THANKFULLY, not all French people are like Monsieur Misery, alias fisherman leader Jose Huleux, the man behind the boat blockades in France. He showed no sympathy for holidaymakers enduring a nightmare trying to get back into Britain earlier this month.

Neither are they all like the truck drivers who blockaded the oil depots and caused panic and confusion by effectively closing most of the petrol stations across the Channel.

In fact, most of the local people we encountered in France were sympathetic and very friendly. Combined with beautiful, unspoiled beaches and picturesque villages and towns, our holiday to Brittany was just about perfection.

Twenty miles down the road from home we'd already had the obligatory: "Are we nearly there?" Going on a camping holiday to Brittany by car with two young children can be a very tiring experience, with a five-six hour drive from the North-East before the car wheels have even touched foreign soil.

So for the first time, with the car packed to capacity, we decided to break our journey by taking an overnight crossing with P&0 Ferries from Portsmouth to Le Havre. This at least gave us and the children some time to rest and, compared to our usual Dover-Calais route, cut a substantial amount of time travelling through France the following day.

The kids also thought the crossing was more of an adventure than going on a "boring train through a tunnel". And fortunately for us we sailed just days before the blockades.

At the Camping de L'Atlantique, near the small village of Beg-Meil, about ten miles from Benodet, we had booked a six-berth caravan with Sunsites that was clean, well equipped and near a lovely beach, just 600 yards away through a small nature reserve. When the wind blowing off the Atlantic is too strong there are numerous small beaches around the corner in the Baie de La Foret, which are sheltered and quiet.

The site boasted an excellent pool complex with numerous water slides and had an on-site shop, takeaway and play area. An 'animateur' organised events, such as water sports, football and evening entertainment, making the complex an ideal place to relax whilst keeping the kids occupied.

Beg-Meil, just a mile from the site, is a small holiday resort with a few shops, bars and restaurants and a good place to eat out. Along with mussels and frites (about £4) - the local take on fish and chips - came delicious crepes (£3) with a variety of fillings.

For groceries we shopped at the larger town of Fouesnant, a few miles away. You can't buy seafood like shrimps, crabs and lobsters much fresher than when it's still moving on the counter.

Worth visiting ten miles away is the walled town of Concarneau with ramparts built in the 14th Century encircling streets of bustling shops and restaurants. The old town is a rocky islet in a harbour, which originated over 1,000 years ago because of its excellent defensive position and that it's reached by two small bridges. Today Concarneau is Brittany's most important fishing port and the third largest in France, as well as a lively seaside resort with a marina and several beaches.

Another picturesque town is Quimper, about 13 miles away. It reminded us of York. Situated on the confluence of the Odet and Steir rivers it's Brittany's oldest city and boasts sturdy granite buildings in winding streets.

From the busy Rue Kereon and between the two rows of houses you can see the St-Corentin Cathedral, one of the finest examples of gothic architecture in Brittany. Construction took over 300 years, from 1239-1515, and it has superb 15th Century stained glass in the upper windows of the nave and transept.

Further afield, another historical site of interest is near Carnac which has the largest number of avenues of prehistoric standing stones, some weighing over 300 tons. No one is certain of the stones' function but you can visit the Musee Prehistoire in Carnac, which traces the history of the area and the possible origin of the stones. Afterwards, a visit to the beautiful white sandy beach at Carnac is a must.

Brittany is a lovely region and is a refreshing change from some of our own British seaside resorts. Every beach we visited was clear of crowds, had no litter (not even a single drinks can floating around) and had none of the tacky shops found at home.

And despite our slightly hair raising journey back to the port, when we were running on petrol fumes because of the recent blockade, it won't be long before we'll be begging to revisit Beg-Meil.

l Sunsites: for bookings, brochures and information, call (01606) 787555

P&O Portsmouth: 0870 2424 99