From the bocage to the coast at Saint-Nazaire

The walk starts from the car park at the Tumulus de Dissignac, which is on the Route de Dissignac. You should have no trouble finding a space, as the Tumulus is only open to the public on very few occasions each year (e.g. Heritage Days, etc.) and this car park is therefore rarely busy.

(S/E) From the car park, take the path leading to the Dissignac Tumulus and walk along its left-hand side. The Dissignac Tumulus dates back to around 4500 BC – 2,000 years before the pyramids of Egypt – and consists of two megalithic tombs. Take a wide gravel path which, after the tumulus, turns to the right. Carry on straight ahead along the small dirt track^, even though there is a Yellow Cross indicating that this is not the^{PR®® route.} Continue straight on (staying on the Vélocéan cycle path) and pass two other paths, first on the left and then on the right.

(1) At the crossroads, turn immediately left onto the Chemin du Pont Hervo. After a few metres, cross the Route des Forges and continue straight ahead, veering slightly to the left^. Follow the yellow^PR®® signposting^. At the next junction, turn right, following the yellow signposting onto the Chemin des Grandes Fraiches. Take the second path on the right (at the top of the gentle incline). The path leads onto a tarmac section.

(2) (Updated 17/08/26): The original path has been blocked off by a farmer, resulting in a change to the route. From now on, at the end of Chemin de Moide, turn right onto Route du Haut Bignon and stay on it until the next junction, then turn left onto Route de la Villes Blais. Take the first right into a cul-de-sac which becomes a track (Chemin des Venelles) and take the second track on the left (^PR®® signposting^). Follow the track until you reach the Pornichet industrial estate again and turn right.

(3) Continue along the road (Chemin de la Monnerie). At the roundabout, turn right and walk onto the pavement on the opposite side; then, at the second roundabout, take the exit on your left which goes under the D92 bridge. Go under the bridge and continue up to a third roundabout. Take the road on the left (Avenue du Petit Canon).

(4) Take the path on the left about ten metres further on (yellow markings). Stay on the path, following the markings, and cross several wooden footbridges again.

(5) At the next junction, head straight ahead, first turning left then right to take the footbridge leading onto Chemin du Champ Becca. At the next crossroads, continue to follow the signposts on your right (you’ll be back on tarmac) onto Chemin des Poulhauts.

(6) At the next junction, make your first turn left then right to join the Chemin du Taillis. At the next junction, turn right onto the Chemin des Grandes Noés and you’ll arrive in a small wood bordering the Torpille military camp to the north.

Turn left then right into the woodland, following the yellow markings as well as the red and white markings of^{the GR®®34}. Then head straight ahead towards the fences of the military base. When you reach the fences, turn right and follow the signposting for “In the footsteps of Monsieur Hulot – Winter route”, skirting the military camp to the right (to the west). Walk alongside the fences until you reach the former caretaker’s house.

(7) Take the access road to the camp directly in front of you to head back down towards the sea. Pass the Les Jaunais beach car park on your left. When you reach the junction with the coastal road “Route de l’Océan”, cross at the pedestrian crossing and turn right to join the coastal path. Blue ‘Chemin côtier’ signposts and two yellow barriers will help you find the path. Facing Les Jaunais beach below, take the coastal path that branches off to the left. Follow this path for the next 5 to 6 kilometres. From Jaunais Beach, the coastal path leads to Petite Vallée Beach, passing by the military signal station situated on Pointe de Chémoulin (which offers a stunning view).
(8) Pass Petite Vallée beach, where the path rejoins the road for 500 metres.

(9) Once back on the Route de l’Océan, rejoin the coastal path on your right.
The coastal path leads into the neighbourhood of Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, known for being the setting of the film *Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot*. You’ll also spot the statue of Monsieur Hulot, leaning over the railing and gazing out at the horizon.
Here you can enjoy the view before rejoining the coastal path via the staircase in the middle of the wooden promenade. The yellow and red-and-white^GR®® markings at the top of the steps will guide you, as will the sign for the restaurant Le France. Continue along the boardwalk before climbing back up the cliff and following the coastal path to La Courance Beach.

(10) Walk straight across the beach to reach the steps below the car park. At the top of the steps, follow the path on your right.
You’ll arrive at the site of Fort de l’Ève, then follow the coastal path as it climbs back up towards the road. Once you reach the road, the path immediately descends towards the coast on your right. Walk past the base of the Aiguillon Lighthouse (1756).

(11) The path then overlooks the beaches of Port Charlotte and Trébézy. At low tide, you can walk along the beach. Continue along the coastal path to Porcé beach. If you’re a keen photographer, the three fishing huts at Trébézy, situated below the path, offer a great vantage point.

(12) Once you reach Porcé beach, you’ll see the beach car park on your right and, on your left, a path leading into the Porcé woods, which you should follow (there’s an information sign saying ‘From the sea to the Brière’ at the start of the path). The path runs alongside the sports fields and then the Porcé Sports Centre. After the sports centre, carry on straight ahead (do not go up the road leading to the car park) along the tarmac path (there are weight benches on your right). Continue to the end of the path, which, after crossing a wooden footbridge, climbs and winds to your right until it reaches Route de Saint-Marc. Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and carry on along the path into the second section of the Bois de Porcé. When you reach a small pond, stay on the path and go round it on the right.

(13) At the end of the path, take the road on your right at the “Boulevard de l’Université” junction and head uphill until you reach the Océanis roundabout.
This is one of the largest roundabouts in France. It is, in fact, a gigantic sundial (with the shadow of the central needle cast onto the ground, and the white lines of the pedestrian crossings marking the minutes).
Go round the roundabout on the right and take the^third exit towards the IUT and Heinlex Hospital on Rue Michel Ange (pass between a Hyundai dealership on your left and the Aquilon Hotel on your right). Carry on straight ahead; then, after passing a small roundabout and leaving a street on your left, turn left onto Chemin de Berregas (a ‘no entry’ sign marks the entrance to the road).

(14) Continue along the path, keeping to your right and with the Heinlex Hospital on your right-hand side. The path bends to the left and joins a tarmac road, the Chemin de la Sagauderie. Turn right and then, almost immediately, cross to the opposite side. Leave the road and join the gravel path. At the next junction, turn right and walk carefully alongside the Route du Haut Rocher.

(15) After passing the electricity substation on your left, take the path on the left (a cross will help you spot where it starts). Follow the path. This joins the Vélocéan cycle route. At the junction, turn left onto the Route des Aubinais. Stay on the cycle path for several hundred metres. You’ll pass several Second World War bunkers on both your left and right.

(16) At the junction of the cycle path and the Route de Dissignac, turn right and follow the road for about 100 metres to reach the car park at the Tumulus de Dissignac (S/E).

An easy walk requiring no special equipment. Walking boots are always recommended, though a pair of trainers will suffice (watch out for mud if it rains). 90% of the walk is on paths.

These are straightforward paths which may, however, become muddy in wet weather. There are picnic tables at several points along the route. Should the weather turn bad, you can take shelter under trees or at bus shelters, as well as in the two forts: the Sémaphore de la Pointe de Chémoulin and the Pointe de l'Ève. You will also pass through the centre of Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, where there are plenty of restaurants offering a perfect stop for a break (L'Hôtel de la Plage, Le France, etc.)

Dissignac Tumulus.

Camp de la Torpille: This is a military site belonging to the French Navy which, although decommissioned since 1991, is not open to the public. However, you will see numerous blockhouses dating from the Second World War which were used by the German army to store ammunition.

Chemoulin Semaphore: The function of the Semaphore, which belongs to the French Navy, is to monitor maritime traffic in the Loire estuary.
The Semaphore is built on the site of a former fort, the remains of which can be seen at the foot of the metal footbridge. You can venture there and enjoy the view (during the Second World War, it was occupied by the German Navy’s 280th Artillery Division and formed part of the Atlantic Wall).

Fort de l’Ève: this complex comprises several Second World War blockhouses as well as a fort built into the cliff face (you can reach it by taking the steps on your right). Although there is a ‘Military Ground’ sign, access is permitted. I highly recommend it, particularly if you’re with children, who’ll be able to let their imaginations run wild amongst these ruins. Whilst the blockhouses date from the Second World War, the fort itself dates from the late 19th century.

Monsieur Hulot’s Beach.
La Courance Beach.
Porcé Wood.