From purgatory to a little piece of paradise from Séné

Park in the car park opposite the Grain de Sel cultural centre.

(S/E) Walk down Rue des Écoles to the Purgatoire roundabout.

(1) Cross it to take the street opposite (towards Montsarrac), and turn left immediately after the first house. The route takes you along a wide sandy path that also serves as a cycle path. At the first crossroads, continue straight ahead. At the second crossroads, you will come to the^GR® 34 (red and white markings), which is also the Tour du Golfe trail. Turn right and follow this path until you reach a market garden.

(2) Before entering the village of Gressignan, turn left. This path joins a road which you must cross and take the path that starts almost opposite, slightly to the right. You are now next to the Falguérec nature reserve, a prime location for bird watching and protection. Follow this path until you reach the first houses in Michotte.

(3) Cross the village from north to south and take the path that continues along Rue de Mez Trinec. This soon joins the Kerarden road, which it follows until the entrance to the village. When you see the chapel, take the path on the left that leads to the centre of the village.

(4) Cross the village from north to south and follow the path that runs some distance along the shore to the village of Montsarrac. Cross the village towards La Garenne and turn right onto the coastal path when you reach the shore. At high tide, this passage may be flooded. In this case, take Rue de Toul an Trec'h in the centre of the hamlet.
Follow the coastal path until you reach the Passage road. At the end of this road is the slipway where the ferry lands, allowing you to reach Saint-Armel on the other side of the Noyalo river.

(5) Unless you are taking the circular Villeneuve route (see alternative route § During the hike or nearby), go up the Route de Montsarrac to the right and turn left in front of the pretty village calvary. Then follow the road for about 600 metres and turn right onto the path to join the Kerleguen road. Turn left to go down towards the Bilherbon farm and cross the dyke that protects it.

(6) At the end of the Bilherbon dyke, leave the road straight ahead and take the coastal path that branches off to the left, between marshes and woods. This path goes around Mancel Bay (a former polder) to reach Pointe du Bill, which you approach from its wildest side.

(7) At the end of the point are the remains of the old dyke that closed off Mancel Bay. Pass them to take the coastal path that goes around the point. It passes below the sailing school and properties, with a footbridge having been built where the beach was insufficient to provide a permanent pedestrian crossing. If the tide allows, don't hesitate to walk along the shore, as it is more comfortable.

(8) Just before Moustérian, the footpath itself may be submerged. If this is the case, take one of the passages that leads back to the Pointe du Bill road and return to the beach via the access from the village.
Walk along the beach to reach a small cypress grove on a slight hill, and continue along the coastal path until you reach Cadouarn. On the way, a small pond hidden behind a vegetated coastal strip faces the path that allows you to cross the foreshore at low tide to reach the island of Boëd, just opposite.

(9) When you reach Cadouarn, the path winds its way between a property and an oyster farm before opening onto a small square. Take the road that climbs slightly to the left towards the centre of the village. This village is notable for the density of its buildings. Each house is built on a plot of land about six metres wide, which explains why the buildings are so close together on both sides of the road.

(10) At the junction with Rue du Ranquin (Route de Port Anna), turn left and cross over to take the path opposite the bar-tabac. After a hundred metres between two stone embankments, it opens onto a wide path and the view opens up onto the part of the Gulf that separates Vannes from Séné. Turn right and follow this path until you reach the Port Anna road. As you pass, you will notice the very original shape of the bell tower of the church in Séné. Turn left onto the path parallel to the road and follow it to the crossroads where it crosses the road.

(11) Cross the Port Anna road and continue along the path opposite. At the top of the slope, turn left onto the path and continue until you reach a road. Turn left again and follow the road to the houses and the next crossroads.

(12) Cross the crossroads and take the path that leads towards the marshes. Follow the riverbank to reach an old stone dyke, and cross the marsh on the path that has been laid out there. On your right are the remains of an old saltworks.
Once you reach the other bank, leave the coastal path to your left and take the small path that goes up to the right of the two colourful buildings. It leads to Rue des Écoles. Continue a few metres to the left to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Provisions can be purchased in the village of Séné.
This walk does not require any special equipment, other than that which is appropriate for the weather conditions at the time. You will often be by the sea, so be careful of glare, even in overcast weather. And depending on the tide, don't forget your swimsuit.

(5) Alternative: At Montsarrac, you can extend the walk by going around La Villeneuve. This adds 2.65 km to the route described. At the tip of this peninsula is a pretty beach sheltered from south-westerly winds, facing Pointe du Bill.

An old dyke between this point and the islet of Béchit, which extends the beach, once closed off Mancel Bay. The polder created by this dyke allowed the farms of Villeneuve and Bilherbon to be built, but the structure could not withstand the fury of the sea and the cove regained its maritime appearance. Only a line of stones, just at the end of the Pointe du Bill, remains as a reminder of this development.