Dinard walks

The environment we are taking you to is no longer the one that Thomas Edward Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, explored by bicycle. But although urbanisation has developed considerably, the charm of the Emerald Coast remains. Let's head to the village of Saint-Énogat, the birthplace of the tourist town of Dinard, and take the coastal path around the two headlands that frame it: Pointe de la Malouine and Pointe du Moulinet.

A fantastic walk overlooking a multitude of beaches and coves via theGR®34. Most of the route follows a coastal path with a few sections of moderate difficulty. Return via a very pleasant little country road. Please note: at Pointe du Moulinet and Port-Blanc, the path may be inaccessible at high tide.

You will start by winding your way through the Dinard countryside to reach the sea. Take the customs officers' path, the Clair de Lune promenade, and discover the many islets of the Bay of Saint-Malo. You can also explore the Goule aux Fées cave, where the Lumière brothers took their first photographs in 1877.

Vauban erected numerous military structures along the Breton coastline, and they are very often built on remarkable sites. Here are two notable examples: the Fort de la Cité d’Alet at the summit of the Saint-Servan peninsula, and the Fort National, which faces the Plage de l’Éventail in Saint-Malo.

On the other side of the walls, the west coast of the Saint-Servan district unfolds before walkers like a green carpet stretching from the Cité d’Aleth to Parc du Briantais. From Cale Solidor, where the tower stands elegantly, this route, dotted with green spaces, passes through a multitude of exceptional landscapes alternating between coves, parks, inlets and beaches. The Parc des Corbières trail offers, right from the start, a unique view of the Rance estuary and the town of Dinard, and allows you to discover some rather secluded beaches. Further on, the magnificent Parc du Briantais invites you to enjoy a moment of discovery and relaxation before a more urban return through the parks and gardens. Next, the Port des Sablons and the ferry terminal bear witness to the town’s importance as a port. Finally, the Cité d’Aleth opens up to you; step back in time through its history, facing the English Channel where Vauban’s forts stand out against the horizon.

The Cité d'Alet is a family-friendly walk, with an exceptional promontory, offering 270° panorama of the Cité Corsaire, the fortified rocks of La Conchée, Petit Bé, Île Harbour, Grand Bé (Chateaubriand's burial place), the Rance estuary and its dam, and Dinard and its beaches. It's also Saint-Malo birthplace, with the remains of the first human settlements.

The autumn equinox tides (coefficient of 92) allow you to make a return trip from the ramparts of Saint-Malo to the Pointe de la Varde, across the foreshore and with dry feet. You walk alongside theGRP®® Tour du Pays Malouin at a distance.

Walking along the Chemin de Ronde between the dam and the pier, you will enjoy various panoramic views of Saint-Servan-sur-Mer and then Saint-Malo. A short boat trip will take you to an outer basin of the port of Saint-Malo. Continue on to the Cité d'Aleth, the Solidor Tower and the Rosais to complete this tour by crossing the dam.

A superb hike, half by the sea and blue, half in the countryside and green. It is best to start at low tide or when the tide is going out. This is an opportunity to cross the Grande Plage de Saint-Lunaire, which is largely exposed at low tide, then climb up to Pointe du Décollé and admire the entire Côte d'Émeraude, from Cap Fréhel to Saint-Malo and Cézembre. Why not stop for a picnic? On the sea side, you can also discover the magnificent Longchamp Beach, which is immense at low tide and much smaller at high tide. This is also an opportunity to explore the south of Saint-Lunaire, where the countryside is just as beautiful, with its sunken lanes, gardens and old Breton houses. The walk ends at the Vallée de l'Amitié, where you can stroll along the Crévelin river for almost a kilometre in the shade of oak trees.

We invite you to explore the three main fortified islets in the Bay of Saint-Malo: Fort du Petit Bé, Grand Bé—which houses Chateaubriand’s tomb—and Fort National. Access to these islets is only safe at low tide and when the tidal range is at least 80. Extend your exploration with a stroll along the foreshore and its wooden breakwaters, admiring the beautiful buildings and hotels lining the Sillon.Before setting off on the walk, check the day’s weather forecast.

Discover the pirate town and the personalities who played a part in its history.

The route takes you along the banks of the Rance between La Richardais and the hamlet of Créhen, via the Pointe de Gronget. The Pointe de Cancaval offers a beautiful view of the Rance, the dam of the same name and the town of Alet towards Saint-Malo.

Jutting out into the Rance estuary, Pointe de Cancaval offers beautiful views of the right bank: from Saint-Servan to Saint-Malo, the dam and the moorings dotted along the coast. During the walk, you will notice La Malouinière de Montmarin and its remarkable garden, which is one of the most beautiful private residences, and two tidal mill sites that bear witness to the industrial past linked to the tidal range.

The Rance once had many tide mills on its banks. Today, with the passage of time, erosion and lack of maintenance, little remains. This circuit allows you to discover the coastline, countryside, coastal path, remains of the Montmarin mills, the new mill and the dam that uses the movements of the tides for its tidal power plant.

From Saint-Jouan-des-Guérets to La Rance via theGRP® long-distance hiking trail and the countryside around Saint-Malo.