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Start from the church in Saint-Pabu.
(S) From the church, head up Rue du Bourg towards Lampaul Ploudalmézeau until you reach the top of the plateau.
(1) Cross the roundabout in the centre of Place de Teven ar Reut and continue straight on. You’ll soon leave the built-up area behind, and the view opens out onto the coast, which you’ll be overlooking from a height of about fifty metres.
(2) The road to Lampaul is crossed by the valley of the Ribl stream, which you cross just before reaching the first houses of the village. Keep an eye out for the dome of the elegant bell tower, a rare sight in this region of openwork spires.
(3) At the crossroads, above the church, turn left to head back up towards Ploudalmézeau. Then take the first road on the right towards Kergounan, then the second on the left, before descending towards this hamlet. The small road follows the Gouer ar Frout valley, until it almost touches the first houses of Ploudal... as the locals say.
(4) As you pass through the bottom of the wooded valley, cross the stream and immediately turn right towards Kerloroc. Pass the farm, then turn right at the next crossroads. Then follow the D26 for 1.3 km, up to the Ker Rozern crossroads.
(5) Turn left and head due west towards the Portsall bell tower. The old railway line, which you follow to the Barr al Lann crossroads, passes by the old station, which you leave on your right a few dozen metres before the crossroads.
(6) At the crossroads, turn right, then left towards Kersaint and Landunvez at the roundabout that follows. The descent towards Kersaint offers a glimpse of the head of Portsall cove, where the route will pass again a little later.
(7) As you cross the bottom of the valley overlooked by the chapel of Kersaint, you enter the commune of Landunvez, of which the village is a district. At the next roundabout, turn right towards Trémazan and pass in front of the Maison des Chanoines. Follow this small road back to the coast, level with Trémazan Beach.
(8) With your back to the beach and the concrete wall protecting it from invasions (military, maritime...?), you can make out the old medieval fortress, whose ruins rise up a short distance away. From the beach, continue along the road leading to the village of Trémazan, following the coastline. Beautiful view of Portsall cove and the rocks in front of it.
(9) At the central crossroads, turn right towards the Pointe de Beg ar Manac’h, where the coastal walk begins. Beyond the Four lighthouse, which stands in the middle of the channel of the same name, note the massive silhouette of the Île d’Ouessant on the horizon. Continue along the coastal road to the chapel of Saint-Samson.
(10) From the top of its small cliff, the chapel watches over the confluence of the English Channel and the Iroise Sea. Take the time to stop in this peaceful spot whilst the wind rages outside. Leaving the sanctuary, take the small road branching off to the left towards the hamlet of Saint-Samson, which you pass by as you go over an ancient wash house. Follow the stretch of countryside separating Landunvez from the coast to reach the D27. At the crossroads, turn left, then right to join the departmental road at a place called An Ti Pri.
(11) Cross this road to join the cycle path that runs alongside the main road. Follow this path until it branches off from the road and heads, via a more picturesque route, towards Le Hellen.
(12) Once you reach this hamlet, turn left to head back towards Kersaint, then right at the first junction.
(13) Cross the valley via an old railway bridge, which saves you a fair bit of leg-straining. Following the old railway line, you’ll emerge once again at the Barr al Lann junction, facing the street you passed earlier when you first crossed through Portsall.
(6) Turn left and, at the nearby roundabout, unlike the previous section, turn right to coast down the slope leading to Portsall harbour. Follow the path running alongside the water (at high tide, as at low tide the cove empties!), ending up on the esplanade where the anchor of the infamous Amoco Cadiz has been installed.
(14) Return along the same route to the far end of the cove, where the few shops in the harbour are located. Then turn left at the crossroads, then immediately right to head back up towards the chapel.
(15) Below the chapel, head up to the left along Rue du Stréjou, as far as Croaz ar Reun.
(16) At the cross, turn right, then immediately left into Rue de Pors Guen. In a wide right-hand bend, this street runs along the northern tip of Portsall, passing through the cove of Pors Guen, before opening out onto the small bay where the Île de Carn nestles. From this point, you can see the tumulus that crowns it.
(17) If you’ve had the good sense to set off from Saint-Pabu, facing the westerly wind, the rest of the route will be a breeze, as the gradient is very gentle and the tailwind will make the effort negligible. After Pors Guen, you’ll find yourself on a stretch where the coastal road winds its way between farmland, residential areas and dune fields. A few steps through these dunes allow you to discover the beautiful beaches that line this stretch of coast.
(18) As you approach the Camping des Dunes, leave the dunes and take a winding route that passes below the village of Lampaul-Ploudalmézeau.
(19) Take the road on the left, then continue along the dunes to the outskirts of Korn ar Gazel. A left-right bend leads to this new, well-sheltered cove, which invites you to linger and take in the view.
(20) From the beach, head up the hillside towards the first houses of Saint-Pabu. At the first junction, turn right and follow the signs leading to the Maison des Abers. This visitor centre offers a wonderful introduction to these estuaries and the wildlife that inhabits them.
(21) Return from the museum via the same route, then continue along the second road on the right. Follow Rue de Kervigorn until you reach Rue de Benniget. Then turn left to head up this street. Although the road signs do not indicate this, the speed limit on this street is 30 km/h, which means cycling against the flow of traffic is permitted. The street is narrow, so you must proceed with caution, dismounting at crossings if necessary.
(22) Once past Béniguet Beach, you’ll return to two-way traffic. Continue along this road until you pass the village of Morgant, which is perched on a cliff above the Aber Benoit. As you leave this cliff, head up the hillside to the right, then turn left towards Stellac’h
(23) Head down (or not) to what could be considered the port of Saint-Pabu, but you will then need to climb back up to Rue de l’Aber Benoit, on the left, halfway up the slope. Follow this road to the access point for Porz ar Vilin, and turn right to return towards the church of Saint-Pabu and the starting point (S/E).
