From Le Pouldu to Port de Merrien following the GR®34

Le Pouldu, car parks near Boulevard Charles Filiger.

(S) Make your way to Place de l’Océan, near the Pouldu Inter-municipal Water Sports Centre. Take the Chemin de la Grenouille, ignoring the road on the left that leads down towards the sailing school. Follow the^GR® 34 markings (red and white) and head towards the wooden gate at the top of Chemin de la Grenouille. The path veers to the right, passing the first pair of houses on the left, and heads towards a detached villa.

(1) At the villa, turn right to head down towards Bellangenet beach and cross it. Head towards the steps to climb up and take the path on the left, which leads to a sort of chapel perched on the cliff. It is in fact a customs officers’ hut, recognisable by its large chimney.

(2) Walk round it, then head back down to Kerrou Beach. At the end of the beach, follow Rue du Kerrou for a short while.

(3) Take the^first left to join the path heading towards the sea. Follow the^GR® 34 markings (red and white), which run constantly along the coast whilst crossing a few coves (small footbridges). Pass close to the hamlet of La Roche Percée. Reach the Port of Doëlan. First, take Rue de Cayenne and walk past the green lighthouse.

(4) Walk all the way round the cove, via the Quai du Vieux Doëlan, then cross the bridge; at the end of the bridge, the path is on your left. Passing through the splendid ‘back gardens’, the path runs, so to speak, right past the foot of the red lighthouse.

(5) Walk round a small cove and then head for Quai Joseph Sanceo. The path is marked by a post with yellow directional arrows. Then follow the^GR® 34 markings (red and white). Pass by Pointe Beg an Tour and continue along the path skirting the coastline to reach Portec Cove. Go round Porz Bali Cove and, before crossing the stream, ignore the first path on the right. Just after the stream, ignore the path on the right again.

(6) At the next fork, turn left. Continue to ignore the paths on the right and always take the path closest to the sea. Reach the headland where the path runs between the sea and several villas on your right. The path turns sharply 90° to the right, running alongside Merrien Bay.

(7) Carry on, once again ignoring the few branches to your right.

(8) At the mouth of the River Merrien, ignore the path on the right leading to Rue de la Digue and carry on straight ahead towards the harbour. You will reach Merrien Harbour (E).

Although the^GR® 34 route is very well signposted, it’s always reassuring to view a detailed hike on Visorando in the region you’re visiting.
An onlinehike following the^GR® 34 route, requiring a car to be left at the finish.
The route was completed on 18 May 2022 in dry, sunny weather in 3 hours 35 minutes without a break (apart from numerous short stops to take photos).
There are plenty of benches and a few picnic tables dotted along the route.
Slightly physically demanding given the duration and the few descents, detours and ascents around the inlets (rias).
However, this route remains easy (IBP index = 35; easy for a hiker of average fitness). The total elevation gain is unlikely to be just 6 m, as suggested by the Visorando software, but rather in the region of 140 m.
A circular version, turning back at Doëlan instead of continuing to Merrien, is suggested by a Visorando creator: hike no. 1259552

Along the route: Doëlan harbour (bars, restaurants, crêperies, etc.).
Oysters at Merrien harbour, on arrival (at Pascal Kermagoret’s).
16 km from Merrien: Pont-Aven.
18 km from Pont-Aven: Concarneau and its medieval town (shops, restaurants, etc.).