Departure to Merrien

Leaving the small port of Merrien, you follow the seafront. After returning via small grassy paths, you'll make your way up the entire ria.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.96 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 75 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 74 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 36 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Port of Merrien (note: ca park spaces are limited)
Another possibility: to park at "Pointe de Kersécol" (indicated on the map and signposted), from where you can join the coastal path. (about 15 spaces).

GR®34 : White and Red Marking

(S/E) From the car park, follow the sign for the coastal path (GR®34). Follow this path along the seafront.

(1) On the left, spot the optional path from the car park. Pass "Pointe de Kersécol" and continue along the coastal path, which takes you around several coves, including "Porz Bali", "Chinec" and "Portec".

(2) Go around this deeper cove, which is home to a few small boats. Ignore the three trailheads on the left and continue to the next cove, "Porz Lama"t, where you leave the coastal path and the GR®34.

(3) At a stream, take the wide path up to the left (suitable for the disabled). At the crow's-foot, leave the path on your left which joins a car park, then turn right (north-west) onto a narrow grassy path which you follow until it meets a small road.

(4) Follow this road on the left, called "Rue Kren Ker Bihan", through the large hamlet of Kerampellan. Turn right, then left, towards the village of Saint-Thamec.

PR® : Jaune Marking

(5) Before the first houses in the village, turn left onto a path which passes a wash-house and fountain. Continue along the path, then turn right at the small road.

(6) At the fork in the road, turn left into the street between two houses, and at the beginning of the bend in the road, you'll come to a grassy path on the left. Follow this zigzagging path down to a stream and then up to the hamlet of Chef du Bois.

(7) Turn left then right at the road to bypass this hamlet and follow the road to the port of Merrien.

(8) After a stream, just as the road begins to rise (Pen ar Prat), turn left to find the coastal path sign. Follow a stream downhill. The path joins a carriage road which leads to Moulin L'Abbé.

GR®34 : White and Red Marking

(9) Opposite the bottom of the "Ria de Merrien", (do not cross the footbridge to the right). On the left is the signpost for the coastal path that follows the ria.

(10) Before reaching the harbour, the path skirts around the oyster-farming facilities. Continue on to the harbour car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Merrien harbour car park
  2. 1 : km 0.84 - alt. 11 m - Path from the second car park
  3. 2 : km 3.34 - alt. 4 m - Anse de Porz Teg
  4. 3 : km 4.56 - alt. 6 m - Junction. Leave the coastal path.
  5. 4 : km 5.39 - alt. 33 m - Street on the left
  6. 5 : km 5.92 - alt. 15 m - Path on the left passing by a wash-house
  7. 6 : km 6.13 - alt. 27 m - Fork in the road. Turn left between two houses.
  8. 7 : km 7.16 - alt. 36 m - Turning left
  9. 8 : km 7.86 - alt. 27 m - Pen ar Prat junction
  10. 9 : km 8.29 - alt. 5 m - Moulin l'Abbé.
  11. 10 : km 9.36 - alt. 12 m - Oyster farming facilities
  12. S/E : km 9.96 - alt. 4 m - Merrien harbour car park

Notes

Season: Best done in May-June when the heath is in bloom.
At other times, it retains its charm.

Trail: The coastal path is a little rough in places, but no real difficulties.

Info: Direct oyster sales at the port.

Worth a visit

Two pretty villages: Riec-sur-Belon and Moëlan-sur-Mer.
The small ports of Brigneau and Doélan (famous for the soap opera "Doc Martin" broadcast on TF1 in 2011).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

As the rating for this route is rather average, it is worth adding 2 km by extending the route to the pretty little port of Doelan and then joining the route suggested by Kerandoze. This takes you to Bien, with the added bonus of this point of interest.
I am very surprised to see such a photogenic difference with the Doelan-Pouldu extension, which is absolutely exceptional and rare in the region.

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RIBIN
RIBIN

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route, especially in good weather. The coastal section is quite challenging but magnificent.
However, for the countryside section, the explanations are rather vague and there are many opportunities to take a wrong turn... At point 3, the path does not seem, or no longer seems, suitable for disabled people!
I recommend enlarging the scale of the map to make it easier to understand the junctions.

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Alainkermen
Alainkermen

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant and accessible walk for all walkers, with the added bonus of sunshine.

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RCT69
RCT69

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hello
tres beau parcours qui fait les falaises via le GR et l'intérieur et le long de la riviére Pour ma part j'ai continué jusqu'à l'entrée du port de Doelan , en suite je suis passé vers le mouin (sans aile privé et via un sentier retrouvé le parcours décrit)

I made a mistake at St Thamec; turned left too early ..it's the path that leads back to the ocean ..the gps beeps
et dans le hameau c'est la cata !!! j'ai fait le tour des maisons pour trouver le bon chemin .je crois qu'il est préférable de tourner a gauche au lieu de faire la boucle pt 5 et qqles mètres plus loin on retrouve le chemin

with the diversions to the port, no more wandering 13.48 km

Important point: on the way back you can taste oysters or buy oysters at the port.
Note that there is not much space at the port but 2 car parks before the port (on the road or by going straight on to the GR).

superb day

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Good evening and thank you for your opinion
I have reworded the description in WP 8, which was actually placed too early.
Sincerely

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fran-chris
fran-chris

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant "land and sea" walk, but it was difficult to find your way around the villages. The smartphone app put us back on track, but the written explanations were vague. The fork at point 8 is a bit of a challenge, and you have to go a bit further up to find the same path between the houses. And indeed, as colleagues have pointed out, the coastal path is signposted for the opposite direction, so it's not useful for orientation. Saved by technology!
Best regards

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tro-vale
tro-vale

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
This route combines coastal and inland paths, which is very pleasant in hot weather.
We followed the GR34 from Merrien towards the coast, but when we went inland towards Saint Thamec the path is marked in yellow, but when we arrived in the village after the fountain we went back down towards Portec on the coast instead of going up towards lann ar gall and chef du bois. Luckily there were some "locals". There are no more yellow tracks, except for one that seems to be coming back in the other direction; there must be an overlap of several yellow paths. I know that your routes are based on existing paths, GRs and local walks, but in our opinion your explanations aren't very clear here. And then there are the signs that have been ripped off... I've also just read the comments of other hikers who report the same difficulties...
Sincerely
Robert Le roux

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adrien guegan
adrien guegan

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Poor indication on return to land

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Croixamus
Croixamus

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hi, lovely walk that alternates coastal paths and forest paths.
I always follow the GPS track so I didn't have any orientation problems.

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canardo
canardo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

If you follow the GPS track, there are no orientation problems, otherwise it's a pleasant route showing different aspects of the region (port, seaside, forest, small villages, etc.).
Note that the path was little used by humans on this day but was frequented by vipers on the coastal path (we saw one shortly after the start and another hiker saw one after Dolean).

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Miroque
Miroque

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Problem in the description of the route: avoid saying go between 2 houses as there are many facing each other.

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undeuxtrois123
undeuxtrois123

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent route, one small problem at number 6, several PR cross, you have to be vigilant and orientate yourself well to find the direction of "chef du bois" in this small locality (perhaps changes have been made since the route was published).
Thanks to the author of this route, between the coastal path with its little creeks, the sunken paths in the countryside with primroses, violets and the path beside the river Merrien a pleasure for the eyes and a unique place to recharge your batteries.

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Eric D.
Eric D.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Taken in reverse from Moulin l'abbé (point 9) in the continuation of the route "a loop on the right bank of the river Merrien" so as to finish by the seaside.
The dirt section is very muddy in places the day after it rains. You walk in the stream in places and the coastal section is uneven, but there are no real difficulties.

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vincenterdeven
vincenterdeven

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

super walk between sea, countryside and forest

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Phile M
Phile M

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful walk. Coastal path (GR34) + village crossings + up a ria.
Best done in the sun, but not only.

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