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 edge of the Route de Dissignac. You should have no trouble finding a space, as the Tumulus is only open to visitors at very specific times of the 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, some 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. Continue straight ahead along the small dirt track, even though there is a Yellow Cross indicating that this is not the^PR®. Continue straight on (staying on the Vélocéan track) and pass two other paths on your left and then on your 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® markings^. At the next junction, continue to the right, following the yellow markings on the Chemin des Grandes Fraiches. On your left, you will see the Maison du Patrimoine and then the Pornichet Golf Practice Range.

(2) (Updated 25/04/22: The path has been blocked by a farmer; turn right onto Route du Haut Bignon and stay on it until you take the second left onto Route de la Villes Blais. Take the first right into a cul-de-sac that becomes a path (Chemin des Venelles) and take the second path on the left (^PR® markings^). Continue along the path until you reach the Pornichet business park and turn right. Continue the walk from waypoint 3). Then turn right onto Route du Haut Bignon and take the first road on the left via Chemin du Pissot. After a few metres, this gives way to a path that descends into the woodland. At the bottom of the descent, continue along the path that branches off to the right and runs alongside Boulevard de Saint-Nazaire (D92). Cross a series of wooden footbridges through the woodland before emerging back into the Pornichet business park.

(3) Continue to your left, following the road (Chemin de la Monnerie). At the roundabout, take the first exit on your right, then, at the second roundabout, the exit on your left which goes under the D92 bridge. Go under the bridge and head back 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 markings on your right (you’ll be back on tarmac) onto Chemin des Poulhauts.

(6) At the next junction, first turn left then right again 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 woods, following the yellow markings as well as the red and white markings of^{the GR®34}. Then head straight up towards the fences of the military site. When you reach the fences, turn right and follow the signposting for “Sur les pas de Monsieur Hulot – Winter route” and go round the military camp to the right (to the west). Walk along the fences until you reach the old gatekeeper’s house.

(7) Take the access road to the camp in front of you to head back down towards the sea. Pass the car park for Les Jaunais beach 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 guide you to 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 the military signal station located on Pointe de Chémoulin (which offers a stunning view).

(8) Pass Petite Vallée beach, where the path rejoins the road for 500 metres.

(9) Return to the coastal path on your right after rejoining the Route de l’Océan.
The coastal path arrives in the neighbourhood of Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, known for being the setting of the film "Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot". You will also spot the statue of Monsieur Hulot, leaning over the railing and gazing 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 entrance to Le France restaurant. Continue along the boardwalk before climbing back up the cliff and following the coastal path to La Courance Beach.

(10) Cross straight across the beach to reach the steps below the car park. At the top of the steps, continue along the path on your right.
You’ll arrive at the site of Fort de l’Ève, then follow the coastal path which climbs back up towards the road. Once you reach the road, the path immediately descends towards the coast on your right. Pass by the foot 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 (Update 25/04/22: The coastal path is closed after Port Charlotte beach due to landslides. A diversion route has been put in place which will take you back onto the path at Trébézy beach. Head up via Chemin de la Villa Mine to the Route de Saint-Marc. Turn right. You will come to a roundabout. Immediately after this, turn right (you will pass the bar “La Mouette”). Take the first right onto Chemin de Trébézy. Follow it down to the beach. Return to the coastal path on the left via the steps)

(12) When you reach Porcé beach, you’ll see the beach car park on your right and a path on your left leading into the Porcé woods (an information sign reading “De la mer à la Brière” is located at the start of the path). The path runs alongside the sports fields and then the Porcé Sports Centre. After the sports centre, continue straight ahead (do not go up the road leading to the car park) along the tarmac path (there are weight benches on the right). Continue to the end of the path which, after passing a wooden footbridge, climbs and winds to your right until it reaches Route de Saint-Marc. Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and continue 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 (the shadow of the central spire is cast onto the ground, with the white lines of the pedestrian crossings marking the minutes).
Go round the roundabout on the right and take the^3rd 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). Continue straight ahead, then, after passing a small roundabout and leaving a street on your left, turn left onto Chemin de Berregas (a dead-end sign marks the entrance to the lane).

(14) Continue along the track, keeping to the right and with the Heinlex Hospital on your right. The track turns left and joins a tarmac road, Chemin de la Sagauderie. Turn right and then almost immediately opposite. Leave the road to join the gravel track. At the next junction, turn right and carefully follow 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 path. At the junction, turn left onto the Route des Aubinais. Stay on the path for several hundred metres. You will pass several Second World War bunkers on both the 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 m 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 disused since 1991, is not open to the public. However, you will see numerous blockhouses dating from the Second World War which were used as ammunition depots by the German army.

Chemoulin Semaphore: The function of the Semaphore, which belongs to the French Navy, is to control maritime traffic in the Loire estuary.
The Semaphore is built on the site of an old 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: comprises several World War II blockhouses as well as a fort built into the cliff (you can reach it by taking the steps on your right. Although there is a ‘Military Area’ sign, access is permitted. I recommend it, particularly if you are with children, who will 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.