We are booked next May to go to Brittany via Brittany Ferries without our caravan. We are looking to spend about 10 days on a campsite with lodges near Quimper and then a further 10 days further south, possibly around Nantes. We will be taking our 2 cocker spaniels so lodges must be pet friendly. Looking for any recommendations with preferably a restaurant on site. Many thanks.
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All the larger campsites in the Quimper area have rental accommodation on site, so you have a free choice there.
But I don’t know of any in the Quimper area which will have an on site restaurant open at the time of your visit in May - and you may well find other site facilities such as shop, swimming pools closed too so early in the year. Good luck.
Hi,
L’Orangerie de Lanniron is just outside Quimper. It’s a big site with lots of accommodation & facilities. We stayed there a couple of years ago in October; bar etc should have been open but staff were on a training week! Pleasant site though, especially out of high season. We cycled into Quimper but it would be walkable with dogs; the route was away from the main roads.
Not stayed around Nantes, sorry
Fiona
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Twenty years since we've been but this one we stayed at on the coast S of Quimper might fit the bill- good access to a beach and dog walking plus a restaurant open all year as far as I can tell.
It may not be in an area you are interested in but we enjoyed Camping de la Plage, in La Trinité-sur-Mer. It doesn’t have a restaurant directly on site but they have a bar/restaurant/shop about a 3 minute walk away which is shared with their sister site Camping de la Baie. The site is also an easy walk into La Trinité-sur-Mer where there are lots of restaurants. We liked the area as you are within easy reach of places like Carnac, Quiberon, Auray and Vannes which are all good for days out. I have no idea what their lodges are like as we had our caravan but as far as I remember they had quite a few different types.
We had 2 or 3 nights in Nantes a few years ago, primarily to visit Les Machines de l'ile, which was amazing, not just the elephant but also the smaller exhibits in the indoor museum/Hall.
We also enjoyed the various sculptures etc around the city centre and wandering round the pedestrianised areas.
For us it was worth a short visit, between longer stays in other areas.
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I think in May you need to be close to a lively town with a selection of restaurants as many campsites will have limited facilities - pools, bars. shops won't be open. Camping du Poulquer in Benodet is a lovely site and 5 mins walk from the beach, but only its indoor pool will be open and the town itself doesn't really come to life until July. Concarneau may be better, perhaps Camping les Sables Blancs, which does look to have its restaurant etc open in early season.
We adore Nantes but agree that it is best for 2-3 nights; Camping Nantes is a great site but quite expensive - the cabins are luxurious. The other problem with Nantes is that there are restrictions on taking dogs on the excellent tram service - only small dogs that will fit in a bag or basket are allowed.
What about going further along that coast to La Turballe - Camping de la Falaise is in a great position for the port and has an indoor pool and a bar/snack that is open in May. Other options would be La Baule or Pörnic. The weather should be a bit better too !
In May I'd be inclined to go as far S as I could reasonably drive - over the years we had some decent and some very iffy weather in May esp in Brittany / Normandy / Loire. Best we had was Dordogne / Landes / N Spain.
This year May onwards has been far and away hottest & longest spell since we moved out here 8 years ago. Despite global warming highly unlikely to happen every year.
Spent a night at Camping La Pindiere last week and have another 3 nights planned next weekend, it’s in Heric which is just north of Nantes and looks a nice campsite (restaurant and bar on site, Super U just down the road and a few other restaurants nearby).
Outdoor swimming pool on site and is located not too far from the N137/E3.
We were in our caravan so not sure if the lodges/ statics are pet friendly so you would have to check.
Quote: Originally posted by longcol on 14/8/2026
In May I'd be inclined to go as far S as I could reasonably drive - over the years we had some decent and some very iffy weather in May esp in Brittany / Normandy / Loire. Best we had was Dordogne / Landes / N Spain.
This year May onwards has been far and away hottest & longest spell since we moved out here 8 years ago. Despite global warming highly unlikely to happen every year.
It seems to be tradition that we get soaked in the first 24 hours of any French holiday Last year we were in the Vendee in June and had to go off for a drive on the first day as it was too wet and cold for my disabled husband to go out for a walk. This year after record temperatures at home, we travelled to Normandy on 1st July and the rain only just relented in time for us to go out to lunch.
Have really only been to Northern/Western France for work in May, so hotel based, but recall it being fairly bracing
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It seems to be tradition that we get soaked in the first 24 hours of any French holiday Last year we were in the Vendee in June and had to go off for a drive on the first day as it was too wet and cold for my disabled husband to go out for a walk. This year after record temperatures at home, we travelled to Normandy on 1st July and the rain only just relented in time for us to go out to lunch.
Have really only been to Northern/Western France for work in May, so hotel based, but recall it being fairly bracing
I think there needs to be a sticky for you to post annually when the first day of your holiday is so members know to come a day or two later.
Back in 1987 we came on our honeymoon to France end of May /early June and camped in the Loire (Azay le Rideau) for a few days which was fairly decent then moved to Brittany and stayed in hotels because of the weather.
Love the seafood but can get it equally as good on the Ile de Re which is much closer to us and much warmer - although wouldn't even go there in May these days. We usually holiday over here in early Sept although have done late June a couple of times as like the long daylight hours. Outside the school holidays always cheaper and far less busy.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets