Parking in the beauty spot of Etretat can be impossible. About four miles down the coast, however, is the small town of Yport, which was also painted by the Impressionists. There is easy free parking on the front there, and the atmosphere is more local and much less touristy than that of its famous neighbour. Take the steps up from the front and the steep road on the right up to the cliffs for fabulous views, especially if you stand on the old German lookout post, which is also a good place for a picnic.

Seine Maritime, near Fécamp.

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Renting a 'Gite de France' still remains one of the best value holidays I've ever had. During our last visit to France, we rented a Gite on the outskirts of Josselin in the Morbihan region of Brittany.

The medieval town is beautiful with an impressive castle overlooking the Brittany Canal. It's an easy drive from St Malo and set in wonderful rolling countryside. We made several trips to the south coast at Carnac via the scenic back roads.

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Our trip to Hon Fleur was our first with our new 12 week old baby, and what a perfect first holiday it was.

Hon Fleur is French enough to feel 'foreign', but close enough to the UK to feel 'safe' with a newborn in tow. We travelled from Dulwich to Hon Fleur within six hours, door to door, less than it often takes us to get up to Lancashire!

We rented a self-catering restored French gite on a sheep farm, about 4 miles outside of Hon Fleur. Rural, peaceful, surrounded by a big garden and fields, and with the loveliest owners imaginable, we felt like we had secured our little family haven.

Using Hon Fleur as our base, we explored local areas - with the amazing French roads, driving was an absolute pleasure. Evenings were spent either sipping good wine and dining in Hon Fleur (baby asleep in his pram beside us), watching the world go by - or sitting outside our gite listening to music, eating homemade food and, yes, you guessed it, sipping good wine!

One week later (but feeling like it was much longer) we returned to the UK relaxed, refreshed, and looking forward to many more enjoyable self-drive family holidays.

www.gites-de-france.com

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This good hotel stands across the river from the wonderful castle of Josselin. It offers a range of excellent rooms which have retained their essentially French character. The restaurant takes the form of an enormous baronial hall, with swords and shields galore but the important thing is that the food is excellent. Many of the rooms have a view of the castle opposite, and in the early morning the mists from the river disperse to reveal a huge curtain wall, topped by steeps roofs, turrets and pinnacles galore.

60km west of Rennes, off the N24; 40 north of Vannes, off the D778.
Logis de France 2 cheminées - 1 rue du Général de Gaulle 56120 Josselin
Tel : 02 97 22 20 11
www.hotel-chateau.com/

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Small Breton market town nestling in the Montagnes Noires. 18 bars, several good restaurants (recommend Le Relais de Cornouaille), regular Breton Festivals and a brilliant Jazz Festival on the banks of the beautiful River Aulne in August. The town is amazingly unspoiled and underplayed in all the guide books.

One hours drive south of Roscoff, 40 mins drive North East of Quimper. Tourist Office: 00 33(0)298 81 83 90

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This is a terrific little bed and breakfast run by a really friendly and helpful couple. Dead quiet location in a village 10 mins from Alençon and the A28 motorway. The gardens are beautifully kept (and large, with plenty of seats and tables) with view of the forest.

There are shops and a little restaurant-bar nearby that is a throwback to the time when good country cooking at low prices was the norm in many parts France. Bikes, horseriding, walking paths and all that sort of stuff kept us amused, as well as sightseeing.

Alençon itself is a lovely town if you take the trouble to go into the centre instead of passing by on the route nationale.

La Basse Cour, Ancinnes.
www.normandie-chambres.co.uk
Tel: 02 33 82 01 19

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A 3km-long stretch of fine white sandy beach approached through protected sand dunes and pine trees. Wonderful swimming and fishing. Strong tides.

South west coast of Cap Fréhel via D34a, close to the scallop fishing town of Erquy.
30 km west of Dinard.

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