The Grouin Tip (La Pointe du Grouin)

A rocky headland close to Cancale to discover thanks to the customs trails (GR®34). The coastline, interspersed with small sandy coves, is ideal for all kinds of summer activities. Walkers will be surprised if they expect a flat, unattractive trail. If there are occasional sunken paths, it's to allow a rest before rocky areas and steep gradients.

Details

1900280
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 118 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 118 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 53 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 7 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Cancale (35260)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.696164° / W 1.85255°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1116ET, 1215OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Leave Cancale and head for the "Pointe du Grouin" on the D201. After a 90° left-hand bend, turn right onto a small road leading to the Youth Hostel. Park in a small car park on the right
(see note in practical information).

(S/E) Leave the car park by turning right and driving under the bridge over the main road.

Yellow signposting

After 70m, take the path on the left. This continues into the road "Chemin de Clairette", which bends to the right.
Cross the road and continue straight ahead on the path. Cross a second road and continue straight ahead.

(1) When you reach the D201 road, cross with care and follow the path slightly to the left. Cross the hamlet "Hameau de la Gaudichais". The path bends broadly to the left and then to the right. At the crossroads, turn right.

GR®34 Red and white Marking

(2) Continue along this path, ignoring the paths to the right, heading northeast. Reach the "Pointe de la Moulière".
'Off-road : the tip is accessible by the path on the left''.

(3) Turn right, and the path heads East then South-East around the beach "Plage du Saussaye", then north-east along the "Boulevard des Ajoncs".

(4) Take the stairs and continue left along the protected pathway alongside the Boulevard. On the left, the Grand Porche du Saussaye chasm. Descend to the left to find the path leading to the "Pointe de Rochefroide".

(5) Continue along the path which, heading north-east, leads to the tip's car park. Turn left, passing the semaphore on your left, and continue to the tip, noting the coastal path on your right, which you should take after admiring the scenery.

(6) Take the downhill path on the left (the signpost is not visible in this direction) and follow it southwards. Go alongside the campsite and round the "Pointe de Barbe Brûlée".

(7) The path then heads due west to Port Mer beach. Turn left and walk along the beach.

Yellow Marking

(8) At the end of the car park, before the brown wooden hut, turn right up the road and, after a few metres, left onto the coastal path. Follow the winding, uneven path. It skirts the "Pointe du Chatryet and ends in a cove called Port Picain. The youth hostel is on the right, Follow the road uphill to the right, back to the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 35 m - Small car park below the main road
  2. 1 : km 1.18 - alt. 45 m - Opposite after crossing the D201
  3. 2 : km 2.07 - alt. 14 m - Junction with the GR34
  4. 3 : km 2.91 - alt. 19 m - Pointe de la Moulière
  5. 4 : km 4.15 - alt. 30 m - Grand Porche du Saussaye
  6. 5 : km 4.67 - alt. 28 m - Pointe de Rochefroide
  7. 6 : km 6.06 - alt. 34 m - Coastal path on the left
  8. 7 : km 7.1 - alt. 13 m - Pointe de Barbe Brûlée
  9. 8 : km 7.88 - alt. 8 m - At the end of Port Mer, on the right
  10. S/E : km 9.52 - alt. 35 m - Small car park below the main road

Notes

This walk is rated as "medium" difficulty, even though it is less than 10 kilometers long, as some sections of the GR®34 are not easy to negotiate.

A larger car park exists at the bottom of this road, just in front of the youth hostel. However, the presence of a parking meter can be a deterrent. However, you should avoid parking outside the designated spaces, as checks are frequent, especially in summer.

Beyond the "Pointe du Grouin" to the north-east lies the Pierre-de-Herpin lighthouse. The imaginary line linking the tip to the lighthouse is the starting line for the Route du Rhum race.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 99 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
martine.morel36 @ orange.fr
martine.morel36 @ orange.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Perfect weather for this Easter Monday. Stunning views – truly a magnificent spot from start to finish. Of course, there were plenty of people along the way – which is understandable – but it wasn’t a problem. Thanks to the person who mapped out this route.

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françoisetchristine
françoisetchristine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We wondered whether we should have done the route in the other direction to enjoy a better view on the way back. It's a matter of taste, of course! Otherwise, it was a very beautiful hike.

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Leligny
Leligny

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with a magnificent view at Pointe du Grouin at sunset. An easy route that is not too long.

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User 8319550

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk along the sea and beautiful view of the Grouin lighthouse

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User 2083429

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk with magnificent sea views. Don't miss stopping off in Cancale for an oyster tasting!

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FRZ59
FRZ59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike lasting around 3½ hours, including a few short breaks. No difficulty. Magnificent views, particularly of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay in the last part of the route.

A pleasant surprise: at Pointe du Grouin, we were able to buy drinks and snacks at the open-air café next to the restaurant. Much appreciated!

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User 17259437

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful walk, easy access, beautiful views along the route. Recommended for lovers of Brittany.

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User 16977425

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Shaved

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fran-chris
fran-chris

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy hike, not many people in the morning, beautiful scenery, and we ended up swimming in water that was warmer than in southern Brittany.

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User 17599112

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this tour at the end of June. The weather was beautiful, there weren't many people around, and the views along the coast were magnificent
A must-do if you're in the area, and finish off with some oyster tasting on the pier at Cancale.
FB

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MissMillie
MissMillie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike! The sea views are magnificent.
There are more people at the tip of Grouin and in the surrounding area, but the rest of the hike is fairly uncrowded.
Definitely a hike to recommend!

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User 17599112

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A relatively easy hike of about ten kilometres. We are not keen walkers and we completed this hike in 4 hours and 1 minute (but we stopped a lot to take photos). The first part is very short and takes you through open countryside to the coast, where the whole coastline is stunningly beautiful.
For your information, there are public toilets at the beach.
Thanks again, it was really superb.

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Elo79
Elo79

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great route. Quite easy. Beautiful views of the sea. I recommend this walk.

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Orélie
Orélie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice hike, magnificent weather to boot, no wind for this time of year.

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lauzerte1851
lauzerte1851

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lot of cool breezes (7°C in the morning) but very beautiful sunshine. The seaside is magnificent, and the paths are pleasant with hardly anyone around. I highly recommend this route.

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