ALISON TAYLOR takes a camping break in France and discovers traditional towns, great beaches and ancient wonders

WE'RE not big campers in our family.

Our usual holiday involves staying at an all-inclusive hotel, travelling by the quickest mode of transport possible then sitting back and enjoying being spoilt. So it was with some trepidation that we set off to southern Brittany, France on our first camping holiday.

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We took the six-hour ferry ride from Plymouth to Roscoff, which reduced travelling time at the other end, then had a relaxed three-hour drive to the coastal town of Carnac.

Our bolthole for the week was La Grande Métairie campsite, where we had opted for a gentle introduction to camping by booking a two-bedroom, two-bathroom Prestige mobile home tucked away in a wooded area, surrounded by hedges and a good distance from any other pitches.

The children, Emily, 12, and Ross, 11, had to suffer the perceived ordeal of sharing a bedroom but were impressed to find they had their own bathroom.

We lost no time in donning our backpacks, hiring bikes and heading to the local supermarket to stock up on provisions. There is a shop on site but the choice is limited, not to mention expensive. Our choice was vindicated when we returned with some delicious fresh baguettes, some curious-looking sausages and a bottle of the local plonk. Having unpacked our purchases, we cranked up the barbecue for an early evening meal on the decking.

By the next morning we were feeling completely relaxed and had fallen in love with the simplicity of campsite life. Emily and Ross loved playing in the four pools and on the slides of the Aquapark or bobbing along the lazy river - despite their giant inflatable turtle deflating on its first outing.

We also spent a good deal of time on our bikes visiting the two nearby beaches, the less developed of which is situated in a secluded nature reserve with lovely white sand and clear seas.

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Those preferring to stay on site can make use of a range of activities including kid's clubs, pony rides, a petting zoo and a wide range of organised events for the older ones, such as football tournaments, volleyball, archery and tennis. Some activities, such as the zipwire, are an extra charge and need to be booked in advance but the children loved flying between the treetops.

After a few nightly barbecues we decided to try the on-site Blue Lagoon restaurant overlooking the pool, where we tucked into Breton specialities such as whole wheat pancakes and crpes and more international fare such as pizza.

We ended the night at Le Castel Bar, which has its own mini amphitheatre, for an evening of local folk dancing.

When we fancied a change of scene we'd head off on our bikes to explore. The Parc de Préhistoire de Bretagne at nearby Malensac has some 400 standing stones reminiscent of Stonehenge, and an associated prehistoric museum contains more than 6,000 exhibits.

Another attraction is the historic town of Auray with its sleepy, picturesque harbour and excellent seafood restaurants. We enjoyed a wander through the narrow cobbled streets of the old quarter, marvelling at the half-timbered 15th and 16th-century houses before soaking up the views of the town from the 17th-century stone bridge spanning the River Loch.

By the end of our week, we were officially converts to camping, or at least our pampered version of it.
Who knows - next year we may go the whole hog and experience life under canvas.

THE KNOWLEDGE:
Keycamp (0844 406 0200/www.keycamp.co.uk) offers seven nights at La Grande Métairie from £887 (four sharing).

Price includes self-catering accommodation in a Prestige mobile home and ferry crossings from Plymouth to Roscoff. Departs August 28, 2010.

Brittany Tourism: www.brittanytourism.com