The River Étel and Saint Cado

A beautiful walk along part of the Rivière d'Étel, taking in the Île de Saint-Cado and the little house on the Île de Nichtarguer.

Details

63284
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.07 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 69 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 66 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 56 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -3 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Belz (56550)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.68484° / W 3.186055°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0820SB, 0821OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in one of the car parks at Saint-Cado. The walk starts from the car park opposite the island.

(S/E) Turn left along the seafront (you'll go round the island of Saint-Cado at the end of the loop). Follow the road to the left along the seafront. Turn right at the roundabout. At the next junction, go straight ahead and follow the GR®.

(1) Turn right, then left into Rue Marchelan.

(2) Before the road turn right (coastal path). Continue along the coastal path to the left.

(3) Pass under the Pont Lorois and reach Porh Niscop.

(4) Continue along the coastal path. At the end of the path, take the track on the right and immediately a track on the right to reach the Moulin du Bignac.

(5) At the end of the path, Moulin de Bignac, take the road opposite, then the road on the left (uphill), skirting the Étang du Bignac. Join the Kerguindo crossroads.

(6) Turn right, go alongside the alignments and take the left-hand path. Cross the D 781 towards Le Bourg. At the end of the track, turn right (towards Le Pussic). Cross the road.

(7) After the waste collection centre turn left (towards Kercadoret) and at the end of the lane turn left.

(8) Cross the D16 towards Kervilaine.

(9) Before the dyke, take the track on the left. You will come to the Pointe du Perche.

(10) Take the road on the left and then the3rd road on the right (pass a dolmen on the left).
Take the path to the right, along the seafront ( be careful at high tide, it's a tricky walk). Return to the seafront.

(11) Take the path along the coast. Take the bridge into Saint-Cado and walk around the island. Take the road on the left as far as a marked dead-end road and walk along the coast, being careful at the end of the tour as the tide can be tricky. Alternatively, return and explore the village (church, calvary and Saint-Cado fountain).
Leave the island and return to the car park opposite (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 10 ft - Car parks in Saint-Cado
  2. 1 : mi 0.99 - alt. 43 ft - Rue Marchelan
  3. 2 : mi 1.19 - alt. 16 ft - Coastal path
  4. 3 : mi 1.34 - alt. 16 ft - Under the Lorois Bridge
  5. 4 : mi 1.54 - alt. 13 ft - Porh Niscop
  6. 5 : mi 4.06 - alt. 3 ft - Moulin du Bignac
  7. 6 : mi 4.68 - alt. 49 ft - Carrefour Kerguindo
  8. 7 : mi 5.21 - alt. 39 ft - To the left of the waste centre
  9. 8 : mi 5.45 - alt. 56 ft - Crossing the D16
  10. 9 : mi 6.82 - alt. 13 ft - Dyke
  11. 10 : mi 7.41 - alt. 0 ft - Pointe de Perche
  12. 11 : mi 7.92 - alt. 10 ft - Seaside path
  13. S/E : mi 9.07 - alt. 10 ft - Car parks in Saint-Cado

Notes

Take good shoes for the coastal paths.

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

4.5 / 5
Based on 102 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Marie O
Marie O

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this wonderful route, which was a pleasure from start to finish, both for the scenery and the points of interest. The wayside shrine and the fountain on St Cado Island, and the statue overlooking the oyster shelter on Nichtarguer Island in the light of the 8am sunrise were magnificent. The ‘Roh clour’ dolmen near Kerlutu is a lovely spot to stop and rest in the shade. I’d be happy to do this walk again. Enjoy your walk, everyone. Marie O

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fifou du loiret
fifou du loiret

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk along part of the Etel and the final stretch to St Cado was magnificent.

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Serge28
Serge28

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good evening
We did the route starting from Saint Cado. The route is very pleasant along the Etel and then inland. The route has been recently redesigned and offers easy passage between properties and the ria over 15 km.

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clubderandonnées
clubderandonnées

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely walk in the sunshine for October, very easy, no difficulty.

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neznoir1
neznoir1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Wonderful hike, just a few hesitations at the dolmen due to the intersection of several marked trails.

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daniellerando
daniellerando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful walk with few visitors
I didn't see the alignments after Guergundo ??
to say the least, a bit of tarmac,
excellent day between sea and countryside

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visiorando26
visiorando26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Meet an oyster farmer on the tour. Tasting available.

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arthur34
arthur34

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk along the coastal path.
It's hard to get away from the tarmac between point 8 and point 9, which is the only downside of this walk.
The coastal path is taken before point 9 for the return to St Cado.

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MM56
MM56

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first part wasn't very interesting (houses), but a new, nicer path along the ria is currently being developed. Even if the local residents, some of them aggressive, don't appreciate this new feature.
Alignments indicated not seen after Kerguindo!
I recommend doing this walk, which is nevertheless very beautiful, outside school holidays and weekends.
A nice tapas bar at the finish as a reward!

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Glaigo
Glaigo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Top quality, recent signposting
No problems
Little frequented

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lntess
lntess

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy walk with beautiful scenery

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SOUCHARDERIC
SOUCHARDERIC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty walk with beautiful views
Easy, pleasant route, mostly on footpaths
Not very busy, just a few trail runners and hikers encountered.

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Michel DUC
Michel DUC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk combining the sea and the countryside. Little frequented but very well exposed

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severemarc
severemarc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful and varied landscapes

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jipix3169
jipix3169

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk around the bassin de saint cado in glorious weather. I suffered a little from the heat, as the walk is quite exposed to the sun. 5/5

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