Manoir du Hilguy, Brittany, France

Shops and restaurants

On-site, Westgate Lounge Restaurant provides excellent French style cuisine, while the adjoining bar offers aperitif and/or digestif.

The Ty-Pin restaurant near the Manoir is also worth visiting as is the Breiz Armor at the beach. Quimper, eight miles away, has an excellent selection of shops, restaurants and hypermarkets.

Don't miss the Breton seafood platter

Given its proud maritime tradition, it's no surprise that Brittany is renowned for the quality of its seafood - and, in particular, its seafood platter, which is regarded as a classic of Breton cuisine.

The composition of the dish varies according to the season and the vicissitudes of the fishing. But so seriously is it taken that many restaurateurs have signed up to an official Seafood Platter Quality Charter: the 'l'authentique plateau de fruits de mer frais bretons' (authentic fresh Breton seafood platter).

To be allowed to feature the charter-mark on their windows, participating restaurants must offer a choice of at least six different sorts of shellfish - usually including lobsters, clams, mussels, scallops, shrimps and oysters - served on a bed of seaweed, and accompanied by bread, salted butter, homemade mayonnaise and a wedge of lemon.

And a trip across the Channel would not be complete without a crêpe and/or a galette - pancakes made of buckwheat (for savoury main courses), and wheat (for deserts). Washed down with a draught of locally produced cider, of course.

On-site facilities

The sports and leisure complex offers, free of charge:

  • a heated indoor swimming pool
  • an adjoining children's splash-pool and sauna
  • a small exercise room with exercise equipment
  • changing rooms and showers

There is also:

  • table tennis and snooker
  • a pool table and a children's room
  • a free-to-use DVD library in reception
  • washing machines in the laundry room

In the grounds are an outdoor 'summer' swimming pool (which is open from 15th May - 15th September) and three all-weather tennis courts. The Manoir courtyard is ideal for playing pétanque and the lawn is perfect for croquet and badminton.

Separated from the gardens by a high stone wall is a private copse, which has been landscaped to provide a further recreational amenity.

Brittany itself has ten 18-hole golf courses and six nine-hole courses. Watersports are very popular along the coast, especially scuba diving, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, waterskiing and angling.

A riding stables can be found seven miles away.