RAINA STINSON

RAINA STINSON PHOTOGRAPHY International Award Winning & Fine Art Photographer Guided Photography Day Tours and Workshops Customized photo sessions to capture your special moments in Provence rainastinsonphotography.com Villa Symbol, 1881, La Baule Kerhinet reserves, this freshwater marshland is bisected by 140 km of canals navigable by flatbottomed boat. Peat is no longer harvested, but the marsh is used for livestock, hunting and fishing. Find out more about the flora, fauna and traditional way of life in the showpiece hamlet of Kerhinet near Saint-Lyphard, its single street fringed by thatched cottages housing craft businesses and displays. Then take a short drive to the cluster of cottages that make up the tiny Port de Bréca, departure point for discovery trips by boat or on board a horse-drawn wagon. If you’re feeling energetic, hire a rowing boat, but I can recommend the guided tour from L’Arche Briéronne with a knowledgeable local guide who will punt you through the canals whilst explaining the fragile ecosystem of this magical wetland. Beyond the marsh, the cranes of Saint- Nazaire’s busy shipyards are clearly visible on the horizon, but here at water level, life moves at a gentle pace, much as it has for centuries. La Baule … La Brière … two very different water worlds that combine to make a unique and addictive double-act. Tourist information from labaule-guerande.com Horse and carriage in village of Bréca, Brière Regional Natural Park Growing in France New Sunday OBSESSION Five years ago, a family moved from New Zealand to South West France. They fell in love with a traditional French property: a maison de maître with attached longère. The property needed more work than they could afford or had ever done before, but they decided to pursue their dream. They are currently knee-deep in extensive renovations, doing everything themselves and amassing an intrigued following on Instagram and YouTube. They offer a raw and honest glimpse into the reality of renovating a dream property abroad, with beautiful results. JOIN THE JOURNEY... and watch the transformation unfold. Subscribe to their YouTube channel to catch every nailbiting and heartwarming scan to watch moment. Tune in for a new video every Sunday. www.youtube.com/@growinginfrance 48 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 49