Trail running, hiking and cycling from the door

On foot

Hiking

Six walks — five loops from the house and one a short drive away —, from a quiet afternoon to a full outing, with the GR34 coastal path (the long-distance trail that circles Brittany) for at least half of the way. Narrow path, steps, viewpoints: good shoes and a windproof are all you need.

1. 1. Porsmilin and Portez along the path 6.7 km · +107 m · 1h45–2h15 Easy
2. 2. Déolen and the Pointe du Grand Minou 10.0 km · +200 m · 2h45–3h30 Moderate
3. 3. Round Locmaria by both coasts 10.7 km · +113 m · 2h30–3h30 Moderate
4. 4. The Petit Minou lighthouse 12.4 km · +253 m · 3h15–4h30 Hard
5. 5. Trez-Hir and Fort de Bertheaume 11.4 km · +178 m · 3h–4h Moderate
6. 6. Round the Kermorvan peninsula 3.3 km · +17 m · 0h45–1h · by car Easy

Road cycling

Road cycling

The Locmaria-Plouzané cycling club’s loops, with the link from the house (3.4 km of quiet lanes to the village, where the club starts). A short ride put together for the occasion opens the list. Quiet lanes, little traffic, westerly wind.

1. 1. Le Conquet and Pointe Saint-Mathieu 27.9 km · +220 m · 1h15–1h45 Easy
2. 2. Saint-Renan, Le Conquet and Saint-Mathieu 56.2 km · +436 m · 2h30–3h30 Moderate
3. 3. Corsen, Plouarzel and Saint-Renan 60.7 km · +585 m · 2h45–4h Moderate
4. 4. The Aber Ildut, Porspoder and Argenton 77.7 km · +595 m · 3h30–4h45 Hard
5. 5. Ploudalmézeau, Le Conquet and Saint-Mathieu 82.5 km · +635 m · 3h45–5h15 Hard
6. 6. Meneham and the Côte des Légendes 104.0 km · +698 m · 4h45–6h15 Very hard
7. 7. The Aber Wrac’h 108.1 km · +860 m · 5h–6h45 Very hard

Advice

Before you set off

Start and finish

The tracks start and end at the gate, except Kermorvan and the 20 km of the end of the world, reached by car (car park given on the route sheet). The club outings start in the village; the link is included in the files.

The coastal path

The GR34 is narrow, with steps and cliff-edge sections; muddy and slippery after rain. Trail or walking shoes. It is for walkers only: no mountain bikes outside the waymarked stretches.

Weather and wind

The weather changes fast and the wind is mostly from the west. On a bike, head into the wind first and let it push you home. A windproof in the bag, even in August.

Water and food

Nothing on the path between the beaches. Bakery and small supermarket in Locmaria-Plouzané village, shops in Plougonvelin, Le Conquet and Saint-Renan. At Pointe Saint-Mathieu the hotel-restaurant and the kiosk are not always open: check the opening hours before relying on them, and carry enough water.

Tides

Beaches can be crossed at low tide; at high tide, stay on the path. Tide times are posted in the house and on the SHOM website. Tide times (SHOM)

On the road

The Le Conquet road (D789) is the only busy road; the tracks cross it, they never follow it. Helmet, hi-vis and lights: the country lanes are unlit.

Times

Indicative, for a relaxed pace with breaks: 4 km/h and 400 m of climbing per hour on foot, 9 km/h trail running, 22 km/h on the road, 15 km/h on a mountain bike.

GPX files

Open them in Komoot, Strava, Garmin Connect, OsmAnd or Organic Maps. Download offline maps: mobile coverage is patchy along the coast.

Mountain-bike circuits

Waymarking and route sheets for all eighteen circuits on the Iroise Bretagne tourist office website. Iroise Bretagne tourist office

Emergencies

112 (emergency services), 196 (sea rescue, CROSS). Give the name of the nearest hamlet: it is on every signpost.