From Chemoulin to Gavy, by land and sea

Start from the car park at Plage des Jaunais, which can be reached by bus from both Pornichet and Saint-Nazaire.

(S) From the car park, turn your back on the sea and head up the small road that runs alongside the car park on the left, following it to the entrance of the former Torpille military camp. Facing the entrance gate, take the small path that winds its way to the left, under the vegetation, and follow the fence for about 400 m.

(1) After passing several buildings from the former ammunition depot – the mass of which can be seen on the right amidst the vegetation – turn left to enter the Bois de Cavaro. To avoid getting lost among the many paths and tracks criss-crossing the area, it is best to follow the yellow markings that line Mr Hulot’s PR® route. In the centre of the woods, at the “Bois de Cavaro” signpost, turn right to head towards Ville ès Créneau. Take care to follow the route on the map, as the directions indicated on this signpost do not appear on the IGN map. The path continues along the edge of the woods until it reaches a crossroad (Route de Saint-Sébastien).

(2) Turn right, pass the Pez crossroads, and continue straight on to Ville ès Roberts. Follow the road to the left, then leave it at the next bend to head straight along Chemin de Gonon.

(3) You will then enter a long stretch of open countryside.

(4) At the road, turn right to cross the hamlet of Pont d'Y. On leaving the hamlet, continue straight on along Chemin des Frémaudières.

(5) Turn right onto Chemin de Siriff, then right again at the next bend. Continue straight on to the Rond-point des Rochelles, then take the path on the left which runs alongside Avenue Paris de la Bollardière. Follow this path to the Prairie des Rochelles park.

(6) Cross to the other side of the stream, then follow it as it curves sharply to the left, passing between houses and the Clinique de l’Europe. You will then emerge onto Boulevard de l’Université.

(7) Cross the junction, then turn right onto the path that descends the Vallon de Porcé. As you descend, this path winds along both sides of the stream, which you cross shortly after the pond. After crossing the Route de Saint-Marc, turn right and continue down the valley along the path that runs along the top of the valley floor, past the Gavy Océanis university buildings. Shortly afterwards, you’ll reach Porcé Beach, a small sandy cove just a few dozen metres to the left.

(8) From the beach, retrace your steps to join the coastal path. Winding its way past rocky headlands and sandy coves, the path skirts the villas perched high above the shore in a densely wooded setting.

(9) A few fishing huts by the water signal the approach to Trébézy harbour. Pass this tiny harbour, then continue along the path overlooking the brightly coloured huts perched on the cliffs. A few recently built footbridges have restored the coastal path where coastal erosion had eroded the narrow strip between the cliffs and the walls of the riverside properties.

(10) As you emerge at the bottom of Chemin de la Villa Mine, take care not to head up to the right, as the lack of signposting might suggest. You must follow the path down to the shore, then take the stone-paved walkway on the right, which was built at the foot of the cliff to ensure pedestrian access and access to the riverside fisheries. Walk along this path to the edge of Port Charlotte Beach, if the tide allows. (If not, you must take the streets above, from point (9).) After the beach, continue along the coastal path until you reach the Aiguillon Lighthouse.

(11) Characterised by its white-striped top, the Aiguillon Lighthouse was built on a rocky headland which the coastal path skirts around. Shortly afterwards, you must leave the shore to briefly join the road to Fort de l’Eve. When you reach this road, turn immediately left into the passage of the same name, which leads to the former military site. When the path turns right, leave it to descend the staircase on the left: this allows you to go round the first structure before the route climbs again a little further on, via another staircase. You will then emerge at the fort itself, the remains of which can be seen in the vegetation below, to the right of the path.

(12) Walk around the entire site, following the top of the cliff, before descending to reach the long Courance Beach.

(13) Walk along the top of the beach to its western end, where the path continues up a flight of steps. Turn left at the top, then walk around the headland overlooking Saint-Marc beach. Head down to join the wooden walkway leading to the Esplanade de M. Hulot, where he is waiting, leaning over the balustrade.

(14) Head back up to the terrace overlooking the beach, and turn left to continue the walk along the path that runs past the villas above the shore. Carry on until you’ve passed the beach, and reach the one overlooked by the former Résidence Saint-Eugène.

(15) Walk past it and continue until you reach a small cul-de-sac, where you turn right to join the coastal road. Turn left, then walk for about 200 m along Avenue de l’Océan, before turning left again onto Route de Géorama.

(16) At the end of this quiet street, turn left to head down towards Petite Vallée beach, but ignore it and turn right instead to reach Pointe de Chemoulin. You can’t miss it thanks to the signal box located there.

(17) The footpath here consists of a series of steps and narrow passages between the fence and the cliff, which you must follow with no way out to reach the small Plage des Jaunais, with its impressive rock formations, before emerging onto the main beach.

(18) All that remains is to cross the coastal road to return to the car park (S/E).

Although set in an urban environment, this route avoids commercial areas, with the exception of the village of St Marc. There are therefore few places to stock up along the way.

Pointe de Chemoulin is the southernmost point of the Guérande Peninsula and marks the northern boundary of the mouth of the Loire Estuary. Up to this point, the channel leading to the port of St Nazaire is visible a short distance from the coast (with red and green buoys on either side), but then veers southwards, passing south of the Grand Charpentier lighthouse, which can be seen a little way out to sea. It is an ideal spot for watching the giant ships leaving the shipyards of St Nazaire.