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Starting point: Porteau Beach car park.
'GR®®38white and red markings +PR®® yellow
(S/E) Facing the beach, turn left onto the coastal path and follow it eastwards. Walk along the seafront, passing several fishing huts.
(1) Reach Plage des Sablons and continue south-east.
(2) At Montbeau Beach, villas block the continuation of the coastal path: turn left here to join Boulevard de L’Océan and follow it to the right (route map and signpost markings). Continue along this boulevard, admiring the beautiful villas on both the right and left.
N.B. At low tide, it is possible but difficult to walk across the various beaches and rocky shoals.
(3) Reach the seafront at Plage de la Noëveillard, the largest beach in Pornic, where the lighthouse is situated. Continue along the marina on your right. Carry on along Anse aux Lapins to reach the castle esplanade.
YellowPR®® signposting
(4) Facing the castle, which you’ll leave on your right, at the signpost for the “Sainte-Marie route”, leave theGR®®8, cross the avenue and take the one-way street opposite called Chemin des Mousseaux. Follow this uphill street, which runs alongside a public garden on the left. At the first bend, look out for the Jardin du Retz coat of arms and its Latin motto. Continue up the street, running alongside the wall of the “Calypso” estate on the right.
(5) You’ll reach the tumulus, listed in the inventory of historic monuments (information board). At the Y-junction, carry on straight ahead then turn right.
(6) Follow the long, shaded avenue that runs alongside the golf course. It leads to Rue Notre-Dame at the École Saint-Joseph. Walk past the town hall annexe and turn left towards the centre of the village.
(7) Go round the church on the left and head up Rue du Maréchal Leclerc, continuing along Rue Victor Hugo. At the next junction, turn slightly left onto the one-way Chemin de Bel Air.
(8) It runs alongside the sports grounds and continues along a long grassy path for about 1 km. Follow it to the end.
(9) Turn left onto Route de la Maison Vigneux, then left again onto the road leading to the beach. On the final stretch of the descent, take the pavement on the right-hand side to reach the beach car park (S/E).
A superb walk along the beautiful coastline from Sainte-Marie to Pornic
Visorando Member
Moderate 
