To eat this fine pique-nique, we wanted a fine location, so we continued along the cycleway to Domfront. This huddle of medieval streets is built atop a hunk of Armorican sandstone, in the shadow of a ruined 11th-century castle once belonging to Henry Beauclerc, later England’s Henry I. We found a bench inside the ramparts and looked out: the far-reaching view was fit for royalty, as was the incredible cheese. Though, this not being Switzerland, it hadn’t cost a king’s ransom.
How to do it
Brittany Ferries (0330 159 7000) offers Portsmouth-Caen/Ouistreham returns from £98 for foot passengers/cyclists. Camping de la Rouvre has pitches from €11 (£9), a tiny house from €80pn (£68). Roulez JEUnesse offers bike/e-bike hire from €20/€34 (£17/£29) per day, with lower rates for longer rentals. Clécy via ferrata from €16.50pp (£14), zip-line €25pp (£21). See orne-normandy-travel.co.uk, calvados-tourisme.co.uk, en.normandie-tourisme.fr and cycling.lavelofrancette.com.
Five more ‘dupe destinations’
1. Shropshire, England – for Switzerland
There are multiple places dubbed “Little Switzerland”. Church Stretton is perhaps one of the most tenuous, but the surrounding Shropshire Hills are still a great place to walk, and a pint in the Kings Arms (kingsarmschurchstretton.co.uk) won’t quite cost Swiss prices.
2. Navarra, Spain – for Arizona, USA
The semi-desert of Bardenas Reales looks more Wild West than northern Spain. This Natural Park, Unesco Biosphere Reserve and Game of Thrones filming location has red-rock mesas, steep, deep valleys and a network of hiking and biking trails.
3. Manchester, England – for New York, USA
Manchester – especially the pre-war Northern Quarter – has doubled for the Big Apple on screen. It’s also got a similarly buzzing food scene, while luxe Hotel Gotham (hotelgotham.co.uk) offers a moody NYC vibe.
4. Valencia, Spain – for Barcelona, Spain
Spain’s third city has the soft-sand beaches, vibrant culture and quality food you’ll find in the Catalan capital but without the overcrowding. Living costs are around 25 per cent lower in Valencia, too.
5. Palermo, Italy – for Lisbon, Portugal
According to Expedia’s list of great dupes for 2024, Europe has a new “it” city. After a decade of popularity, Lisbon has become increasingly busy and dear; Palermo offers Moorish castles, harbour views and old-town grittiness, but hasn’t been “discovered” yet.