Around Rotheneuf and Pointe de La Varde

Walk between land and sea dotted with numerous historical, cultural and tourist attractions.
Urban start, then green countryside through Saint-Coulomb.
Return via the Emerald Coast and its magnificent sandy beaches.
Discover the protected natural site of Pointe de la Varde, offering a panoramic view of Saint-Malo and Cap Fréhel.

Details

3931346
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.62 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 53 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 52 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 36 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Saint-Malo (35400)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.670941° / W 1.981985°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1116ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the junction of Avenue du Président John Kennedy and Des Fontenelles.

(S/E) Start between the houses opposite Avenue des Fontenelles, then turn right onto Rue Anatole Le Braz. Take the path on the left towards no. 37, passing close to the Rochebonne lighthouse. Climb up to the platform on the left. Enjoy the view of Fort de La Grande Conchée, Île Cézembre and the Grand Jardin lighthouse.
Go down the grassy area to reach Avenue Colette below.
Opposite, take Rue des Grands Pointus to the right.

(1) At the end, at the barriers, take the pedestrian lane opposite and continue to Rue de Jersey.
Continue left until you reach Avenue Aristide Ollivier.
Turn left and then immediately right onto the path through the fields. Continue until you reach the road with the Croix de Limoëlou.

(2) Continue right onto Rue du Docteur Christian Paul.
You may wish to turn around and drive back to the Manoir de Limoëlou, Jacques Cartier Museum.
After the houses, leave the road via the path on the left, then turn right towards the greenhouses and the farm. You will come out onto the road at Écosse.

(3) Continue straight ahead, then turn left towards La Gâtinais.
At the next crossroads, turn right and continue along this road.
At the bend towards the last house on the right, No. 9, continue straight ahead on the paved road, then the grassy path.
Rejoin the road and Saint-Vincent on the right and pass close to the chapel.

(4) After the stop sign, take thesecond road on the left and continue to the road.
Turn left onto Rue du Havre.
Shortly before the top of the hill, turn right onto the pine-lined path, then right again at the next path. Continue to the junction with the crossroads.

(5) Turn left. Join the D201 road and theGR®®34. Turn left onto Rue de La Sablière.
Here, there are two options depending on the tide:
- via the beach: access 100 m to the right (house no. 6), walk along the beach and exit via the steps located before the white house with blue shutters. Walk up to the red fire hydrant and turn right onto Allée Notre-Dame des Flots,
- by road: reach the main access to the beach, leave the D201 and turn right onto Chemin du Havre. Follow the red and white signs. You will come out onto Rue de La Roche. Turn right, then left onto Allée Notre-Dame des Flots.

(6) Follow theGR®®34, pass close to the chapel, then the sculpted rocks and the restaurant. Continue straight ahead, then turn left. Make a detour via Pointe du Christ (cross) to see one of Abbé Fouré's sculptures. Go up to the right towards the houses on Rue du Bénetin.

(7) Take the steps on the right opposite No. 20. Walk along the beach at Val, continue on the road to the right, then turn right onto Rue du Nicet. At the top, turn right until you reach the end of this cul-de-sac.
Turn left to rejoin the coastal path after going down the wooden steps. Follow the path and the coastline.

(8) Climb up to the right towards Pointe de La Varde. Descend on the right and pass close to the ruins of an old fort.
Admire the view of the pirate town as far as Cap Fréhel.
Go straight ahead after the barrier towards the houses.

(9) Go down between the houses, then take the steps towards Plage du Pont.

(10) Here, depending on the tide, choose one of two options:
- option 1: it is impossible to pass via the beach. Continue to the end of the sea wall, take the road on the right along the boat storage area. Take the steps behind the toilets and follow Allée de La Crolante. Come out onto Avenue du Président John Kennedy, turn right, cross near Avenue des Fontenelles and return to the car park (S/E).
- option 2, sea level allowing you to walk along the beach. Leave the sea wall via the boat ramp.
Continue right on the beach until you reach thefourth staircase leading to the low glass building.

(11) Take the stairs and join Avenue du Président John Kennedy.
Turn left until you reach the intersection with Avenue des Fontenelles to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 20 m - Car park at the corner of Avenues Kennedy and Fontenelles
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 27 m - Opposite pedestrian walkway
  3. 2 : km 1.3 - alt. 30 m - Limoëlou Cross
  4. 3 : km 1.66 - alt. 28 m - Road at the level of Scotland
  5. 4 : km 2.8 - alt. 30 m - On the left, Chemin du Prieuré
  6. 5 : km 3.52 - alt. 24 m - Turn left towards the D201
  7. 6 : km 5.14 - alt. 19 m - Allée Notre-Dame des Flots
  8. 7 : km 6.37 - alt. 25 m - Opposite No. 20, stairs on the right
  9. 8 : km 8.08 - alt. 14 m - Turn right towards Pointe de La Varde
  10. 9 : km 9.22 - alt. 23 m - Opposite GR 34 between the houses
  11. 10 : km 9.44 - alt. 6 m - Boat launch ramp, see options
  12. 11 : km 10.32 - alt. 11 m - Exit via the fourth staircase towards the glass building
  13. S/E : km 10.62 - alt. 20 m - Car park at the corner of Avenues Kennedy and Fontenelles

Notes

(S/E) Car park accessible to motorhomes.
Between (2) and (3) at the farm, organic vegetables grown and sold.
(5) See the old semaphore on Île Besnard opposite.
(8) Departure possible from Pointe de la Varde. Car and motorhome parking.
Bed and Breakfast in Saint-Vincent.
Numerous benches facing the sea at Val beach.
Toilets at Val and Pont beaches.

Worth a visit

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
filbar
filbar

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The GR34 trail markings are not very visible, hidden by vegetation. This part of the Emerald Coast is magnificent. And the water is so blue! With the reflections of the setting sun (7-8 p.m.), we parked one car at the pierced rocks (expensive, €5, which is unbelievable, and beautiful, but be careful, you're walking on sloping rocks, and there's a danger of erosion from tourists!!!) and the other at Minihic beach (long parking lot) with beautiful panoramic views in the distance

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SandrineJ
SandrineJ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A circuit between land and sea, with magnificent views if you are lucky enough to have sunshine. Worth doing again and again.

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Florence38!
Florence38!

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route between countryside and ocean: desert on the countryside side, more populated on the ocean side. Very easy, beautiful and pleasant

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dechambre
dechambre

Thanks, Lesdah, for your comments about this hike.
In the event of high tide at Pont beach, there are two options for reaching the starting point. Under no circumstances should you cross the rocky point at Rochebonne.
Enjoy your hikes in Brittany and elsewhere.

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lesdah
lesdah

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike along the coast. Very pleasant.
However, it is best to check the tide times. Part of the hike on the GR trail is on the beach, and at high tide – which was the case for us – the hike becomes rock climbing, and some sections are difficult. We actually changed the route on the beach for the second part. The first part on the rocks had discouraged us a little.
It's a very beautiful hike, we'll do it again... but at low tide this time.

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dechambre
dechambre

Thank you gaelleetmika for your comments and ratings on this hike.
Have a wonderful holiday season!

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gaelleetmika
gaelleetmika

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk and, above all, very well signposted!

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Pascal35000
Pascal35000

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, with a few hesitations regarding signage, which connects land and sea...
I recommend it, especially if the weather is nice, as the coastline is magnificent...
Pascal

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Lorenzzo44
Lorenzzo44

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hiking in the tranquillity of magnificent landscapes – a real treat

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Manueflower
Manueflower

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, starting inland and then along the coast with sumptuous landscapes

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daniel.tbo
daniel.tbo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike.

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dechambre
dechambre

Thanks, daniel.tbo, for your kind comments. It's true that the coast is beautiful everywhere.
Dinan isn't bad either!
Enjoy your walks.

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daniel.tbo
daniel.tbo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Start of the hike at the Morse car park in Rothéneuf, followed by a route through the countryside and market gardens.
Return along the coast from Lupin beach, with stunning sea views, high tide and rainbows as a bonus.
From Rothéneuf to Pointe de la Varde, enjoy beautiful views of the coastline with its hidden coves and beaches,
then La Varde with a 180-degree view of the sea, from St-Malo to Cap Fréhel and then to Ile Besnard.
Finally, we returned via Minihic beach to our car park.

In short, a great hike.

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dechambre
dechambre

Thank you, Cyril Drion, for rating this hike.
Enjoy your walks in Brittany and elsewhere!

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Cyril Drion
Cyril Drion

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A perfect hike between land and sea!

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