Kerema Dunes from Paluden Hir

At the start, there are two car parks in front of or behind the Plouescat casino.

(S/E) Walk along the bottom of Anse de Kernic for about 200 m.

(1) Cross the bridge over the Kerallé on the right and walk along the verge of the D10 for a few dozen metres. Take care as there is heavy traffic and it is not safe. Climb quickly up the embankment. Depending on the time of year, the grass may be tall: the path is barely visible and watch out for ticks!

(2) Come back down the embankment and walk a few dozen metres further along the D10: take care! You’ll soon reach the safer path, separated from the road by a screen of copses.

(3) The path finally veers away from the D10 and runs along the beach and its grassy areas.

(4) At the hamlet of Kernic, there is no need to return to the D10: the path continues along the shore behind the houses. Carry on to the mouth of a small, steep-sided, muddy stream. Walk 100 m up the left bank of the stream to the car park opposite the Odé Vraz campsite, where a footbridge crosses it.

(5) Cross this footbridge and turn right towards the beach.

(6) Continue left along the beach to the rocks: very fine white sand.

(7) Leave the beach and rejoin the path (^GR®34) on the dune, leaving the Chapelle Saint-Gouévroc on your left, and emerge at a car park.

(8) Continue straight ahead on the well-marked path until you reach a crossroads.

(9) Continue straight ahead (yellow markings) and leave the^GR®34, which heads left towards the Maison des Dunes and its car park.

(10) Leave the yellow markings and head right towards Penn ar C'hleuz (the tip of the boot, if my translation is correct), going round it via the beach (marked dune erosion).

(11) Climb back up the dune via a narrow path and rejoin the yellow markings, following them to the right until you reach a junction in front of a pond.

(12) Head away from the coast by turning left onto the^GR®34, which you follow eastwards. Go round part of the pond on your right and return to the Maison des Dunes (information boards and seasonal activities).

(13) Head up to the left of the car park to reach the crossroads you passed on the way there.

(9) Turn right and follow the route back in the opposite direction to the outward journey, staying on the^GR®34, which is effectively a variation on the outward route. You’ll reach the small, narrow, muddy stream and the footbridge.

(5) Follow the GR®34 and head back along the route you took on the way out, taking care on the short sections along the verge of the D10 until you reach the finish (S/E).

It is possible (and preferable?) to park at the Maison des Dunes car park (13) or the one opposite the Odé Vraz campsite (5), thus avoiding the return journey to Paluden Hir from (5) to (S/E), which is roughly equivalent to hiking route 10 in the guidebook, i.e. 13 km.
Another option: a 2 km return walk to the tip of the Kernic spit, turning right at point (6).

The route shown is therefore a round trip with a few circular loops to avoid retracing your steps all the time: on the way out, I went via Ker Emma beach to open up the view over Goulven beach and the coast towards Brignogan, and on the way back via the back of the dunes.

During high-tide conditions, the edges of the foreshore and beach may be narrow or even impassable.

As the dune system is fragile, please do not stray from the marked paths.

Dogs are allowed in the dunes provided they are kept on a lead. They are not permitted on the beach from 1 June to 15 September.

Restaurant and crêperie at Paluden Hir.

Excursions are organised by the Maison des Dunes during the season: https://www.maisondesdunes.bzh/.