Brittany cottages and gites - holiday properties throughout Brittany

BRITTANY

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Brittany holiday rentals: A lush, green peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic, Brittany is one of the most beautiful - and least French - parts of France. If you're planning to go to Brittany for a holiday, the properties for rent on www.selfcateringhols.com might be just what you're looking for. We offer rural holiday properties that give you easy access to the shore and to the beautiful countryside of Brittany. Holiday properties here are all available for flexible, short-term rental. View our Brittany cottages and gites below, or search for your perfect holiday property.

Read our mini guide to Brittany

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Covering 30,000sq km that run the gamut from flat green plains to rolling hills and forest-covered mountains, Brittany is a varied area with a unique Celtic heritage. Long an independent region, Brittany still feels different than the rest of France because of its unique Celtic traditions in language, music and festivals. That unique culture combined with a spectacular setting on the Atlantic makes Brittany a fantastic holiday destination whether you're interested in sunbathing along the shore, hiking in the interior, or exploring the historic towns dotted throughout the region.

Head to northern Brittany for a holiday to enjoy both unspoilt natural beauty and a good selection of beaches. The coastline here is largely jagged and boasts unusual pink rock formations and small beaches. Must-see cultural attractions like Mont-St-Michel are nearby too. Major holiday resorts here include Dinard, Perro-Guirec, Trégastel-Plage and St-Quay-Portrieux. Inland, you can explore beautiful historic towns like Guingamp, Bourbriac, and Bréhat.

For lush green scenery and a strong dose of Breton traditions, head to Finistère (meaning 'Land's End'), the westernmost part of Brittany. Holidays here will give you the chance to see the most traditional side of Brittany. This is also a great place to enjoy water sports and to see important towns like Quimper or the elegant port town of Brest. Popular seaside resorts in Finistère include Bénodet, Brignogan-Plage, Carantec and Douarenez.

In the south, you'll find a host of busy resort towns and some of the most popular beaches in Brittany. Holidays here are great for sun-lovers (this is the sunniest area of the peninsula) who want access to the shore and to the storied interior. Just inland you'll find a wealth of ancient sites including the alignements at Carnac, a long row of granite stones with mysterious origins.

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Brittany enjoys a temperate climate, with mild winters and summers that are sunny yet rarely scorching hot. Spring brings an abundance of flowers and bird life, and autumn is a great time of year to explore Brittany's countless walking trails.

Average temperatures in Brest (a popular port town) are: Jan 8ºC, Feb 9ºC, Mar 12ºC, Apr 14ºC, May 16ºC, Jun 19ºC, Jul 20ºC, Aug 21ºC, Sep 18ºC, Oct 15ºC, Nov 11ºC, Dec 9ºC.

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It is easy to reach Brittany by air or by water. Although it's not technically in Brittany, Nantes is nearest main airport and is connected to many European destinations. There are also direct flights from the UK to Rennes, Brest, Dinard and Quimper. Other smaller airports, like those of St.Brieuc and Lorient, are connected to Paris. Flight time from London is about an hour.

Ferry is a fun way to travel, especially if you want to bring your own car along. Brittany Ferries offers regular trips year-round to St. Malo, Roscoff, Caen and Cherbourg. Train travel is a good option too. Rennes and Nantes are only two hours from Paris on the TGV high-velocity train; Brest is four hours from Paris by train.

Once in Brittany, you'll probably want to hire a car if you want to really get out and explore the region. There are excellent highways connecting the larger cities, though in most towns you'll find driving more trouble than it's worth.

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Brittany's agreeable climate makes it well-suited to outdoor activities of all kinds. Water sports are popular in summer, when the waters surrounding Brittany's resort towns fill with sail boats and windsurfers. It's also possible to go kayaking and canoeing (both along the coast and inland). Scuba diving and deep sea fishing are available in some areas too.

On dry land, walking and cycling are two of the most popular sports. Brittany is laced with trails and paths of all levels. Get detailed maps and trail information at local tourist offices or book shops. Golf and tennis are popular too; Brittany has a growing number of top golf courses, and the unbeatable scenery here makes this a great place to tee off.