Brittany Rediscovered

Carnac is wonderful and wondrous, St Malo is a great resort, and the Ville Close at the port of Concarneau has it`s charms, certainly for the staff. Douarnanez is quaint, Quimper majestic and La Baule is proper seaside Breton style. Brittany is a multi-faceted region in so many senses which has attracted teachers for many years.

Days excursions depend on the nature of your group and the purpose of your trip. Many, of course, join the millions who head for neighbouring Normandy`s pearl, the Mont St Michel every year.

I began my mission by considering the question of student engagement. What should teenagers get from a visit to a town, city, resort, attraction or venue? Certainly a lot more than just the superficial acknowledgement of `seen it, been there` which reduces tours to the facile level of `It`s Tuesday so this must be Belgium.`

Estimates vary as to the length of the Pink Granite coast, the result of a geological freak the odd thirty million years ago, where the rock is, erm, pink. It really is, and it`s beautiful. And there you will find Creation`s Theme Park, a glorious stroll through giants of nature along the Sentier des Douaniers at Perros Guirec.

It`s worth the two hours as you follow the coastal path among the huge rock formations and have your imagination captured by what they could be. I spotted a dinosaur (not the Head of English from my last school), a huge shellfish, a face and a myriad of other things. Look out for the house with a rockery to die for. Set the kids a photo challenge in which they have to interpret what they have seen and pictured. Have your coach driver pick your group up at the far end of the path, or if you are feeling energetic, walk back to Perros Guirec and see it all again from another angle. The cost? Its free.

For a longer day, add on the marine excursion to see the huge gannet colony which is part of the Sept Iles archipelago, an extraordinary trip on board a well equipped vessel.