Activities & things to do

Normandy and Brittany are fantastic areas for the golfer. We've listed over 30 courses and have tried to offer as much useful information as possible including an overview, maps and green fees. However we would advise you to contact the course in advance to check on availability and up to date pricing.

Select either Normandy or Brittany to list the courses.

OK, this one doesn't have to be much of an activity as you can just lie in the sun on one of the fantastic golden beaches but it is definitely an activity enjoyed by most. We've put together a selection of some of the best beaches in the area.

The beach apartment at Carolles is within 100 metres of the beach.

Well, you're spoiled for choice on this one. The area has options for sailing, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, scuba diving and wind surfing.

The main focus for most of these activities is Granville which of one of the foremost nautical centres in France. The water sports centre has two sites, one in the heart of Granville, surrounded by the marina and the Herel beach and the other at the beach at Jullouville which specialises in sand yachting.

The horse is King in Normandy. Whether breeding, racing, show jumping, trekking or even training jockeys - the region is renowned for its links with the equine world. Whether you fancy a guided trek across the sand on the Bay of Mont Saint Michel, witnessing the weekly parades at the Haras du Pin National stud or enjoying an evening at the trotting races in Cabourg, you'll not go far before you notice Normandy's love of horses.

There are several stables in and around the Granville area.

It's possible to enjoying walking just about anywhere in the area, but for those that take their hiking seriously there are literally hundreds of kilometres of high quality routes to explore. From the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel to the edge of the Cotentin marshes, the Coastal Path alone covers in excess of 300 km's.

There are hundreds of graded footpaths crisscrossing the region with routes to suit all levels from a half hour stroll to a weekend hike. The well established Randonnee network of trails covers some of the most spectacular scenery in Normandy with its numbered "GR" routes while at the other end of the scale, local tourist offices will be able to suggest interesting circuits around there particular town or village.

For more information on walking in La Manche and other parts of France see the France on Foot website.

The roads in Normandy are generally uncrowded and more often than not almost empty so cycling in France is a real pleasure. For those that prefer their cycling off-road, La Manche offers hundreds of kilometres of trails and numerous circuits.

What applies to golf also applies to Fishing. In Normandy there are plenty of fish and fewer anglers chasing them. There are miles of first category waters where trout are particularly dominant while the many lakes (formerly gravel pits) are home to some very large carp. White fish like roach and bream are of little interest to many French anglers and live a fairly sedate life as yet unaware of the interest of their British adversaries. All in all the region is perfect for angling holidays.

If you fancy something a little different and very special then how about microlighting over Mont St Michel. It's not for the faint hearted but if you get the right conditions it is very impressive. Have a look at the photos on their website and let us know if you have a go.

If you're good at heights and you think the microlighting is a little tame then how about jumping off a viaduct tied on by a bit of elastic. The world famous A J Hackett has a bungee centre at la Ferriere Harang, check out their website for more information.

The Bay of Mont Saint-Michel forms one of the most important wader haunts in France. The major habitat is the very extensive mudflats but there are also saltmarsh areas and islands, coastal grasslands and reedbeds as well as stretches of cliff and rocky shoreline. The bay attracts in excess of 20,000 birds on passage and in winter, including waders as well as seaduck and large numbers of passerine migrants.

The Carolles apartment is the perfect base for birdwatchers and is ideally situated at the foot of the cliffs.

The beautiful Chausey Islands that lie approximately 15 kms off the coast near Granville make a wonderful day out. The ferry from Granville runs all year and the crossing takes about 50 minutes.

Alternatively, why not cruise to the islands on board a traditional sailing ship. These sail from Granville during the summer season.

From April to September there is a ferry service from Granville to St Helier in Jersey. The crossing time is about 70 minutes, which means you can have plenty of time for shopping or visiting the many attractions in Jersey.

The ferry service is operated by SNN, a subsidiary of Connex.

Paris is a little over three hours away by train and with an early start you can be strolling down the Champs-Elysées before lunch, have a good 5 hours in town and be back at the property for early evening. The SNCF trains leave from Granville. Check the SNCF website for more info.