The walk, coast path south Finistère (GR34) This itinerary is a suggestion for 7 nights, walking 70 miles along one of the most diverse sections of the Brittany coast; undiscovered by most visitors to Brittany.
The south coast, including this section, enjoys the best climate in Brittany with over 2000 hours of sunshine a year. Your itinerary can include rest days and take longer than 7 days. You can do the walk in either direction. You can do a section of the walk (minimum of 3 nights) and you can walk further in a day, the itinerary can be done in 6 nights. Days that are too long can be shortened. Much of this section of the coast is undisturbed by international tourism, Pont Aven and Le Pouldu being the exceptions. The coast path is very quiet and even at its busiest is peaceful. Day 1 (arrival). Walk to Le Pouldu (5.3miles) Day 2 Walk to Port Merrien (9.6 miles) Day 3 Walk to Kerfany Plage (9.1 miles) Day 4 Walk to Port de Belon (12.4 miles) Day 5 Walk to Port Manec'h (13.3 miles) Day 6 Walk to Pointe de Jument (11.3 miles) Day 7 Walk to Concarneau (9 miles) Or arrive at Concarneau with no walking on Day 1, arriving at Le Pouldu on Day 7. Total 70 miles Cost 1 person 980€ (7 nights) 2 people 1190€ Additional rest days 110€/140€ |
Le Pouldu , arrival ( Day 1 ) If you arrive in the morning, perhaps lunch at the Creperie de Saint-Maurice next to L'abbaye Saint-Maurice on the Ria de la Laïta, or picnic on the banks of the river.
We would arrange parking your car and collect your bags from there allowing you to walk unencumbered after lunch down the ria to Le Pouldu, our first camp. This walk is splendid with high, wooded cliffs. It is 8.5km (about 5.3 miles) to the campsite in Le Pouldu. Le Pouldu was home to Gauguin for a while and an old café he frequented has been converted into a museum containing original murals. |
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This day's walking takes in sandy beaches, ranging from big open surf to intimate little coves, a picturesque fishing port for lunch and finishes at a little port sheltered in a ria where the sandy bottom gives the water an outstanding clarity. The walk is about 9 miles with Doëlan at about 3.75 miles where there are fish restaurants and an extremely pretty harbour to enjoy. Oysters and other fruits de mer can be purchased at Port de Merrien where the day's walk finishes. |
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A 9 mile walk to Kerfany. A magical walk, starting at the edge of a protected forest where it meets the sea. There are many walks through the woods if you wish to dally. It's certainly worth the 50 metre detour from the coast path to visit the solid, granite roofed customs lookout building. The path takes you on to the charming port of Brigneau where there are a couple of bars/ restaurants. Perhaps an ideal lunch break? The littoral on this section of the walk provides excellent bird-watching opportunities. And should you feel like a dip at the finish, there is a splendid sandy beach at Kerfany (see photo). |
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A 12.5 mile walk to Port de Bélon. Red squirrels can be seen in the pines leaving Kerfany. The walk is wooded and beautiful. There is the possibility of lunch at an oft-closed bistro in the part of Port de Bélon which you get to first (on the Kerfany side) or it's a picnic in some quiet spot of your choosing. (See Photo.) At Port de Bélon, famous for its oyster-beds, there are two restaurants (specializing in fish) or you can self-cater. Oysters are available to purchase and picnic tables are provided where you can enjoy them with your own bottle of wine whilst enjoying the view. A knife for opening oysters is part of the caravan's equipment. |
There are 2 maps for this day's walk, the
1st as far as Pont Aven and the 2nd onward to Port Manec'h A rewarding and beautiful walk with lunch where you will in Pont Aven, a magnet for tourists having been the home of Gauguin for a while. There are shops selling local buttery biscuits, shops dedicated to selling locally produced tins of fish, clothing shops and chocolatières. There are also many galleries to wander through celebrating Pont Aven's continuing status as an artists' colony. There are plenty of restaurants, creperies and a boulangerie which sells sandwiches. Pont Aven makes a strong contrast to the quiet of the coast path, but is compact enough not to be overwhelming and is extremely picturesque. It's perhaps your best opportunity to buy something for the neighbour feeding the cat, or indeed for the cat. The walks is about 13 miles and the morning can be punctuated with coffee at the Port of Rosbras. |
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Day 6 covers 10.6 miles which you can break where you will with a picnic lunch. A diverse and interesting walk. Port Manec'h is charming with its beach, granite harbour and well proportioned lighthouse. A stretch of granite outcrops lead you to Nevez's other beaches with names (Plage de Tahiti) that they live up to. Beyond Nevez the shore line flattens out and the large ponds and low dunes have been given protected status as a nature reserve. The long beach is excellent for swimming, but is steep, so gets deep very quickly. You can almost dive in from the beach in places. You will be camping very close to the beach and the last of the ponds. When we last stayed here the only intrusion was the sound of frogs. |
see the walk on a map
This 9 mile section is typical of the Breton coast in that the distance looks very small on a large map, but the twists and turns of the inlets makes it an interesting and a good walk. Clear water and outstanding colours are framed with trees and granite. The campsite is very close to a beach and is only a short walk along the coast path to the bac du passage, an electric ferry which crosses to the ville clos, an ancient fortified town on an island in the harbour, which, although very busy at times, is well worth a visit. The ferry costs 1€ each way. If you have allowed time, a boat trip from Concarneau to the Archipel des Glénan, an archipelago 10 miles off the coast is well worth it. A diving and sailing school are located on the islands. |
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