Clacton Airshow and Beach

Some of the crowds at the Clacton Airshow on Thursday. The skyride kept going during most of the display giving some people a great view of the two Lancasters. There were still spots on the beach to be alone or to serve up a rice dish to all the family.

The Vulcan at Clacton

Much as I detest anything designed to kill, there is a lot to admire in the design innovation and the engineering expertise that went into the construction of the massive Vulcan plane and then the dedication to keep it flying. It was certainly shown off to its very best at Clacton Air Show yesterday. It is due to fly for only one more season.

Derelict Factory Honfleur

In contrast to the very picturesque town and harbour, the docks area of Honfleur has some wonderfully evocative factory buildings slowly falling into decay.

Fougères Castle and Town

On the way back to Calais, we visited the splendid Château de Fougères, a medieval castle built on a granite ledge, which was part of the Duchy of Brittany's ultimately unsuccessful defence against French aggression. It is possible to climb all the towers and to walk on the high walls - like many monuments in France, health and safety are not high on the list.

Treguir Cathedral and Plougrescant

 We enjoyed an afternoon visit to Treguir which has an impressive Cathedral as well as numerous small shops and bars.

The morning visit to Plougescant proved not great for photography with dull skies and light but the rock formations and little islands certainly produce a very attractive landscape. Lots of rocks to scramble up and rock pools to explore

Abbaye de Beauport, Brittany

Abbaye de Beauport was founded in 1202 near Paimpol. Built on high ground, it dominates the landscape, with breathtaking views of the sea and marshes. There are six centuries of monastic history plus the orchard collections, walled garden and cloisters. It is managed by the ‘Conservatoire du littoral’.