Along the Belon and the estuary of the Karstic Cave

Discover the right bank of the Belon and where it meets the Aven, where these two rivers flow into the sea.
Return via quiet country lanes before reaching another cove on the Belon.

Details

111881
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 132 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 139 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 44 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the first car park just after the wooden sign for Moulin Édouard in Riec-sur-Belon.

GR® trail markers (white and red)

(S/E) From the car park, go down the road to Moulin Édouart, which you will pass on your left.

(1) Cross the footbridge at the end of Anse de Penmor and follow the coastal path. After about 300 m, a grassy staircase leads up to an old fountain. Continue along the path that runs alongside the cove. Cross two streams before crossing a first road that descends to an oyster farm and continue opposite.

(2) The path moves away from the river and goes around an area of oyster beds (do not take the road you come across). It turns left to join another road.

(3) Turn left and then immediately right to continue along the signposted path. Near an oyster farm building, at the road, turn left to descend to the port of Belon. The main port is on the opposite bank.

GR® (white and red) andPR® (yellow) signposts

(4) Retrace your steps and, opposite an oyster tasting and sales shop, turn left to pass some picnic tables. Follow this marked path which runs alongside the Belon, passing several coves. Keep to the left-hand path which runs closest to the sea.

(5) Pass Questélan Beach (a small cove accessible at low tide via a very steep path on the left). Continue along the path, still heading south-west, to reach Pointe de Penquernéo, where you can see the ruins of an old fort.

(6). Opposite you, to the west, you will see Port Manec'h and its beach, and to the east, Kerfany les Pins. You are facing the confluence of the Aven and Belon rivers. This is a very pleasant place to take a break.
The coastal path continues up the Aven on the left bank, heading north-west. When you reach Anse de Goulet Riec, go around it and, at the road, turn right to leave theGR®34trail on your left.

PR® signposting( yellow)

(7) Pass the hamlet of Goulet Riec, where the road turns right and then left. Continue, ignoring the roads on both your right and left, until you reach the Allée Couverte de Kerantiec on your left.

(8) After visiting, return to the road on the left. Leave a road on your right and turn right to follow the Gorréquer farm. The road turns right.

Unmarked.

(9) Leave thePR® by turning left, then left again at Trémeillour. Continue north, then north-east to the next crossroads, ignoring the other roads on the right and left.

(10) Turn right and follow the road that descends slightly to rejoin the path taken on the way there, after the access to the place called Kerdu.

(2). Turn left to return to the starting point, following the same route as on the way there (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 27 m - Parking in front of Moulin Édouard
  2. 1 : km 0.23 - alt. 7 m - Passage under the footbridge
  3. 2 : km 1.99 - alt. 16 m - Crossroads of the loop - Bélon (fleuve)
  4. 3 : km 2.8 - alt. 31 m - Road crossing
  5. 4 : km 3.4 - alt. 3 m - Port of Belon
  6. 5 : km 4.93 - alt. 8 m - Access to Questélan Beach
  7. 6 : km 6.49 - alt. 19 m - Ruins of the old fort
  8. 7 : km 7.96 - alt. 21 m - Place known as Goulet Riec
  9. 8 : km 9.48 - alt. 39 m - Covered walkway
  10. 9 : km 10.18 - alt. 40 m - Fork in the road
  11. 10 : km 11.48 - alt. 38 m - Fork in the road towards the coastal path
  12. S/E : km 14.53 - alt. 27 m - Parking in front of Moulin Édouard

Notes

Walking shoes.
The coastal path alternates between ascents and descents.

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

4.5 / 5
Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
JimmyAce
JimmyAce

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very nice walk in the undergrowth, appreciated in hot weather, lack of picnic area

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Pascal C56
Pascal C56

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the route along the River Belon is very attractive, and a bit of a climb! The return journey along the byways and local roads is less interesting, but makes for a nice loop. We did it without an appliance, but got lost between points 9 and 10, and when we weren't sure which way to turn, we decided to retrace our steps and take the route de l'Isle after point 9 to rejoin the coastal path on the way back.

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omberh
omberh

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk
Back, to avoid the road, cut off at point 3 from point 9

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CaptainRichi
CaptainRichi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful views, oyster tasting possible, muddy passage in winter

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cat819
cat819
• Edited:

Hello and thank you for your reply. When we go hiking, we follow the directions in the description and on the map that I download, but on the ground, the directions are missing. we didn't find any signs of the place, (all decapitated). we didn't find the farm at Gorrequer and so we wandered around and arrived at lanmeur coat pin, from where we returned by the road to moulin Édouard. despite this problem, we enjoyed the hike and intend to do it again to make up for our mistake.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Hello and thank you for your review.
What information was missing at the place called Goulet Riec to avoid making a mistake.
Other hikers haven't reported any problems there.
Thank you in advance for your reply.

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cat819
cat819

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We got lost after the village of Goulet Riec and couldn't find Anse du Belon, so we took the road back. Too bad

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sdfrance
sdfrance

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Extensive road section, modified route. Start and finish at Port de Belon and return via the coastal path (stage 4) to reduce the road section. Superb scenery. Thank you

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your opinion.
The comment about the distance was surprising.
I've done this route several times with my walking group.
It was always scheduled as a half-day.
Only our tours of around 20 km are organised as full days.
Sincerely

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Miroque
Miroque

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Problem with the length of the route. You say 14.5 km, but we think we've covered about twenty.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for this review.
I don't understand the rating:
Reliability of the description: Very good
Reliability of the route on the map: Fair

It seems to me that map and description go hand in hand. The description, which was judged "very good", explains the map layout.
Yours faithfully

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yveline simon
yveline simon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The entire coastal path is well signposted. There were very few signs for the road back. As a result, we got lost and returned to the banks of the Belon (about 17 km in total).
Magnificent scenery, by the way.

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F-10255
F-10255

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Exceptional scenery along the Bélon and karstic caves (prefer to start at high tide). Disappointing return by road, but it's a loop. Possibility of shortening the route on the road at point 9 by linking up with Port du Bélon (3) and finishing the walk on the GR34.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

"Apart from the chapel, we didn't enjoy this walk".

This route does not include a chapel but a covered walkway!
Look for the mistake.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your review.
I have the impression that we didn't do the same circuit.
"A lot of tarmac and incessant background noise due to the proximity of the motorway": a large part of the tour takes place on the coastal path, well away from the noise of the cars.

The other opinions are not at all along the same lines.
Yours faithfully

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