From Saint-Demet to Penhors and the Menhir "Des Droits de l'Homme"

Starting from the Saint-Demet Chapel, you will reach the Notre-Dame-de-Penhors Chapel and follow the coastal path to the "Human Rights" menhir.

Details

93254
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.71 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 42 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 51 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 40 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Plozévet (29710)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.958898° / W 4.39839°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0419ET, 0519OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure: Parking available near the Saint-Demet Chapel, 6 km south of Plozévet.
Signpost on the side of the D2.

(S/E) Leaving the chapel behind you, take the small road towards Kerongard Divisquin, pass the hamlet on your left and continue downhill. Cross a small bridge and look for an old wash house on the stream on your right. At a place called Perros, join a road and follow it to the right.

(1) At the sign for Kersabilic on the left, turn right onto a path (bike sign) then turn left onto the first path on the left between two fields. Continue until you reach the D40. Cross it and continue straight ahead on Route de la Chapelle, which turns right. Enter the grounds of the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Penhors.

(2) On leaving, turn right towards a restored building, then immediately take the path on the left which joins the Chemin des Mendiants. Turn left to go around a hotel-restaurant and arrive at the seafront of the Baie d'Audierne.

(3) Turn right and follow theGR®34, which runs alongside the small sheltered harbour. Continue to the car park at Palud Gourinet.

(4) Turn right onto a small road and follow it for 300 metres to the left to rejoin the coastal path on the left (this avoids the stream that flows onto the beach).

(5) Continue along the coastal path towards the west. At the third car park, turn right then left and enter the hamlet of Keristenvet on the right to see the restored bread oven.

(6) Retrace your steps, cross the road and rejoin the coastal path on the right.

(7) A gap in the pebble bank means you have to leave the coast (see practical information). Turn right to rejoin the road, which you follow to the left. After passing the marshy area, turn left at the first path and continue to the right to reach the Menhir des Droits de l'Homme (Human Rights Menhir).

(8) With your back to the menhir, cross the car park and take the first path on the right to reach a road at Lessenus. Follow this road on the left.

(9) At the next crossroads (cross on the gable of a house), turn right and begin the descent towards a marshy area. Ignore the various roads leading to farms. Ignore thePR® marked trail that branches off to the left at a right angle, just after crossing a stream.

(10) When the road begins to climb again, look for thePR® signpost (in the opposite direction) halfway up the slope on the left and take the path diagonally downhill into a wooded area overlooking the marsh. Make sure that the valley and stream are on your left and rejoin the road you left earlier.

(11) Cross this road and continue straight ahead on a tarmac section that is extended by a wide path which descends towards a stream and then climbs back up. At the first street, turn left to return to the chapel where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 36 m - Saint-Demet Chapel.
  2. 1 : km 1.41 - alt. 17 m - Kersabilc locality
  3. 2 : km 2.74 - alt. 13 m - Notre-Dame-de-Penhors Chapel
  4. 3 : km 3.05 - alt. 7 m - Penhors harbour shelter
  5. 4 : km 4.04 - alt. 5 m - Turn right towards the road.
  6. 5 : km 4.72 - alt. 5 m - Coastal path to the west.
  7. 6 : km 5.93 - alt. 9 m - Keristenvet bread oven.
  8. 7 : km 6.69 - alt. 4 m - Detour due to a breach in the pebble ridge
  9. 8 : km 7.52 - alt. 6 m - Menhir Les Droits de l'Homme
  10. 9 : km 8.12 - alt. 19 m - Cross
  11. 10 : km 8.71 - alt. 19 m - Downhill path
  12. 11 : km 9.45 - alt. 40 m - Crossing the road
  13. S/E : km 10.71 - alt. 36 m - Saint-Demet Chapel

Notes

(8) This recent breach was created artificially to drain water from the ponds and prevent flooding of the nearby road. It is likely to be permanent.

Another parking option in Penhors (3)

(6) Possible shortcut to reach the starting point via Kergroas (route of approximately 8 km).

Worth a visit

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

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Rafa-ailes
Rafa-ailes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike,
The route is very good and exactly as described. However, we encountered a problem between points 7 and 8. After the recently renovated bridge, the path is almost impassable, with brambles, nettles and other weeds growing to over 1.7 metres. We managed to make our way through, but at what cost... our legs and arms were torn to shreds... Be careful before setting off.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for this advice.
After the rains in January and February, as soon as there is a stream, the problem is likely to arise.
I experienced this last Thursday behind the Torche dunes.
Kind regards

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Cat29
Cat29

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with stunning panoramic views; the sea is visible almost throughout the entire route.
A few hundred metres before returning to the starting point, it was impossible to cross the stream (between 11 and S/E) as the path was flooded. We had to extend the circular route to return to the starting point by road.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your feedback.
I have clarified WP 10.
During my first reconnaissance, I made the same mistake and also found myself on the wrong side of the stream.
Best wishes for your future endeavours on Visorando.

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mcplomeur
mcplomeur

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with varied landscapes: unfortunately, there is a bit of road, but then the GR overlooks the beaches and offers magnificent views, with a nice little section through the woods.
Despite the precise directions, we took the wrong path at point 10 and had to turn back because we were on the wrong side of the stream. The trail actually starts halfway up the slope, not at the start of the road climb.
Thank you for this hike.

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Nine 68
Nine 68

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Too much tarmac, beautiful chapel. We started in the opposite direction from the chapel (which also had easier parking), thinking we would end up at the beach with our feet in the water... but as we couldn't control the tides, it wasn't possible.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your comments.

For the departure point, I will indicate 'stationnement' instead of 'parking'.
I've never had any problems with this location when walking with a group.

Sorry, but many chapels remain closed even in summer.
I've only been inside the Saint-Demet chapel once, during an exhibition.
The bread oven in Kéristevet has been restored by volunteers who are not always available.

I hope that the natural setting allowed you to enjoy this hike despite everything.

Best regards

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nikita1629
nikita1629

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Departure from St-Demet chapel? No parking, but there is a crossroads or the chapel lawn! We preferred to park in Penhors.
The detour between 4 and 5 was not necessary that day, nor was the one between 7 and 8.
At point 10, take the second path on the left, the one halfway up the slope.
At 11, do not take the wide path but instead take the tarmac road, which will continue much further along a wide path.
As with the other chapels, the one at St-Demat is closed at this time of year and the Keristenvet bread oven is closed until May 2019.
If you want to visit Brittany, it's best to go in July and August...

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your comment.
I will add this other parking option to my description.
Kind regards
FLOCH

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Michel2913
Michel2913

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A short hike of about ten kilometres under a cloudless sky. Highlights: the variety of landscapes along the coastal path (GR34) with splendid views of magnificent beaches and passing through small hamlets with beautiful chapels.
We did the walk at low tide, which allowed us to cross the two passages connecting the freshwater marshes to the sea without getting our feet wet, avoiding a detour inland.
Please note, however, that this route is not marked in places, so you will need your mobile phone!
Note: we parked our vehicle in the car park opposite Penhors beach, near the Admiral's Museum, which has a large car park that is often full on Sundays.

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jlucquimper
jlucquimper

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 04, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very nice hike. No problem.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for taking the time to let me know.

Indeed, since I posted this route online, which I know well, I made a mistake at that point.
My walking group and I turned 10 metres too early and ended up on the other side of the valley.
We still managed to find the end of the route, but we had to make a detour of about 1.5 km.

I forgot to note this in my description. I will do so now.

Best regards.

FLOCH

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