Le Bois de Penhoat (Naturisme en Côtes d’Armor)

Le Bois de Penhoat is in Plourivo, a town of just over two thousand people on the Trieux estuary, four kilometres from Paimpol, in Côtes-d’Armor. The site sits between the Pink Granite Coast and the Emerald Coast, at 40, route de Saint-Ambroise.

The site, run by the association club Naturisme en Côtes d’Armor, spans nearly two hectares of woodland. A hilly, shaded area of about one hectare is set up for camping, with fifteen pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes. The town itself is home to a 600-hectare forest, owned by the Conservatoire du littoral, which runs along the estuary and can be explored in particular from the Maison de l’estuaire.

This is an association-run naturist club: a valid FFN or FNI licence is required to stay. The atmosphere is described as family-friendly and welcoming. The site has recently changed hands: Pascal and Maryvonne Duyck are now the owners, with the latter also chairing the club. The naturist licence, a condition of access, costs around thirty euros a year and can be obtained directly from the club. The club remains a modest operation, far from the large naturist estates of the Atlantic or Mediterranean coasts, with a close, personal welcome.

The site is unclassified and runs on an association-style rhythm, with a season centred on July and August.

The site has free hot showers, a communal barbecue and a parking area. Pitches come with electrical connections, on the hilly, shaded area of about one hectare set up to welcome tents, caravans and motorhomes.

The shops and markets of Paimpol, four kilometres away, round out the offer for everyday shopping. In Plourivo itself, the Maison de l’estuaire, at the heart of the Conservatoire du littoral forest, offers exhibitions and activities on the natural environment of the Trieux estuary. Dogs are welcome on the site, kept on a lead. The naturist licence, FFN or FNI, required to stay, can be issued by the club itself, with no extra paperwork fee. According to the trade directory, the association can be reached every day, from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 8pm.

The new owners, who also chair the club, have announced plans to renovate the existing buildings and lay out the wooded part of the estate, eventually adding unusual accommodation. These developments remain, for now, announced plans that have not yet been carried out; the current welcome relies on the existing, more modest setup.

On site, activities stay simple and sociable: pétanque, table tennis, a small library and card games punctuate the days, between moments of idleness under the trees.

The surrounding area is well suited to hiking and mountain biking, with around thirty waymarked trails recorded around Plourivo, notably along the Trieux valley. Horse riding and fishing are also among the activities available nearby, between the Pink Granite Coast and the Emerald Coast. The Conservatoire du littoral forest, which lines the estuary at Plourivo, is also well suited to walking, with activities offered at the Maison de l’estuaire.

Paimpol, four kilometres away, gives access to its harbour and its markets, as well as to the Pointe de l’Arcouest, from where a short boat trip reaches the Île de Bréhat, one of the region’s most popular natural sites. This whole stretch of coast, known as the Côte du Goëlo, is dotted with coves and viewpoints over the Channel, between coastal hikes and boat trips. Beauport Abbey, founded in the thirteenth century at Kérity, on the outskirts of Paimpol, and the area’s past as a port for Newfoundland and Iceland fishing fleets, which inspired Pierre Loti’s novel “Pêcheur d’Islande”, round out the possible visits in the region.