Ile d’Ouessant
The Ile d’Ouessant is an untamed, craggy, hauntingly beautiful island in the English Channel. The most westerly point of European France and roughly 7 km long and 4 km wide, it has long been a beacon for ships entering the Channel and is home to the world’s brightest lighthouse. Photo by: Alex Korting
The island is called in English, Ushant and is a flat-topped island with spectacular cliffs all round. Its central plateau offers easy walking and cycling. For walkers there are few paths and you will have to navigate your own way through beds of heather and mossy grassland. The climate is warm, the winter is soft and the summer is cool, because of its exposure to the prevailing westerly winds. Photo by: gwenael.leclercq2004
The island is stopping point for migrating birds. The wild weather also throws many birds off course and over 300 species have been identified by the local ornithological centre. Photo by: Alex Korting
When to go: All year round but beware of windy weather. Population: 1,000. How to get there: By ferry from either Port de Commerce or LE Conquet. You should know: The local ferries allow very few cars on board. Photo by: Alex Korting
