The road between Vannes and Nantes passes the little town of La Roche-Bernard at the head of the Vilaine estuary. This is a lovely river, winding between meadows to the sea. If you want a short canal cruise, without the rigours of locks, but with plenty of peace and quiet, the Vilaine south of Redon is ideal. Not all cruiser hirers operate on the seaward stretch: two which do are Hoseasons and Locaboat Plaisance or contact the Comité Regional du Tourisme de Bretagne, 1 rue Raoul Ponchon, 35069 Rennes cedex; fax 02 99 28 44 40, and request their brochure Tourisme fluvial en Bretagne. The photo shows one of the river’s inland sections.