice pizza restaurants, a couple of favourites on the way home from the beach are at Pluduno on the D794 and in Plancoet. The local “Dali” bistro at the Plelan le Petit cross road is also good value.
Directions:
2.5 hours from Cherbourg (N13). Virtually motorway all the way. Direction Averanches / Mont St. Michel (A84) and Dinan (N176) after which you come off at the Plélan-le-Pétit exit (not the Aire de Plélan just before it which is a rest area) some 8km past Dinan.
Just over 2 hours from Caen, direction Avranches / Mont St. Michel on the A84. Virtually motorway all the way. After Avranches, follow the signs for St. Malo / Dinan (N176). Do not go to St. Malo but follow the N176 past Dinan until the Plélan-le-Pétit exit some 10km further on.
Under 2 hours from Roscoff, direction Morlaix (which you bypass) and St Brieuc/Renes (N12) before branching off on the N176 shortly after Lamballe(direction Dinan/St Malo). You come off the N176 at the Plélan-le-Pétit exit after about 14km.
35 minutes from Dinard Airport. Proceed direction Dinan (via Pleurtuit) to the N176 (7km north of Dinan). Travel south, direction Dinan/Lamballe for 16km & take the Plélan-le-Pétit exit some 8km past Dinan.
