Le Grouin du Sud and the Prieuré Saint-Léonard from Vains

Departure from the car park at Vains church.

No signposts

(S/E) Join the main road (D911) and, at the corner of the town hall, turn right and then left onto the D333 towards the Saint-Léonard priory. Cross a road on the left and continue to an intersection.

(1) Keep left on Rue du Bissonnet towards the cemetery. At the fork shortly after, turn left, follow the cemetery on your right and go slightly downhill.

(2) At the "give way" sign, cross Route de Saint-Léonard and continue straight ahead on Rue Chevrel. At the next intersection, with Route de la Vaquerie on your right, go straight ahead onto a small paved road. After No. 10, join the coastal path (marker).

Red and white markings

(3) Take a path on the right and walk along the grassy area on your left. Take a quick note of the bell tower of the Mont Saint-Michel church opposite and in the distance. Walk along the grassy area for about 1.4 km and go straight ahead at the various crossroads you come to.

(4) Turn right along the path, following a low wall, and ignore the access to a meadow on the left.

(5) After about 500 m, cross a stream using a footbridge made of long concrete posts.

(6) After about 200 m, wade across another stream. At the intersection on the other side, turn left. Walk along the grassy path for about two kilometres until you reach an intersection (boundary marker).

Red and yellow markings

(7) Continue straight ahead (ignore a red and white arrow indicating a right turn). After a right turn, you will see Mont Saint-Michel and its bay. Continue east on a sandy path dotted with rocky outcrops. This will take you to the Grouin du Sud at the foot of a small rocky ridge (superb view).

(8) Take a sharp right turn and easily climb up the small ridge. Continue on a trail, then on a path. Ignore a trail coming from the right and turn left with the path.

(9) You will come out onto a small road (car park on the right) and follow it as it continues. After about 250 m, take the first path on the left and descend between two dense hedges.

(10) At the bottom, go through a gate and immediately rejoin the coastal path and follow it to the right. Looking back, you will see a beautiful view of Mont Saint-Michel and the Rocher de Tombelaine on your left. Go through another gate. Soon, the path gives way to a paved road. When it turns right, continue straight ahead on a path. Go through another gate to reach La Chaussée (on the right, there is an old sign about crossing the bay).

Yellow signposting (rare)

(11) Turn right, go through a small gate and follow a small street. At the crossroads that immediately appears, go straight ahead into Rue des Pêcheurs towards Saint-Léonard and climb slightly. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead into Rue du Prieuré.

(12) Take the first left, Route du Fréchot. Ignore the path of the same name on the left and follow the Saint Léonard Priory chapel on your right (the entrance to the chapel is on this side). Turn right at the corner of the chapel and you will come to a T-junction.

No signposts

(13) Then turn left. Cross the Route du Puits Bas on the right and continue straight ahead towards the water tower. Pass at the foot of the tower and cross the Route du Marais Blanc on the right. At the fork that appears shortly afterwards, follow the D591 to the right towards Vains. Pass a farm that attracts visitors and, therefore, a bit of traffic.

(14) Take the first road on the left. At the end, follow a small road to the right. Continue straight ahead, pass a house that looks like an old railway station and you will reach a T-junction.

(15) Then turn left. Enter Vains via the D333, ignore a housing estate on the left and you will come to the intersection you took at the start of the walk.

(1) Continue straight ahead. At the end of the road, turn right and then left to return to the car park at Vains church (S/E).

Good sports shoes or hiking boots are suitable for this route. In summer and in good weather, bring appropriate sun protection.

No drinking water available along the route.

A detailed map is required (at least the one accompanying this description).

Warning:
During high tides, the path along the grassy areas may be difficult or even impossible to navigate. Between (3) and (11), the coastal road may be an alternative, but in this case, the hike would be almost entirely on tarmac! In any case, be careful and check the tide times and coefficients in advance.

Hike completed by the author on 5 August 2025.

- On the coastal path, between (7) and (11), there is an almost permanent view of Mont Saint-Michel, the Rocher de Tombelaine and the bay.
- Very beautiful panorama from the Grouin du Sud (8). I recommend arriving at this point about an hour before high tide to enjoy (if you have time) the spectacle of the rising tide and the resulting swirls. To adjust your schedule, allow approximately half the total walking time to reach the point, i.e. between 1 hour 30 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes, and check the tide times.
- There are beautiful houses along the coastal path between (3) and (11).
- Prieuré Saint-Léonard (11th-12th century). The nave of the church has been converted into a residential house and only the "chapel", which corresponds to the choir, has retained its religious character. The site is on private property, but access to the chapel (via the north entrance) is kindly allowed during the day. Feel free to enter, but please respect the premises.