Between the ocean and the Gulf of Morbihan, starting from Le Hézo

Start at the Maison du Cidre, at the entrance to Hézo, alongside the D780.

(S/E) Cross the D780 via the Kermarc’h roundabout, and head north-east along the small road towards Surzur. Pass through Le Hayo, then La Ville au Vent, and ride past a gravel quarry before reaching the first houses in Surzur. Take care on this stretch as the road surface is in very poor condition for the first kilometre.

(1) As you approach the first detached houses in Surzur, turn right to follow the road that bypasses the town. After Impasse de Berhuidic, the road curves to the right, still on the outskirts of the town, before joining the D20, near a veterinary clinic.

(2) Cross the departmental road and continue straight on towards the Tour du Parc (D195).

(3) Passing the Cohanno woodland, the road descends gently towards the first marshes on the outskirts of the Rivière de Pénerf, below the village of Lambré. A little further on, cross the Étier de Caden dyke at a place called Pont Caden. To the east, the view stretches unobstructed as far as the bell tower of the Tour du Parc.

(4) After Pont Caden, the road joins the D195 at the Balanfournis crossroads.

(5) Turn left, then immediately right after the houses onto the track that forms part of a cycle route. Further on, this track joins the small road leading to the hamlet of Kerboulico. Turn left to head towards the village of Tour du Parc.

(6) When you come out onto the wide Rue de Banaster, turn left to head up this street, then right at the next roundabout to reach the village centre.

(7) Go round the church on the left to reach the small street leading off towards the marshes. Turn right 50 metres further on and carry on to the end of the housing estate. A path branches off to the left between the last two houses and runs alongside a field before emerging into another housing estate. As you leave this, turn left to cross the old village of Boderharff.

(8) Leave the village via the north. A lovely, smooth path lined with trees leads to the banks of the River Penerf and the entrance to Pen Cadenic. Please note that this section is shared with pedestrians, many of whom use this route.
At the junction with the road that skirts the headland, turn left to follow it. The many oyster farms lining the shore are a reminder of the importance of shellfish and the abundance of the ria.
Follow the coastal road to its end, i.e. the jetty from which the ferry departs for Penerf, on the opposite bank.

(9) Turn round and head back to the road that cuts through the village of Pen Cadenic on the left, to return to the village of Tour du Parc (D195).

(10) Turn left at the first road you come to, to pass through a residential area. When you reach a crossroad, turn right, then left when you come to the next junction. This will take you to the Roc’h Vetur municipal campsite.

(11) You can carry on straight ahead to Rouvran beach (from where you’ll then have to turn back).
Turn right and cycle alongside the campsite to reach Rue de Banaster. Turn left at the junction and continue until you reach the bridge marking the boundary with Sarzeau.

(12) Cross the bridge, then turn left immediately afterwards and follow the coast path to Rue du Port au Sel. Turn right onto this road and pass through the village of Banaster.

(13) At the three-way junction with the two fountains, carry on straight ahead to join Rue de Pont ar Lenn. Turn left and carry on straight ahead to the Penvins chapel.

(14) At the chapel, head down towards the Penvins headland. At the annexe to the town hall, carry on straight ahead along Chemin de Kercado, a narrow lane that turns into a footpath. At the end, turn left to rejoin the path to the headland. Turn right and carry on straight ahead to the headland and its curious hexagonal chapel.

(15) After taking the time to enjoy the view, return to the centre of the village via Rue de la Grée Penvins. After the Kerampoull manor-hotel, turn left to return to the town hall annexe, then right to head back up to the church.

(14) Turn left at the crossroads below the church, towards Sarzeau. Follow this narrow, winding and sometimes very busy road with care for about one kilometre until you reach the start of the road to Landrezac on the left.

(16) Follow this road until you enter the village. At the first three-way junction, turn left to pass through the centre of the village and cross it from one end to the other.

(17) At the sign for Kerbirio, turn left towards La Saline and Suscinio Castle. Follow this road, ignoring the turn-offs on either side, until you catch sight of the turrets of the old ducal fortress. Don’t miss the photo opportunity from the banks of the marsh just before it, and turn right once you’ve crossed the marsh.

(18) The road runs right past the castle, and you’ll feel very small there. Pass through the village of Kermoizan and carry on straight ahead until you reach the Penvins–Sarzeau road. Turn left, then immediately right, towards Saint-Colombier. Be careful: the road is narrow, winding and may have oncoming traffic. Pass the Palais and you’ll reach a four-way junction.

(19) Ignore the cycle signs to the right, carry on straight ahead and head for the village of Kerhouët.

(20) Turn left in front of the boundary wall of Kerlevenan Castle, onto the cycle route that runs around the estate. The surface of the track is not in the best condition and it may also be used by pedestrians. Please take care on this section.
Follow the high wall for one kilometre before coming out onto a road. Turn left, towards Kerbot Castle.

(21) Just after the entrance to the château, the track winds its way through a narrow underpass beneath the four-lane road. It is difficult for cyclists to pass each other here. Do not hesitate to give way and signal your presence as you approach the underpass, as visibility is reduced, especially in sunny weather.
As you emerge from the tunnel, turn right to go round the village of Duer.

(22) At the first junction, turn right, then immediately cross over to the left to take the path leading towards the Duer marshes. As you walk alongside the (noisy) four-lane road, you’ll reach the bird-watching hides (a quieter spot).
After enjoying the scenery, continue to the far end of the marshes and climb up the hill overlooking them. The small road leads directly to the village of Saint-Colombier. Turn right to head back towards the church.

(23) Walk past the church along the path to its right and follow the road that continues from there, ignoring the cycle facilities that allow you to cross the four-lane road at the entrance. Leave the village heading north, pass a roundabout, then reach the next three-way junction.

(24) Turn left towards Lasné. In this flat countryside, as soon as you climb a few metres, the view opens up. Don’t miss the view to the left, all the way to the village of Lasné. When you come out onto the main street, turn left and follow the road to the Chaussée de l’Île de Tascon. This submersible causeway provides access to the island at low tide, but be careful when the tide comes in, as you risk getting stuck there.

(25) Retrace your steps back to the centre of the village and walk straight through it, ignoring any roads branching off. It is only when you reach the large farm buildings that you leave this road and head off to the left, towards Le Passage, leaving the hamlet of Saint-Armel on your right.

(26) At Le Pusmen, turn left, cross the embankment, and continue straight on along the water’s edge until you reach the Pointe du Passage

(27) If the ferryman is on duty, he can take you across to the other side.
Carry on to complete the circular route by going round the peninsula, returning to the Pusmen sea wall. Turn left, then cross the sea wall in the other direction.

(26) Carry on straight ahead until you reach the roundabout.

(28) Turn left towards Le Hézo and, as you leave the village, let the D310 carry on straight ahead whilst you take the small road branching off to the left. Further on, cross the dyke of the old tide mill – the building still stands – and head back up towards the village and its church.

(29) For a final view of the Gulf, turn left and head down the small street leading to the harbour. Then return to the church.

(29) Follow the main street until you reach the edge of the four-lane road. When you get there, turn left to find the Maison du Cidre (S/E)

During the tourist season, there are places to eat and buy supplies all along the route. This is slightly less the case outside the tourist season. You should therefore take the necessary precautions depending on the time of year you are cycling this route.

From Banaster to just past Suscinio Castle, the route follows roads shared with other modes of transport. Great care is required, and appropriate signage would be desirable for these sections, which are also used by cars travelling to these popular tourist destinations. Cycle facilities are starting to appear, but there’s still some way to go!

The route does not pass through the centre of St Armel. Do feel free to take a short detour to stop off at the café-bakery (a local institution) next to the church. And if it’s ‘goschtial’ day (the speciality that every resident of Rhuys ought to know about), so much the better. It won’t break the bank and it’s a lovely pick-me-up after a lovely bike ride.

If it’s difficult to plan a long enough stop during your ride, do pop back to Suscinio Castle for a visit. The former ducal residence, reborn from its ashes, is well worth a visit.

(S/E) Maison du Cidre.