Around the Phare des Baleines lighthouse

A circular loop to see the Phare des Baleines lighthouse from its best angle. Return via the Conche des Baleines.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.67 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 8 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Start from the miniature golf course on Chemin du Casino. Walk towards the lighthouse and turn left onto Rue du Chaume. You will be moving away from the lighthouse. Cross the D 735 with caution and continue straight ahead. Turn right onto Rue du Cassis.
At the end of the street, turn left onto Rue du Réveil, then right onto Rue des Pêcheurs. You can see the interlocking houses. Follow the street to the end and turn right.
Cross Rue du Phare and take Rue de la Mardelle opposite. Leave the town and continue straight ahead to reach the coast.

(1) Turn right towards the lighthouse. You will see the lighthouse in the distance.

(2) Cross the old lifeboat shelter. Signs recount the history of the place. Turn left towards the lighthouse.
Do not take the small road that branches off to the left. It leads to the Baleines semaphore, which is a restricted military area.
You will arrive at the lighthouse esplanade, where you will find shops and restaurants.

(3) Walk to the foot of the lighthouse. You can visit it, as well as the old lighthouse and the adjoining museum.
The climb up to the lighthouse alone is worth the effort. With your back to the lighthouse, head left along the various paths that pass under the holm oak copses.
When you reach the coastal path, follow this path to the right (towards the east).

(4) When you reach a small pyramid that serves as a landmark, descend onto the sand of the cove. Pass several erosion barriers.

(5) When you see a blockhouse, climb back up the coast and turn right to return to the starting point. Please note that this part of the route is shared by pedestrians and cyclists and, in season, cyclists leave little room for pedestrians. Arrive at the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 3 m - Miniature golf
  2. 1 : km 1.48 - alt. 6 m - Arrival on the coastal path
  3. 2 : km 2.39 - alt. 6 m - Lifeboat shelter
  4. 3 : km 2.95 - alt. 4 m - Phare des Baleines lighthouse
  5. 4 : km 3.61 - alt. 7 m - Conche des Baleines
  6. 5 : km 4.66 - alt. 8 m - Blockhaus
  7. S/E : km 5.67 - alt. 3 m - Miniature golf

Notes

If you want to walk on the hard sand of the Conche des Baleines, you must not be at high tide. Otherwise, you will be forced to walk on the soft sand at the top of the beach.

A conche is a bay. Conche des Baleines on the Île de Ré, Grande Conche in Royan, etc.

Worth a visit

During your walk, you can visit the Phare des Baleines lighthouse and climb its 257 steps to reach a height of 57 metres above sea level. If it is not high tide, you will be able to see the fish locks (traditional fishing traps).
You can also visit the museum and the old tower.
There is an admission charge.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Lachassinie
Lachassinie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Short warm-up hikes

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Fifi 95
Fifi 95

Enjoy your hike

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jolo07
jolo07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route completed last week in good weather
Super interesting and relaxing, with no difficulty despite a recent knee replacement!
Thank you for this refreshing route.

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www.gymmarche.fr
www.gymmarche.fr

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I did this hike starting from the Whale Lighthouse, in good weather and at low tide. The route should have been easy, but the sea and storms have caused quite a bit of damage. On the beach, passing the protective structures can sometimes be tricky. More seriously, even at low tide, it is impossible to cross the beach at one point because the sea reaches the protective rocks.
Finally, at point 5, the wooden footbridge leading off the beach has been washed away. You have to go much further to get off the beach (adding about 1.5 km to the route).
It is with regret that I have only given 2* for the ease of following the route, as I am convinced that it was not difficult before the storms. This part of the route therefore needs to be reviewed. I fear that the beach section will have to be abandoned. This is a shame, as it is really beautiful.

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Lucho9117
Lucho9117

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, be careful at point 5. We were focused on the blockhouse and didn't see the path, which is very poorly marked from the beach, and had to cross the dune to reach the road. Sorry about that, but otherwise it was a very nice hike.

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mapichevre
mapichevre

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that at point 2, the old lifeboat shelter is currently closed for renovation (until when?), without any prior warning. It is not possible to continue the hike at this point. It's a shame, as it's an interesting little hike.

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Alain940
Alain940

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for the enjoyable time spent on this route. In the future, I will be looking into new routes offered on your website.

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