Paul Traynor packs walking boots as well buckets and spades for a family holiday in breathtaking Brittany

IT'S a problem many parents keen on the outdoors face when kids come along.

Mum and dad fancy packing as much walking as possible into precious holiday time, preferably abroad for the change of scene - the children have other priorities.

Like paddling in the sea, building sandcastles, burying dad in the sand, begging for ice creams every ten minutes - that sort of thing.

For us, with a three-year-old girl and six-year-old boy, both alarmingly well able to fight their corner, finding the right holiday balance is not easy. Our solution worked a treat at keeping everybody happy - we headed for Brittany, more specifically its beautiful coast.

All of France is well served with marked trails, from local circuits to long distance treks. Brittany is no exception but also has some of the loveliest beaches around. Our holiday soon settled into a laid-back pattern of half-days on the beach and the other half exploring the region on foot or occasionally further afield by car.

We'd chosen to stay with Canvas Holidays who offer tents and mobile homes on sites all over Europe. There is a whole number of advantages of this sort of holiday for active families.

Firstly, with dozens of kids on site determined to have a great time, friendships are made literally within minutes of arrival. Daniel was zooming off with new mates from day one. And the Hoopi's Club, run for children by Canvas couriers, also kept Daniel occupied for a couple of hours twice a day, when required.

The site - like most of those in the brochure - has a good swimming pool with slides where most children would cheerfully spend all day left to their own devices.

But with a great sandy beach just a short, safe walk from our campsite the kids were spoilt for splashabout choice.

The site, Camping Les Deux Fontaines, was well equipped and efficiently run and our mobile home was comfortable, positively luxurious compared to some family caravans we've used over the years, and made a great holiday base for a busy holiday schedule.

Walkers and cyclists are really spoilt for choice. Tackling the Brittany coastal footpath, the Grand Randonee (Big Trek) 34, which snakes some 360 miles from Morlaix to Mont Saint Michel, is probably a tad ambitious for families with young kids in tow, but sections of it are easily accessible for day outings.

More local walks, generally easy-going and well waymarked, pop up at every turn it seems. Good guidebooks - in French - and excellent mapping from the French equivalent of Ordnance Survey, the Institut Geographique National, are widely available, and following routes is at least as easy as public footpaths at home and usually easier.

Country roads around our campsite were generally quiet and cyclists should note that they are regarded with respect by motorists in France, as elsewhere on the Continent - a refreshing change from the UK.

For families who prefer a more traditional holiday there's plenty to do and see. We particularly liked the fine beaches at Port Manech and Rospico, where a river creek leads prettily to the sands.

Nearby Pont Aven makes the most of its Gaugin connections and a visit to the picturesque village is well worth it - if only for a walk in the Bois d'Amour - ooh la la!