Every European holiday park has its own distinct flavour. For us, the most vibrant memories we took away from our week at Siblu’s Domaine de Kerlann, in the north-western Brittany department of Finistère, were its evening extravanganzas, hosted in part by Max, Patch and Lily, a trio of larger-than life cuddly individuals; and the perfectly dry, crisp Breton cider we bought on-site and drank outside in a breeze tangy with salt from the nearby rocky coastline.
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I’ll be posting separately about how Domaine de Kerlann has a particularly Breton feel, and on the nearby attractions (for instance the closest beach was only 5 km away). This post covers what was on offer for families on-site.
Environment
The four-star Domaine de Kerlann lies on the outskirts of the small commune of Névez, near the bustling artists’ town of Pont Aven. It opens from April until September, and its mobile homes are available to buy as well as rent, which makes it feel well-cared for. A lot of the pitches had pots of flowers and small trees growing outside.
There were some very quiet areas of the park, around the edges (it is large, with over 700 pitches), but when you were near the entertainment hub the holiday park had an upbeat, lively vibe, with a constant stream of people thronging to and from the pools.
Pools and splash zone
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Brittany’s climate can be variable, but it’s usually warmer than the UK. On the week we stayed (mid-August) the temperature was in the high 20s/low 30s, with one morning of rain. Domaine de Kerlann catered both for swelteringly hot days, and the more dismal moments. It had a large splash zone featuring over ten different water fountains; two outdoor pools, a heated indoor complex, and water slides. These were all heavy with shrieks and splashy energy; by the afternoon it was difficult to find a lounger, but there were lockers so you didn’t have to leave your towels at the poolside.
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Kids’ clubs
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Our children are sociable sorts, and weren’t fazed by the fact that Siblu’s free kids’ clubs were run as bilingual efforts, in both French and English. Bubbles club, for the 1-4 year olds, required parents to stay, and featured games, songs, dancing and art/crafts. Both Bubbles club and club Pirates, for 5-9 year olds, made the most of the good weather and based a lot of their activities outside; Pirates was fairly sporty. The clubs ran two-hour sessions in both mornings and afternoons. Club Barracudas was for the 10-14 year olds and the emphasis seemed to be on socialising through sport and games.
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The Pirates had their own hat; Bubbles club members were given a drinking cup, and tattoos on the last day.
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Evening entertainment
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A Breton mouse (Max), a pirate parrot (Patch) and a pink tiger/fairy hybrid (Lily) led the entertainment for the younger children on some evenings, with games and a talent show on the other nights (rehearsals took place in the kids’ clubs). The younger children flocked to these shows, while older kids roamed around on bikes, or gathered at the sports areas. The later shows for older children and adults featured karaoke, musicians and a foam party. Music and entertainment stopped at 11.30, but there was a fair amount of revelry until much later.
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Bouncy castles, play areas and sports facilities
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If the kids grew tired of cooling down in the pools, clustered around the swimming area were a few bouncy castles (including one with colossal slides) and a small indoor play space, Ti Korrigan. Swings, slides and climbing frames were dotted around the holiday park, and a few fitness machines for adults could be found outside the shop. As well as bike hire there were sports areas including basketball and tennis courts, and mini golf.
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Accommodation
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At Domaine de Kerlann you could hire mobile homes ranging in size to accommodate 4-8 people. We stayed in a 3-bedroom Elegance mobile home, with its own terrace and a barbecue béton. I’ve posted separately about the Elegance here, including a youtube video to give a more detailed view of the place. It had most things you needed for a family stay; there was a separate laundry room, costing €5 per wash, and an on-site shop for groceries, toiletries and other essentials.
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Verdict
Domaine de Kerlann is great for families who enjoy lively, straightforward activities; for those who want to find a quiet spot (on the outskirts of the park) and dip occasionally into the action; and for people who want a base to explore the picturesque south-west edge of Brittany. One woman I spoke to had chosen to book with Siblu for the last three years, at different locations (there are 16 Siblu holiday parks across France), and she said Domaine de Kerlann had been her family’s favourite. Another Mum with older children told me this had been one of their favourite holidays, because the place was safe enough for the teen and tweenagers to have a large amount of freedom. It cut both ways: the woman who served me in the shop insisted I tell blog readers that Domaine de Kerlann’s customers are ‘magnificent’.
Map
The nearest town to Domaine de Kerlann is Pont Aven.
We were given a week’s stay at Siblu Domaine de Kerlann for the purpose of this post. All views are my own.
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