Kervijen Cove Circuit

Coastal circuit overlooking the bay of Douarnenez, passing by the Kervijen reed beds.
The best time to see the dune flowers is May-June.

Details

26157
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.75 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 328 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 325 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 197 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 13 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Ploéven (29550)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.147595° / W 4.270711°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0518OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Starting point: Ty An Quer Beach car park.

(S/E) Join theGR®® 34 and head up to the right to follow the coastal path. Head towards Anse de Kervijen

(A path has been built to cross the stream) At low tide, a shipwreck is visible.

(2) Then continue along the coastal path as it climbs to reach Anse de Ty Mark.

(3) Continue along theGR®® up a slope, then take the coastal path on the left and follow it to a small site equipped for a caravan.

(4) Leave the coastal path between two fields to follow a track leading to a road at Goulit ar Guer. Turn right at Hent Beg an Ti Gard, which runs alongside a campsite. Continue along this road and, at the second junction, turn right onto a track leading to Saint-Sébastien Chapel (the chapel is not signposted).

(5) Follow this road downhill; the chapel is located by the roadside and its fountain is in the neighbouring meadow. This is the ideal spot for a break. Continue on to reach Ty Didrouz on the left

(6) Turn right, following the mountain bike route that leads to the hamlet of Kervijen.

(7) Cross it on the left and, at the end, turn right to head down to Anse de Kervijen

(2) Turn left and follow the cove.

(1) Take the path on the left that runs alongside the reed bed and climb the steep slope (mountain bike markings) to reach Le Marrouz. Follow the markings to the road. Leave the markings on your left, turn right and head for the beach car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 16 ft - Ty An Quer beach car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.54 - alt. 13 ft - Anse de Kervijen
  3. 2 : mi 0.83 - alt. 23 ft - Uphill coastal path
  4. 3 : mi 1.73 - alt. 52 ft - Anse de Ty Mark
  5. 4 : mi 2.6 - alt. 82 ft - Junction. Leave the coastal path.
  6. 5 : mi 3.46 - alt. 174 ft - Turn-off towards St Sébastien Chapel.
  7. 6 : mi 3.82 - alt. 177 ft - Mountain bike route to Kervijen
  8. 7 : mi 4.23 - alt. 177 ft - The hamlet of Kervijen
  9. S/E : mi 5.75 - alt. 16 ft - Car park at the beach - Ile Salgren

Notes

Walking shoes

On the way to and from the cove "Anse de Kervijen", at low tide, you can walk on the top of the beach, which is easier than on the pebbles.

Worth a visit

At low tide and depending on the tidal range, you can see the remains of an old ship, the incredible story of which is here: https://www.letelegramme.fr/finistere/ch...

Pentrez and Kervel beaches (several campsites).

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 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
ISA43
ISA43

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, but I don't use the description, only the real-time route to guide me.
On the way back, I preferred to return along the coast, i.e. the same route as on the way there, because the part in the countryside that we had started to follow is much less interesting.

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Bardot67
Bardot67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Some passages were inaccessible but it was a superb walk

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dheijl
dheijl

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The GR 34/coastal path section in particular is interesting (and busier).

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sombress
sombress

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb first part on the GR34, but I didn't enjoy the return section on the road, which was quite busy that day.
Good overall.

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erwanetbene
erwanetbene

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very nice walk, despite the wind and a few showers!

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Lo59
Lo59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely walk, under a little sunshine and a 70km/h wind!
Varied landscapes, sea, countryside, marshes, chapel, fountain, wreck, island... it was all very pleasant!

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papilrk
papilrk

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Lovely walk, despite the storm, with winds blowing at 90 km an hour.
To be done again in fine weather

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jeanblabla
jeanblabla

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb coastal section on the GR 34; the return with a view over the Kervigen marshes is just as magnificent. Thank you for this walk.

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hellie29510
hellie29510
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The walk was done during the high tides, so we were able to see the wreck. The makeshift bridge at Kervijen no longer exists, it has been rebuilt (for your information). The view is magnificent all along the coastline, but we didn't like the road part so much, apart from the stop at the chapel (but if you want to do a loop, there's no mystery about it... the road is a must).

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idVisoRando92
idVisoRando92

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for the wonderful walks. All the ones we did on this part of the Finistère coast were superb! Thanks to Floch for his suggestions for walks.

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chogui
chogui

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Nice walk !!!!
The bay of Douarnenez is truly magnificent.
It's a lovely route through beautiful countryside.
You can enjoy a snack in the shade of the chapel ....
By the way, the bridge over Kervijen has been rebuilt. A great success.
Thanks to Floch for this walk.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you FLOCH
In future, don't hesitate to use the appropriate form to rate the walk.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Tour completed on 14/07/2016. Pleasant time to enjoy the flowering heather on the cliff and the cereal fields overlooking the sea.
The crossing over the stream is indeed made up of four downed electricity poles.
A small sign from the Conseil Général indicates that it is temporary.
Perhaps work is in prospect?

FLOCH

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juto29
juto29

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very nice walk along the coast, with a pleasant inland return. The fountain at the chapel of St Sébastien is a little abandoned. The passages through the hamlet are pleasant. The end of the walk is very pleasant as it takes in the view of the marshes.
The temporary bridge is also confirmed.
Finally, a short stroll accompanied by the song of the cuckoo!

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Jeannine G1.
Jeannine G1.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for this tour, beautiful scenery.
I can confirm that the bridge is still made with four posts, but my two dogs preferred to go through the water.
We were looking for the famous Saint Sébastien chapel and phew, we found it!

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