Normandy and Brittany coast

Route description

The route starts in Étretat, where chalk cliffs with natural arches and a needle rise from the sea; clifftop paths start from the town. The municipal motorhome stopover makes it easy to walk out at sunset or early in the morning.

Cross the Seine estuary on the Pont de Normandie, a toll bridge, to Honfleur, whose old harbour is lined with tall slate-fronted houses. The road then heads west across Normandy to Mont-Saint-Michel, a tidal island crowned by an abbey. Park on the mainland and take the free shuttle across the causeway, and check the tide times if you want to see the bay flooded.

A seaside campsite near Pontorson is a practical base for an early visit before the crowds. Across the bay, Saint-Malo is a walled port whose ramparts you can walk right around, with beaches below.

The last leg crosses Brittany on the toll-free N12 dual carriageway to Brest, at the western end of France. Most towns in the region have aires for motorhomes, but some seaside car parks have height barriers, so look for the signed motorhome areas.