Pointe du Corsen circuit

Coastal path passing through Pointe du Corsen (the westernmost point of mainland France), where the theoretical boundary between the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean is located. This is also where the CROSS is located, which is responsible for monitoring the Ouessant Rail and coordinating sea rescue operations for the Breton coast.

Details

73179
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.20 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 159 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 156 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 60 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Ploumoguer (29810)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.404328° / W 4.772842°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0317OT, 0417ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Starting point: Kerhournou beach car park

(S/E) Turn left and take the steps leading to Rue de Locmerven. On the right, join the coastal path (GR®34) and continue. Turn left at the first path leading to the Saint-Meen Chapel and its fountain, about 100 m from the coast.

(1) Continue along the path uphill, turn left and continue along this path.

(2) Pass a house and turn left again. Continue along this path until you reach a small road that leads back to the car park where you started.

(3) Climb the dune that runs along the beach to reach the next car park (at low tide, you can cross the beach by going down the small slipway).

(4) Leave the coast on your right and head north along the small road for about 200 m, turn right, then left onto the first path and follow it to Pont ar Floc'h.

(5) At the road, turn left and head north to reach Bourg de Trézien.

(6) Turn right, then left. The fountain is on the left at the entrance.

(7) Pass in front of the church built in 1875. Its portal bears the Breton motto of the Du Chastel family: "Da vad e tui" (You will become good). Continue on the left until you reach the calvary in the heart of the village, which is home to a few old houses with characteristic chimneys. Continue on the right for about 200 m.

(8) Take the small road on the left that turns right to the village of Penn an Dreff.

(9) Descend on the left towards Porz Tévigné Beach.

(10) Take the coastal path south through the Ruscumunoc dunes. Pass the campsite and continue: view of the Trézien lighthouse (photo). The high cliffs replace the dunes as you approach Pointe du Corsen. The CROSS-Corsen (Regional Operational Centre for Surveillance and Rescue at Sea) has been based here since the Amoco Cadix disaster in 1978. At the point, head towards the orientation table and continue along the coastal path. (photo)

(11) TheGR®34runs along the top of a small beach and continues along high cliffs pierced by caves and crowned with masonry structures holding a stone with a hole in it. A pole fixed in this hole was used to pull up the seaweed harvested on the beach below. Here there is no longer a beach, but only inaccessible coves. (This part of the coastal path is more rugged).

(12) Continue along the path to return to Porsmoguer Bay.

(4) Return to the car park at low tide via the beach or the path overlooking the beach (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 10 m - Kerhournou beach car park
  2. 1 : km 0.9 - alt. 17 m - Saint-Meen Chapel
  3. 2 : km 1.32 - alt. 43 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.93 - alt. 15 m - Climb the dune
  5. 4 : km 2.52 - alt. 6 m - Road on the right
  6. 5 : km 3.81 - alt. 15 m - Pont ar Floch
  7. 6 : km 4.63 - alt. 44 m - Turn right at the road
  8. 7 : km 4.93 - alt. 41 m - Fountain on the left at the entrance to Trézien
  9. 8 : km 5.32 - alt. 46 m - Small road on the left
  10. 9 : km 6.16 - alt. 48 m - Take the road on the left towards the beach
  11. 10 : km 6.67 - alt. 8 m - South-facing coastal path
  12. 11 : km 8.87 - alt. 35 m - Orientation table
  13. 12 : km 10.09 - alt. 29 m - More rugged coastal path
  14. S/E : km 12.19 - alt. 10 m - Kerhournou beach car park

Notes

Some sections of the coastal path (between Pointe du Corsen and Porsmoguer cove) are a little uneven but not too difficult.

The loop via the Chapelle Saint-Meen can be done at the start or end of the route.
In the description, it is suggested at the start.

Worth a visit

- Trézien Lighthouse ( 37m high with 182 steps)
Opening
From 1 July to 31 August, Monday to Saturday from 2.30pm to 6pm, Sunday from 10.30am to 12.30pm and from 2.30pm to 6pm; off season by appointment.
Admission
Adults €2; children aged 4 to 9 €1; family rate: free for one child; disabled visitors: £1.50 (accompanying person free).

- Orientation table at the tip of Corsen: panoramic view of the Iroise Sea, the Molène archipelago and the island of Ouessant.

- Saint-Meen Chapel in Locmeven: Probably dating from the 16th century, this chapel bears the date of its restoration, 1819, on the side of the west portal. It is dedicated to Saint Méen, who was widely worshipped in the Middle Ages due to beliefs that he had the power to heal skin diseases.

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The Locmeven chapel is closed until further notice.
A miraculous spring on the inside of the loop.
But a lovely walk by the sea with cloudless skies.
No GPS tracking problems.

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Yves K.
Yves K.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The section on the GR is a fine walk, but the other part is less interesting, but making a loop imposes constraints.

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Galarniere
Galarniere

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very nice walk along the coastal path, not too difficult. Nice orientation table at Corsen

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ninou56
ninou56
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

What more could you ask for than a great walk in the sunshine? Thank you

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Agapouack
Agapouack

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Even in the rain and gusts of winter, this circuit is splendid. And easy too.
I lengthened it by leaving from Le Conquet and following the coastline. A little long, but not difficult.
Don't forget to visit the Kermorvant lighthouse on the way, as the little lady is very knowledgeable on the subject.

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Mamyja
Mamyja

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk, beautiful scenery. Nice suggestion to go as far as the chapel of St Meen at the beginning of the route; Thank you for this nice suggestion.

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Mick88
Mick88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a lovely, easy hike with beautiful panoramic views. Views of the many islands. Thank you

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passiorando
passiorando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk, not too difficult. Best done on a sunny day to make the most of the splendid sea views!

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claude35
claude35

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Waves that come straight from the ocean and smash against magnificent cliffs (even on a calm day). A must-do.

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gabooj
gabooj

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk in glorious sunshine. Beautiful views.
The dirt path is nice along with the buccolic path.

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philrandovilaine
philrandovilaine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Even if the part of the route between Trézien and Porstévigné is not of great interest, we really enjoyed following it.
Don't miss the diversions to the chapel at Lokmeven, a lovely stop-off in the hollow of its valley.
You can also avoid passing Kerhornou beach twice by taking the impasse de la Garenne, at the end of the road leading back from the chapel, and continuing along one of the many paths that criss-cross the dune perched above Kerhornou beach. Further on, you come back to the road and the path that leads back up to Pont ar Floc'h and Trézien.
Note that the path that used to go around Porsmoguer Point now crosses this point. The path that used to lead around it is now closed.
I suppose that in bright sunshine, it must be quite magical, but the mist that accompanied us throughout the walk will at least have left us with a pretty complexion and soft skin!
Phil RV

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cario
cario

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

beautiful panoramas (view of the molène islands, ouessant etc cliffs)
beautiful autumn colours
interesting loop if you don't want to make a return trip

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MADOLEON29
MADOLEON29

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful panoramic views of the Ponant islands, lighthouses and beaches back home in Brittany.

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YVONB35
YVONB35

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a very nice walk, especially in bright sunshine.
I wasn't able to visit the chapel of Saint Méen: at the start, after taking the GR 34, I couldn't find the path on the left. So I turned back and did the hike in reverse.
Which doesn't spoil anything, but you have to be more careful.
Thank you for suggesting this hike

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BC107310
BC107310

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We did this route starting from the village of Trézien, which allows us to split the non-seaside section in two. Beautiful views of the coast.

You don't have to do the loop via the chapel of St Meen to the south, which isn't very interesting.

You can swim at the pretty Kerhornou beach.

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