The Grand Rocher and the Pointe de l'Armorique

Discover Grève Saint-Michel: a bay where the sea retreats more than 2 km; first by climbing the Grand Rocher for a breathtaking panorama, then, closer up, by walking along the beach, and finally, admiring it from the famousGR®34hiking trail. You will continue to admire Lannion Bay as you skirt around the Pointe de l'Armorique and, more specifically, the Pointe de Plestin, before following the Douron estuary, admiring the chapel and fountain, and returning to Saint-Efflam.

Details

371085
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.79 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 260 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 260 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 87 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Go to the car park at Place de Lankare (or Lan Carré), opposite the Saint-Efflam water sports centre.

(S/E) Leave the car park heading east and take the first street on the right: Rue de Kerizellan. In the right-hand bend, take the left-hand path. Turn left again, then after 50 metres take the path on the right (it climbs quite steeply).

(1) Do not take the path on the left (you will take it later, on the way back from the Grand Rocher viewpoint). Continue straight ahead.

(2) Continue straight ahead on the path until you reach a road, which you should follow for 20 metres to the left. Take thefirst path on the left (signposted "panorama"). At the end of the path, turn left, then 50 metres further on, turn right to reach the viewpoint over Grève Saint-Michel.

(3) Turn around and walk south to reach the intersection you passed on the way there.

(2) Turn right to reach the next crossroads via the reverse route of the outward journey.

(1) Turn right at the descent. Before the road, turn left at the hairpin bend to reach the D786 departmental road.

(4) Cross at the pedestrian crossing and, if the tide allows, go down to the beach. Walk along the beach to reach the first slipway.
If not, walk along the departmental road, skirt the car park facing the sea and take the first road on the right, Rue des Carrières.

GR34 Red and white markings

(5) At the top of the slipway, turn right and continue along the green path to Les Carrières. Continue along the road, which becomes a path at its end.

(6) Continue straight ahead to reach Route du Toulinet, then the path that extends it. Continue north on this path, which ends at the road.

(7) At the sharp left-hand bend, take a path straight ahead. This path goes around Anse Toull Kurun, Porz Mellec Beach, Pointe de Plestin and Pointe de Toull ar Vag to reach Tossen ar C'hoz Beach. Please note: Throughout this section, some passages are difficult.

Unmarked

(8) If the sea level allows, go down to the beach, cross the rocky point and climb back up via the slipway.
If not, continue along the path and when it joins the road, follow it, keeping to the right.

GR34 Red and white markings

(9) Take the path through the pine forest on the left. It descends southwards to the ancient Hogolo thermal baths. Continue along this path until you reach the road.

(10) Cross and continue straight ahead towards the Sainte-Barbe Chapel.

No markings

Walk past the chapel on your left and take the path opposite. Take the road on the right and then straight ahead at the crossroads (due east). Continue along the road.

(11) Turn left, then take the second street on the right. After about 100 metres, take the path on the left. Turn right at the end, then take the first path on the right and go around the campsite, leaving it on your right. This will take you back to the path you took on the way there.

(6) Take the path on the right which joins the road along the shore. Follow it to the first street on the right.

(12) Turn right at the Fontaine de Saint-Efflam and go up the road to the main road. Follow it to the crossroads where there is a pedestrian crossing.

(13) Cross the D786 and retrace your steps to take the path on the right, which initially runs alongside the road.
Continue along the path, cross a footbridge and you will come to a road that leads straight to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 8 m - Saint-Efflam, Centre Nautique car park
  2. 1 : km 0.76 - alt. 71 m - To get there: straight ahead - To return: turn right
  3. 2 : km 0.89 - alt. 85 m - To get there: straight ahead - To return: turn right
  4. 3 : km 1.87 - alt. 80 m - Viewpoint over the Gand Rocher
  5. 4 : km 3.08 - alt. 7 m - Go down to the beach if the tide allows it.
  6. 5 : km 4.23 - alt. 7 m - Go up the slipway and then turn right.
  7. 6 : km 4.81 - alt. 25 m - To get there: straight ahead - To return: turn right
  8. 7 : km 6.13 - alt. 17 m - At the bend, follow the path straight ahead.
  9. 8 : km 7.93 - alt. 24 m - Go down to the beach if the tide allows it.
  10. 9 : km 8.5 - alt. 14 m - Path on the left
  11. 10 : km 9.79 - alt. 6 m - Cross over and leave the chapel on your left. - Douron (fleuve)
  12. 11 : km 11.13 - alt. 45 m - Cross and then take the road on the left.
  13. 12 : km 12.03 - alt. 8 m - Saint Efflam fountain on the right
  14. 13 : km 12.43 - alt. 42 m - Cross the road, then turn half-way round and take the path on the right.
  15. S/E : km 13.79 - alt. 8 m - Saint-Efflam, Centre Nautique car park

Notes

Saint-Michel Beach has unfortunately become famous for the green algae that accumulates there. The cleaning work that is now carried out throughout the year is restoring this magnificent site to its former beauty and tranquillity.

Worth a visit

The Gand Rocher.
The Pointe de l'Armorique.
The Hogolo Thermal Baths
The Chapel of Sainte-Barbe
The fountain of Saint-Efflam

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

4.4 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Bruno 29
Bruno 29

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb discovery for this hike between the woods and the seaside, with an interesting elevation gain for the distance.
Thank you for the route.

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Yvon Rouzault
Yvon Rouzault

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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CACOIN
CACOIN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike with lots of superb views. Quite a few elevation changes.
For point 3, take the small path on the left before the house (the current route is no longer valid). Once at the top, WOW, you can see the whole town and the sea.
If possible, do this hike at high tide to get the most out of it.

I recommend it.

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Bluechris
Bluechris

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike with superb views from the Grand Rocher, definitely worth doing again!
The Grand Rocher is a popular tourist attraction, so to enjoy it without too many people around, go early in the morning.

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Picson06230
Picson06230

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No


A beautiful hike with interesting trails and varied landscapes.
In the first section, corresponding to the Grand Rocher, the route is unpredictable due to the presence of numerous intersecting paths. Furthermore, the lack of mowing makes it difficult to find the path (see attached photo), and we are grateful to the horse rider who reopened the path and pointed it out to us.

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Lililapuce
Lililapuce

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I only did the Pointe de l'Armorique section. A really enjoyable hike with lots of beautiful views and passages along beaches and coves. Between land and sea, shaded, I really loved it!

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kerligonan
kerligonan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful coastal hike. I don't have a smartphone, so I navigate the old-fashioned way, and the map is very good, with descriptions, which is great! If it's sunny in the afternoon, I suggest doing the route in reverse... head west first, walk in the shade, and return east along the coast.

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andrepoto
andrepoto
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

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lesdrolesengroles
lesdrolesengroles

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Minor issues with the trail towards the "Grand Rocher".

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kermimi
kermimi

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I left Ste Barbe; with this magnificent weather, it was a dazzling hike; combining the pleasure of walking, with some slightly difficult passages, the enrichment of Gallo-Roman remains, humble, silent, moving chapels, landscapes of sea and pine forests, bright colours in the gardens...thank you.

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