To Walk on Water, Follow the Arrow!
Geologists call this a “free-tipped littoral arrow.” In other words: a sediment spit anchored to the land at one end, the other extending into the sea. Named the Talbert Furrow, the one found north of Paimpol is among the most impressive in Europe. It forms a 3 km long tongue of sand and pebbles, emerging into the English Channel, which you can traverse with the sensation of gliding atop the water. At the end of the walk, among the sea kale (wild cabbages) and the many birds (82 species), you reach the northernmost point of continental Brittany.
Practical
Starting point: from the Maison du sillon, Pleubian.
Distance : about 6 km round trip.
Tip : to see the sites at their best, start your walk two hours after high tide.
Extend the walk : visible to the east and accessible by ferry, the island of Bréhat is a paradise for hikers.
Everything is Chaos on This Side
On land, a dense forest, carpeted with mosses and ferns, where one moves among striking blocks of rock in pastel and orange-red tones. At sea, the same famed mineral formations gleaming in the sun that have earned this stretch of the Pink Granite Coast its reputation. The walk linking, in the town of Perros-Guirec, the rocky chaos of the Traouïero valley to that of Ploumanac’h will show you countless colors.
Practical
Itinerary : from Kergomar, descend to the valley floor, then follow along to the sea. Continue on the GR 34, along the coast.
Distance : about 5 km.
Extend the walk : to the west, the Plounéour-Trez circuit (7.5 km) lets you discover a coastline that is more rocky.
Utopia in the Dunes
At the dawn of the 19th century, the utopian Louis Rousseau purchased 300 hectares of marshland at Goulven (Finistère) to convert them into farmland. He had a dike built and stabilized the dunes. Named Keremma (the village of Emma, his wife), this place now hosts Brittany’s largest dune belt. A distinct ecosystem, protected by the Conservatoire du littoral, where it is possible to stroll between hills planted with marram grass and deserted beaches.
Practical
Starting point : from the Keremma Dunes House, Tréflez.
Distance : 4 km for the loop at Penn ar C’hleuz point.
Extend the walk : to the west, the Plounéour-Trez circuit (7.5 km) allows you to discover a coastline that is even more rugged.
On the Roof of Brittany
Centuries of erosion may have shaved them down, but the Arrée Mountains are, from a geological standpoint, genuine mountains. One of the best ways to see this is to take the Roc’h circuit, south of Morlaix. It lets you rise above the moorland to reach the crest, and along the route you’ll encounter shale ridges that will confirm it for you: even if you stay below 400 meters in elevation, you’re standing on the roof of Brittany!
Practical
Itinerary : from the commune of Plounéour-Ménez, the classic loop (16 km) passes by Roc’h Trédudon
(385 m) and Roc’h Trévezel (384 m).
Variant : to reach the true high point, take the path toward Roc’h Ruz (385 m).
Extend the walk : south of Plounéour-Ménez, near Huelgoat, you’ll find magnificent rocky chaos.
Notably that of the River Argent.
A “Sea” with a Canada-L-like Air
Mist at dawn, banks that retreat, a wild atmosphere. Nestled among the wooded hills of the Armorican Massif, Lake Guerlédan bears the vibe of a tiny Canada. While it is artificial in origin (the lake owes its existence to a dam completed in 1930 on the Blavet), Brittany’s largest body of water (3 km2 in area) is above all the ideal place for nature walks, along the roughly hundred kilometers of trails surrounding it.
Practical
Itinerary : seven starting points are possible for those who want to circle the lake, following the white-green markings (detailed map at morbihan.com)
Distance : 40 km for the full circuit.
Tip : surprising for Brittany, but the trail has a fair amount of elevation gain. Don’t hesitate to break it into two, or even three days of walking.
This Isthmus That Holds on by a Thread
About twenty meters. That is, at its narrowest, the width of the coastal strip that links Quiberon to the mainland. Just enough for a road and a railway to pass—and for Brittany’s Morbihan town to lose its island status. This isthmus, which finally joined the mainland in the 11th century, has certainly made the territory more accessible. But it has not erased its natural beauties. A walk along the path that runs, to the west, along Quiberon’s Wild Coast reveals rocky coves, pine forests, and shores battered by the swell… A grand outdoor stroll, with Groix and Belle-Île on the horizon.
Practical
Starting point : at Fort Penthièvre, which controls access to the isthmus.
Itinerary : follow the coast to Pointe du Percho, then continue to Porz Stang.
Extend the walk : you can also complete the full circuit of the peninsula via the GR 34. Plan for a 30 km trek.
➤ Article appeared in GEO HS magazine No. 133, “France, our favourite walks for the summer,” June–July 2026.
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