Combrit between two coves

The start is right in the centre of the village on the Place de la Mairie, part of which has been converted into a motorhome area.

(S/E) Head to the back of the car park, behind the motorhome area, to find a path. Take it to the left to reach the road skirting the green space at the rear of the church. Turn right onto Hent Kerboc’his, then, at the lodge, go straight ahead (barrier).

(1) At the end of Impasse Anjela Duval, continue straight ahead and go down a grassy area to take a path at the very bottom, slightly to the right. Continue between the gardens, crossing Impasse Jean Moulin, to reach a small cove. At the headland, you can admire the work of two young men from Combrit who, in their spare time, have rebuilt the coastal walls using stones found on site; these walls were no doubt once part of a small harbour.

(2) Facing the cove, turn left onto the coastal path to reach, 100 m on, another headland (a lovely viewpoint with plenty of birds depending on the tide). With your back to the headland, leave the path on the right and take the one opposite, which is crossed after a few metres by a tree trunk, to reach a meadow (fenced for horses). Follow the fence on your left, ignoring the^first path on the right, and continue to the end towards the path that turns right into the woods. This becomes^{the GR®} at the Sant-Tual wash house, which is well worth a detour (restored by the Mein ha Dour Association).

(3) Continue along the^GR® through the woods (huge mushroom on a tree stump). Stay on the^GR® (Allée Boneze, Allée de Ti scoul, then left onto Impasse des Tadornes). Before the private property, take the path on the left (still on the^GR®). At the^first junction, go down to the right. When you reach the road, depending on the season, you can turn right for a return trip to the shore (viewpoint). The town hall and the government are planning to rehabilitate this site, where waste was buried in the 1980s.

(4) Join a main road (Route de Quellen) and at the “Give Way” sign, turn right and continue for 300 m to the top of the hill.

(5) Leave the^GR® by taking the path on the left (past an old farmhouse). At the end, turn left, then right onto the tarmac road. Take the^first path on the left leading to the A-road.

(6) Cross this very carefully to take the Route de Kerdousten opposite. Stay on this road until you reach the hamlet of Pen ar Garn on a D-road (D44).

(7) Cross this very carefully and continue straight ahead towards Kergadec.
Shortly after the “End of 30 km/h zone” sign, go down a flight of steps on the right (with a wash house at the bottom). Walk along the small meadow on the right until you reach a small path at the far end, which you should take to the right. At the road, join the^GR®34(new coastal section) and follow it to the left, alongside a fenced-off property (red and white markings), to reach the Pouldon Kergadec mill. After 300 m, leave the^GR® for a short while, carefully taking a “Sensitive Area” path which will lead you to a small bench (a suggested spot to stop and watch the birds, particularly the swans which often gather in large numbers).

(8) Continue along the path to rejoin the^GR® and turn right, staying on it for nearly 4 km.

(9) At the Pouldon car park, a view of the cove (a protected site) opens up before you, with Île Chevalier opposite (sign for “Pêche à pied” [shellfish gathering]). Continue along the^GR® which, further on, leaves the shore for a short while to protect a nesting area.

(10) Keep following the^GR® to Haffond

(11) At the junction as you reach the Haffond communal well (restored in 2019 by the Mein ha Dour association), leave the two tracks on your right and, after 30 metres, take the stony track on the right and continue to a bend.

(12) Leave the^GR® for a path on the left between two posts (yellow markings not always very visible as they are for the opposite direction). Cross a wooded area following the yellow markings (Île Tudy route), then turn right at the junction to reach the edge of the A-road, passing a stone-paved path (here, an embankment built to cross a wetland leading to the shore) and a footbridge. Follow the main road, turning right until you reach the roundabout at the entrance to Île Tudy.

(13) Cross carefully to take Rue des Roitelets alongside the tennis courts and the sports hall (fitness trail) and, at the end of the street, take a path (still following the yellow markings in the opposite direction). Continue to the end of the path.

(14) At the junction, leave the yellow markings by turning left and cross a small bridge. Continue to the road.

(15) At the junction with the Route du Treustel, turn left, pass the former Kerloc’h Gwen holiday village and, at the junction, turn right towards Combrit, Route de Kergulan. After 250 m, past the Kerlorgant farm, take the^second path between two fences on the right. Follow this path, which crosses a stream, to reach Roscanvel Farm (with a wash house and fountain on the left as you arrive).

(16) Cross the farm (which is now owned by the town hall, formerly SIVOM). On leaving it, follow the stony track to the left for about 300 m before turning right onto a path in front of a property. Continue, ignoring the^first path on the right, until you reach a crossroads. Turn left to join a road in front of the Kerscuntec lodges.

(17) Continue left to reach the Kerscuntec dovecote.

(18) Continue straight ahead, taking the path through the woods. Cross the small stream and, at the gate, turn left. Continue to another gate on the left. Go through it and follow the path leading to the sign for the Kerdec’h wash house (return).

(19) Take the path that turns right then left into a grassy field. Follow it to reach the leisure centre. Head down to the left to the fountain.

(20) Retrace your steps and, at the junction you passed earlier, continue straight on along the path which then turns left to join a road. NB: in wet weather, it is best to take the stony track leading to the leisure centre and head downhill to the road junction.

(21) In both cases, turn right and walk up Rue du Stade to the Croas Ver roundabout, crossing the A-road.

(22) Continue straight ahead to reach the junction near the town hall and turn right into the car park (S/E).

There are several fountains along the route (please note that depending on the time of year, the water may not always be safe to drink). The section from point (8) to point (10) is fairly exposed. In the other parts of the route, there are always places to find shelter. It is advisable to avoid rainy periods or, if walking during them, to wear suitable footwear.

This route takes you past numerous wash houses, wells and fountains in the village, maintained by the Mein ha Dour association (translation from Breton: Stone and Water).
A visit to the village church will be of interest to lovers of traditional religious buildings.
The commune of Combrit-Sainte-Marine boasts a wealth of diverse landscapes (woods, meadows, the banks of the Odet, the port of Sainte-Marine, fine sandy beaches, polders...) and heritage (chapels, wash houses, fountains...)
Just 3 km away, the picturesque port of Sainte-Marine is well worth a visit (port life, marina, local restaurants, chapel, cultural exhibitions, etc.). In summer, a foot and cycle ferry connects the town to Bénodet.
The Pointe de Combrit, situated at the mouth of the estuary, is a recommended stop for its views, the Maison Ti Napoléon and the fort (art exhibitions).
The Cornouaille Bridge, which links the towns of Combrit and Bénodet, offers a magnificent view (car park and access) of the river and the Odet estuary.