The Buguélès foreshore

The starting point of the route is located at the bottom of Gouermel Cove, west of the town of Plougrescant. Start from the car park at the crossroads towards Kermerrien, on the road that runs along the cove. The^GR®34passes through this point.

(S/E) Head west along the beach, following the red and white markings of^{the GR®.} You will soon reach a crossroads (this will be the return path).

(1) Continue straight ahead on the^GR®34. At the next road junction at Boutill, turn right and return to the shore. Follow the coastline to Île Istan and reach the slipway at Île Bilo.

(2) Turn back and follow the road westwards towards the campsite. Stay on the coast, but be careful here: this is where the^GR® markings end^. At the campsite, head north towards a small islet, go around it on the right and cross over towards the stone path that you can see on Île Balanec. Follow the path on the right until you reach the entrance to the tide mill, which is private property.

(3) Go back down to the beach on the right and cross the stream flowing downstream. Reach the right-hand end of the dyke on Île Ozac'h and walk along the left-hand side of Île Ozac'h. Reach the pebble channel that runs from its northern end. Walk along the channel on the left. Further on, at the mill's water reservoir, the channel heads due west. Climb onto the channel and walk along the pebble ridge towards Enez Illiec. Please note that the channel is a prime breeding ground for certain birds and plants. Respect the animals and plants. If you encounter birds defending their nests, turn back.

(4) Leave the upstream dyke of the mill reservoir on your left. Note: if at this point you are concerned about the rising tide, cross the dyke - see alternative route in the Practical Information section. Otherwise, continue to Enez Illiec.

(5) Head back south towards the left of Île du Milieu. Walk along a^first small islet on your right, then a^second islet further on. Reach Île du Milieu after a^third islet. South of Île du Milieu, find the path that runs east to west to Île Saint-Gildas. Take the path on the left towards the east, then south to reach the islet of Coz Castel, which is easily visible with its houses.

(6) Reach the shore and follow it for several hundred metres south then south-west to a grove of trees on the beach. Turn left before the grove, then join the road on the left. You will then arrive at the Placen Amic crossroads.

(7) First turn left then right and continue along the road to the south. After the farm on the left, take a path that branches off to the left, climbing between the embankments. Follow the yellow markings from this point until the end of the route. The path joins the road on the plateau: turn left to reach a T-junction on Rue des Bruyères.

(8) Turn left onto Rue des Bruyères for 100 metres, then right at the fork. Follow the wide path that branches off to the right towards the south. Further on, take the wide path on the left that crosses a wooded area that is wet in winter. Join a road and follow it to the right until you reach the houses of Kermont.

(9) Immediately after the last house in Kermont, go down to the left into a sunken lane. You will reach a road before Toul an Stivel. Follow the road to the left under the chestnut trees. After the descent, and after the path leading up to Convenant Normand, a path branches off to the right towards the south-east, between two embankments. Follow the path around a marsh, but be careful: these areas are wet in winter. Join the coastal road at the initial crossroads of Gouermel beach, which you passed on the way there.

(1) Turn right and follow the path in the opposite direction to the outward journey to reach the Anse de Gouermel car park (S/E).

For this hike, it is best to wear sturdy footwear in anticipation of wet areas on the foreshore and on certain sections afterwards (9) in winter.
A GPS can be really useful for finding your way around the foreshore.

Important prerequisite:
Half of this hike takes place on the foreshore, from (2) to (7): between 2 and 3 hours on a section that is covered at high tide.
Before planning any hike, it is essential to check the tide times and make sure that this part of the walk takes place during low tide, i.e. between low tide minus 2 hours and low tide plus 2 hours. Similarly, once on the foreshore, keep a constant eye on the rising tide. The tidal range can be significant and the water can rise quickly.
If this condition cannot be met, the hike must be postponed or modified so as not to venture onto the foreshore. The alternative is to connect the markers (2) to (6) by road north of Buguélès (see map).
Those who undertake the route do so entirely at their own risk.

Variation (shortcut):
Once on the path at (4), it is possible to shorten the walk on the foreshore by crossing the dyke, which is then on the left. You then need to walk along Île Balanec on the path to its left (west) and rejoin the shore a little further south. Once on the coast, follow it to Coz Castel, which you can see.

Sea mill on Île de Balanec, dating from the^12th century.
Saint-Gonery Chapel in Plougrescant,^12th century.
Saint-Pierre Church in Plougrescant,^19th century.
Old Town and Saint Tugdual Cathedral, Tréguier.