Around Port du Collet

de fr

A seaside walk starting from the small Port du Collet, formed by the estuary of a coastal river between the Loire Atlantique and the Vendée
It first follows a small winding road through the Marais Breton marshes, where you can observe numerous wild birds, including swans, geese, ducks, egrets and other marsh wildlife. It then runs along the coast, between the dunes and the beach, with magnificent views of the island of Noirmoutier, Bourgneuf Bay and its fishing grounds.

Details

n°551
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.59 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m
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Photos

The Port du Collet
Nature
The marshes
Fishermen's huts

Description of the walk

(S/E) Departure from Pointe du Collet.
Follow the port to the footbridge over the river, which offers a breathtaking view of the site from above.
(1) Retrace your steps and turn right onto the road towards Les Moutiers for about 2 km. At a three-way junction, turn right across the marshes until you reach the railway line.

(2) There, a well-marked discovery trail leads to a wildlife observatory. Return along the same trail to the road.
There, take the beautiful path opposite, which runs alongside the railway line and leads to the village of Les Moutiers.

(3) At a bend, turn right towards the station, cross the railway line and turn right towards the church. Go around it on the right to discover the Lanterne des Morts (Lantern of the Dead) in front of you.

(4) Continue along Rue du Pré Vincent, pass the two roundabouts and head towards the sea.

(5) Turn left and follow the seafront southwards, along the dunes or the beach, to return to Port du Collet (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Pointe du Collet
  2. 1 : km 0.63 - alt. 5 m - View from the footbridge - Falleron (fleuve)
  3. 2 : km 4.77 - alt. 4 m - Fork in the path towards the discovery trail
  4. 3 : km 7.59 - alt. 3 m - On the right, towards the station
  5. 4 : km 7.76 - alt. 5 m - Lantern of the Dead
  6. 5 : km 8.33 - alt. 5 m - Seaside
  7. S/E : km 12.59 - alt. 4 m - Pointe du Collet

Notes

Shelter is available at Le Collet, the bird observatory and Les Moutiers, where you can stock up on supplies and even eat.

The path is easy and does not require any special equipment, but some sections may be wet (marshes) depending on the weather.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 47 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
User 8581972

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Circuit and/or parts of circuit, particularly near the fisheries, which are obviously very busy on public holidays, especially when the weather is good and visibility is clear, as being able to see far out to sea and across the marshes is a huge advantage.
On the sea side, between Le Collet and Les Moutiers en Retz, the numerous fisheries on stilts with long access walkways make this a unique stretch of coastline in France.
Walking in the soft sand on this section requires at least three times more effort, and the wind often blows strongly. Users should also be warned that swimming is not recommended, as children and dogs who venture in get stuck in the mud as soon as they leave the wet sand.
As for the bird observatory in the marsh, mentioned near the moutiers, it is unusable: the view it is supposed to offer of bird activity on a very large body of water is blocked by a hedge of unlimited height on the banks of a small stream between this body of water and the barely elevated observatory hut.

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Igor le breton
Igor le breton

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice hike, the seaside is very present.
Be careful! There's sand, which doesn't make walking easy, but there are no real difficulties!

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GOGO
GOGO
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, but the first part on tarmac with traffic, due to the campsite, isn't very interesting, and although the return to the beach is pleasant, walking in the dry sand is difficult.
Comments: for the curious and adventurous. The path leading to the observatory is overgrown (especially with brambles and nettles). Progress is very difficult on the first part up to the right-hand corner. Long trousers are essential, but in the end you can't see anything. The vegetation has grown in front of the observatory, so the marsh is barely visible.

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Munozel
Munozel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thanks for the info sheet, great hike, the points are interesting

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rnard
rnard
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

Not very interesting, lots of paved roads
A bit disappointed!

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delmarch
delmarch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This 3-hour hike to Port Collet is very pleasant. The first part on the road is less enjoyable, but the return along the seafront is perfect.
Thank you for this discovery.

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DaDoRando14
DaDoRando14

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting hike but - lots of tarmac until you reach the village of Les Moutiers. the GR 8 can be used for the return trip, up to the fish farm, to avoid the road (the road and the trail almost touch each other in several places), but the sandy GR trail quickly becomes difficult, so you have to choose: tarmac or sand!
This hike is available as a free leaflet from the tourist information office in Les Moutiers

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Pierre Biche
Pierre Biche

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Pentecost Sunday with bright, warm sunshine. First, the tarmac with quite a lot of traffic, too much in fact. At the end, the bird observatory is very nice. The return trip along the coast is pleasant, but there is a lot of sand and walking is a bit difficult. Ultimately, our assessment is rather mixed. The locals told us that it's better when there's less sun and fewer cars on the road.

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petitsmollets27
petitsmollets27

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice tour!

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Xavier95
Xavier95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk along a path by the sea, marshes and pine trees. The paved section can be quickly shortened by crossing the marshes.

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Vianneyte
Vianneyte

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk, very pleasant path along the sea and through pine trees. The return journey by road was not as good, with traffic despite the lockdown. Choose to return by the same route as there is no public path through the marshes.

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Lebrun Isabelle
Lebrun Isabelle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice little port, a bit too far to drive but great walking trail.

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rand'ognon
rand'ognon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk along the riverbank and marshes in glorious sunshine!

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xavier1
xavier1

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

route with a bit too much road and tarmac, but very pretty seaside with fishing villages

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Hipparion
Hipparion

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

nice walk, but you might as well stay on the seafront

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