From Saint-Clément-des-Baleines to Portes-en-Ré

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A pleasant walk that begins with a passage through a nature reserve (salt marshes and nature reserve - the main refuge for many migratory birds from November to May) and then continues through the "petit bois de trousse chemise" (small wood) beloved by Aznavour. The return trip along the beach to the whale lighthouse offers a complete change of scenery. Sumptuous panorama from the top of the lighthouse.

Details

n°160293
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 19.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 6 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 6 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 9 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -1 m
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Photos

Arrival at La Patache
Boats at the port of La Patache
The port of La Patache
The dyke in the salt marshes

Description of the walk

Depart from the church in Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, where there is a secure car park.

(S/E) Pass the town hall and join the D735. Cross this road and take the cycle path opposite, slightly to the right.

(1) 200 metres further on, take the cycle path on the right towards Le Fiers d'Ars and Les-Portes-En-Ré.
(2) After 400 metres, turn left towards the Maison du Fier. Follow the Grand Vasais and the salt marshes.

(3) Before the Maison du Fier, turn right onto a dirt track marked in yellow (PR®13).
(4) At the dyke, turn right towards Les-Portes-En-Ré. Leave the golf course on your left and follow the Riveau to the small port of La Patache.

(5) At the port, take the yellow signposted route (PR®13) towards the Trousse-Chemise woods (north-east). At the T-junction, leave thePR® on the left into the woods and join the coastline on the right. Turn left, pass Pointe du Fier and reach Plage de la Loge.

(6) Continue north then north-west along the coast.
(7) Then continue along a path that runs alongside the beach.

(8) At the end of the beach, take the coastal path along the sea wall and head towards the Phare des Baleines lighthouse.
(9) Go to the lighthouse car park and take the path on the right just before the car park. At the fork, turn left and walk along a campsite.

(10) At the crossroads, turn right and head towards the Pas de la Salle sea wall.
(11) Turn left and follow the sea wall until you reach a car park.

(12) Leave the coast and turn left onto Rue de la Digue. Then turn left onto Rue de la Boulangerie. Continue along Rue de la Mairie to return to the starting point.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 3 m - Car park at the church of Saint-Clément-des-Baleines
  2. 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 3 m - Cycle path crossing
  3. 2 : km 0.97 - alt. 3 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 3.4 - alt. 3 m - Fork
  5. 4 : km 4.35 - alt. 3 m - Seawall
  6. 5 : km 6.2 - alt. 4 m - Port de La Patache
  7. 6 : km 8.05 - alt. 5 m - Loge Beach
  8. 7 : km 11.45 - alt. 3 m - Lizay Woods
  9. 8 : km 15.69 - alt. 7 m - Seawall
  10. 9 : km 16.62 - alt. 5 m - Lighthouse
  11. 10 : km 17.46 - alt. 3 m - Crossroads
  12. 11 : km 17.64 - alt. 7 m - Pas de la Salle sea wall
  13. 12 : km 18.83 - alt. 6 m - Pas de la Digue - Car park
  14. S/E : km 19.78 - alt. 3 m - Car park at the church of Saint-Clément-des-Baleines

Notes

Good walking shoes - bring water - Hat in hot weather

Alternative to (6) At high tide, it will be easier to walk along the forest for 1.5 km via a path completely behind the dunes, next to a protective fence. Reach the first car park, then continue for 300 metres to a second car park. Walk close to the ocean until you reach a third car park 750 metres further on - follow the coast.

Worth a visit

At the start of the route, in the marshes, observe the flora and fauna: there are numerous information panels along the way.
At Les-Portes-En-Ré, in a place called "La Redoute" Small chapel of La Redoute (former powder magazine converted into a chapel)
Les-Portes-En-Ré exit: Marchais beach with unusual rock "stairs".
Conche des Baleines beach - old blockhouses collapsed by erosion.
The "whale" lighthouse and its 257 steps leading to a magnificent panorama.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 36 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Clo
Clo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On the stretch along the ocean, the coastal path was a good compromise rather than following the beach.

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Luc70
Luc70

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the rain, with varied landscapes including salt marshes, beaches, dunes, forests and a lighthouse.
Easy to follow the GPS track.
Pleasant.

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Claraazimut
Claraazimut

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike with our two dogs. The route was easy to follow and, at this time of year, dogs are allowed on the beaches! The landscape varies between marshes and beaches, ending at the lighthouse!

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User 11373037

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hiking route that follows part of a cycle path and part of the beach as it approaches the Saint Clément lighthouse. Beautiful light throughout and an opportunity to see birds, including some beautiful waders. No difficulty to note!

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totolitoto
totolitoto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike. Reliable route description. The only difficulty is the length...

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Guti
Guti

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We walked this trail during the off-season.
The marsh section is very pleasant, with a few bikes but far from the hustle and bustle of summer.
For the rest, you need to enjoy walking in sand, although at the end of the trail (before reaching the lighthouse), the coastal path through the forest can be used to follow the GPS route in parallel.
Remember to check the tide times before setting off.

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yemen
yemen

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

This hike is a great way to discover this part of the island. The only downside is that it doesn't go through Les Portes en Ré. So we changed the route, starting from Gros Jonc beach, going through the village and ending up at La Saucière beach. I recommend doing the hike at low tide.

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Cathou5017
Cathou5017

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, a bit physically demanding at the end because you walk in sand, but I think you can walk along the side.
The GPS point on the app is very helpful.
Marshes, forest, ocean... A diverse landscape, fantastic!
You can stop at the whale lighthouse for an ice cream as a reward 😅

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Catbaz
Catbaz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful scenery. Very quiet at this time of year.

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Guillaume_42_1991
Guillaume_42_1991

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike, a bit physically demanding. Hardly anyone there on this February weekend. Reliable and effective description, thank you for the route!

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toureiffeil
toureiffeil

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike!
Crossing the salt marshes and nature reserve (even more interesting on foot than by bike) was simply magical.
Nos. 6, 7 and 8 at low tide along the beaches were pure bliss.

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RebeccaLS
RebeccaLS

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with excellent guidance; no difficulty finding the route.
Most of it was through salt marshes and the second part was along the beach. Just magnificent!
The part in the salt marshes follows a cycle path, but in June there were no problems with cyclists. However, it's best to avoid this in July and August...
There are indeed a few places that are impassable at high tide, but this isn't a problem as there is a very pretty coastal path 30 metres from the sea.
As the walk on the sand is a bit long, we ended up cutting through the Luzay forest (after Redoute beach and from the Route des Marchais) - thanks to the very well-documented Visorando map - which was more pleasant for our feet.
Thank you for this beautiful hike!

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phbizet
phbizet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Spring sunshine and few visitors combined to make this a superb walk, alternating between marshes, a nature reserve with migratory birds, beaches and foreshore (easy to walk on outside high tide) and a little architectural heritage (the lighthouse), followed by sunset over the sea.

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pimpampoum42
pimpampoum42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A complete change of scenery... a beautiful hike with a long stretch along the beaches... recommended at low tide or when the tide is going out, as at high tide some sections will force you to turn back.

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ptk
ptk

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

The title should have been "Walking on a busy cycle path". We were there on a Monday in mid-September, and there were groups of about ten bikes coming every few minutes. We didn't always feel safe when they overtook or crossed us. In the end, the walk back along the beach was the least stressful part of the day.
It's a real shame, because the route was very reliable and the scenery was pleasant.

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