Le Hézo: between marshes and the Gulf of Morbihan

A short family walk between former salt marshes, now a bird sanctuary, and the Gulf of Morbihan.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 6 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 6 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 9 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

_ Start : At the Le Hézo traffic circle, leave the D780 leading to Sarzeau and turn right towards the village of Le Hézo. Cross the village, pass the old tide mill and park on the right near the picnic
tables.

(S/E) Follow the road to the left for a few metres, then turn left onto the dike.

Waymarker GR®34 : White and Red
Follow this cobbled dike that separates the former salt marshes from the mudflats. This area has become a protected bird sanctuary. At the end of the dike, continue along the seafront and join the Route du Passage.

Unmarked

(1) Turn left and, at the first crossroads with a cross on the right, turn left onto the road leading to the Pusmen.

(2) After the houses, turn left to follow the path along the edge of the marsh.

__Waymarker GR®34 : White and Red_.

Join the dyke, then cross it again to the right, to reach the start road.
Turn left, past the old tide mill, now a house.

(3) Turn left onto the coastal path and follow it until you come to a street that turns right. Pass the church, ignoring the street on the right.

(4) Turn left and follow the coastal path to the Pointe de la Garenne: view of the Presqu'île de Séné. Continue along the small Corn er Vechen loop. Continue South-East to reach a road where you leave the GR®.

Unmarked

(5) Turn right, then right again to reach the village of Le Hézo.

(6) Pass a fountain on the right and, at the church, take the small road on the left. Continue, passing the cemetery on your left and the old mill on your right, to reach the start of the coastal path you took on the outward journey.

Continue to the South, skirting the Étang du Hézo on the left to reach the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 3 m - After the old tide mill
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 3 m - Route du Passage à gauche
  3. 2 : km 1.17 - alt. 2 m - Path in the marsh
  4. 3 : km 2 - alt. 4 m - Carrefour de la boucle
  5. 4 : km 2.96 - alt. 8 m - Path on the left
  6. 5 : km 4.58 - alt. 3 m - Right-hand road
  7. 6 : km 4.94 - alt. 6 m - Fountain on the right
  8. S/E : km 5.8 - alt. 3 m - After the old tide mill

Practical information

_ Start : at the Le Hézo traffic circle, leave the D780 leading to Sarzeau and turn right towards the village of Le Hézo. Cross the village, pass the old tide mill and park on the right near the picnic
tables.

_ Facilities : picnic tables at the starting point.
: the Office de Tourisme de la Presqu'île de Rhuys distributes an interesting map free of
charge, which complements the IGN map.

_ Please note _: the duration of the loop does not take into account the time you can spend
birdwatching. Remember to allow more time.

_ Warning _: potentially muddy in winter.

In the nearby area

Birdwatching in the former marshes: herons and egrets at all times, other species depending on the season.
Views over the Gulf of Morbihan: the landscape changes with the tide.

Maison du cidre: Musée du cidre

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during 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 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
gaufreteau_cb
gaufreteau_cb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful walk, but best done at high tide.
The scenery is very beautiful and the walk is not at all difficult.

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Laurencelle
Laurencelle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It was so beautiful that I'd definitely do it again. Very easy walk.

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Captain Cavern
Captain Cavern

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A nice little walk with no difficulties.
At first you walk through the marshes and watch the birds (it's relaxing).
We're not sure that the path along the marsh (point 2) is maintained, we didn't find it but as we had to retrace our steps, we took the same path as on the outward journey.
I have to admit that I wasn't very enthusiastic about the bottom of the Gulf of Morbihan at low tide, but it was pleasant nonetheless.

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la bigoudene du 56
la bigoudene du 56

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

For my part, I'm extending the route to around 7 km. Be careful, the paths can be very muddy in winter. It's great to see the birds in the marsh... not a human in sight!

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efpi
efpi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely one-hour walk, partly on the coastal path and partly on small roads. There is a small path that crosses the marsh a little after the start. The walk can be quite muddy in winter.

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Mike95
Mike95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Picturesque marshy landscapes. We also went round the peninsula at Le Passage.
Despite the cool wind, we had a great time!

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PatrickD56
PatrickD56

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A good, pleasant route, except that the path along the marshes at the start of the route after the houses is difficult to find and is not maintained, which means we have to walk through brambles and nettles.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

I'm sorry, but in this winter period, you have to imagine that the course can be muddy.
I did it in June.
I'll add this to the description.
What should be added to make it easier to find the start?
Other hikers haven't reported this problem to me.
Thank you in advance for your reply.

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Marinier
Marinier

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Busy trail : No

This route may have been interesting, but we had to turn back very quickly because there was just too much mud and too many passages full of water. Our feet and trouser bottoms were immediately in the water.
It wasn't easy to find the start of the hike.
A pity... Perhaps to be done in prolonged dry weather...

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dom56000
dom56000

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

superb hike
do the outward journey and the return
to do

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Toublanc André
Toublanc André

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Avoid the road if possible, pleasant seaside route, interesting marshes, low seas with bad smells. The villages are of little interest.

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PACPAC
PACPAC

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The "seaside" and marsh route is very pleasant, the "village" route not very interesting, although there are a few beautiful houses, but that's not enough to create much interest;
In our opinion, avoid the inland road and the village centre, and return via the seafront.
As far as the seaside is concerned, at high or low tide it's a really beautiful landscape.
During the walk, wild birds were visible (avocets, Belon shelducks, wild swans).

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thanks for the clarification about the roundabout; I'll correct it.
I described this walk when I did it in June.
At that time, I didn't have any problems with mud.

Sincerely

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Wetterwald
Wetterwald

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The loop to Le Passage was very muddy (walk on 20 April).
In addition, as the arrival at the car park is described, you should leave the D780 at the Hezo roundabout and not at the Saint Armel roundabout.

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Maryse56000
Maryse56000

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 03, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

Very muddy path through the marshes. Not to be taken after high tides.

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