The banks of the Rance from Ville Ger to Mordreuc

de fr

This hike will allow you to discover the flora and fauna of the Rance estuary.
The Rance is a wintering ground for migratory birds.
Mordreuc's mascot, seal L 214, will let you take photos with him if the water level allows him to lounge on the slipway. Otherwise, look in the water to see if a whiskered snout is peeking out.
In Mordreuc, if you continue 100 metres along the shore, you will discover the old lime kiln.

Details

n°1287222
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.56 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 24 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 24 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 33 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

bank of the Rance
autumn house
Banks of the Rance
Banks of the Rance

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Ville Ger beach.

(S/E) Pass in front of the campsite and continue along the Rance.

(1) When you reach a tarmac road, if it is low tide, turn right; if it is high tide, walk up the road for 20 metres and take the path that climbs the hill on the right (240 steps).

(2) Continue straight ahead along the bottom of the field until you reach the road in the village of Gournou.

(3) At the road to the village of Gournou, turn right, and after about 50 metres at the crossroads, turn right again. Keep to the right and after about 50 metres, take the small bridge on the right. Continue along the path. Before reaching the road, take the path that descends to the right towards the Rance. There is a stream and a small wash house. At the end of the mill car park, continue along Rue des Terre-Neuvas and cross the village of Mordreuc.

(4) At the Mordreuc slipway, go up Rue des Caps Horniers on your left until you reach the second street on the left, "Le Petit Chemin". Continue along this street, then after the roundabout, follow the footpath on your right that runs alongside the road towards the village of Pleudihen (D48). You will come back to the previous crossroads.

(3) At the fork, go straight ahead.

(5) At the Y-junction, take the road on the left towards the village of Ville Ger, until you reach the wall of the last house in Clos Noël

(6) Turn right onto the path running alongside the property. After 100 metres, at the Y-junction, continue left to the village of Villes Morvues.

(7) In this village, take the road on the left that leads back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 9 m - Ville Ger beach - Rance (fleuve)
  2. 1 : km 1.06 - alt. 6 m - View of the Chêne Vert
  3. 2 : km 1.71 - alt. 8 m - Tidal mill dyke
  4. 3 : km 2.26 - alt. 11 m - Village of Gournou
  5. 4 : km 3.28 - alt. 7 m - Mordreuc slipway
  6. 5 : km 4.61 - alt. 28 m - Route de la Ville Ger
  7. 6 : km 4.85 - alt. 33 m - Le Clos Noël
  8. 7 : km 5.83 - alt. 10 m - Les Villes Morvues
  9. S/E : km 6.56 - alt. 9 m - Ville Ger beach

Notes

Be careful not to confuse Ville Ger beach with the village of Ville Ger. Access is via two different roads.

There is a car park and picnic tables at the start of the walk and in Mordreuc. There is also a bar at the campsite.

Depending on the tide, the part of the walk along the Rance can be done via two parallel paths, one along the foreshore at the foot of the dyke, the other along the top of the dyke. Wooden signs indicate the options.

From the crossing point (2), there are two options, depending on the water level: follow the path through the woods or continue along the Rance and pass by the end of the mill pond. This section is very wet until you reach the Moulin de Mordreuc.

Worth a visit

Your hike will be completely different depending on whether the tide is high or low, as the sea can cover dozens of hectares of marshland. In winter, the Rance is a sanctuary for migratory birds passing through or wintering in the area.

Right from the start, you can see Mont Garrot de Saint Suliac from under the Saint-Hubert and Chateaubriand bridges. Depending on where you are, it looks as if the two bridges are actually one bridge on two levels.
After passing the campsite on your left, where there used to be meadows, you will see the Pleudihen salt marshes.

At (1) on the right, on the other side of the Rance, you will see the Chêne Vert tower and, opposite, the port of Mordreuc with its old tide mill.

At (2), on the right, you will see the old retaining dyke of the mill pond and its gate.

In Mordreuc, on the right, at the end of the car park, the old tide mill has been converted into a residential house.

In Mordreuc, if you are lucky, you may spot a seal basking on the slipway. You can approach it but do not touch it. It is a wild animal.

Opposite Les Villes Morvues, in Bas Champs, until the early 20th century there were barges that carried firewood to Saint-Malo.
The bargemen wore white canvas skirts over their trousers. These skirts protected their woollen trousers from being torn by the bundles of wood.

Don't miss the Cider Museum in Pleudihen and the only working tide mill on the Rance in La Vicomté-sur-Rance.

In Saint-Suliac, one of the most beautiful villages in France, there are vineyards on Mont Garrot.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 24561118

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short walk

Machine-translated

Christian g
Christian g

Hello,
You passed just below the village of Gournou because you took a small path that can only be used at low tide and when the tidal range is small, which branches off to the right, whereas the path described passes above it.

Machine-translated

pas
pas

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

beautiful walk along the Rance at low tide, but I couldn't find the road to the village of Gournoui continued along the path, crossed a wooden footbridge, then walked along a path through the reeds and passed below the wash house to the mill car park. Walked to the Mordreuc slipway and the Mordreuc chapel, then returned via Rue du Petit Chemin and retraced my steps.
a very pleasant two hours with flowers and a magnificent village, possible at low tide and on dry ground

Machine-translated

DaDoRando14
DaDoRando14

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short hike. For motorhome owners, authorised parking on the "orchard" side (not the sea side) at Ville Ger beach is on the hiking trail and offers a great view of the estuary. Bar (specialising in Breton beers right next door! For enthusiasts!)

Machine-translated

Coquelicot22
Coquelicot22

This is not seal L214 but L9, otherwise known as "Josephine", who sadly passed away on Sunday 25 April at the age of 21

Machine-translated

robert.visciano
robert.visciano

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

For a first time, it was a great success. Precision, clarity... I felt safe.
So, I'm going to use it systematically

Machine-translated

HélèneL
HélèneL

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Unfortunately, this path is also used by bicycles.
Perhaps it should be pointed out that at one point the path is impassable except with boots... it's flooded!
We turned back after a short distance.
Otherwise, it was a lovely walk.

Machine-translated

pepite22
pepite22

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
In response to Fabien LFT: for your information:
When you are used to taking hiking routes on Visorando, you know that the routes suggested by hikers who have done them are not marked. The markings you saw are probably from another hike. You have to follow the description carefully.
We did this hike in winter and plan to do it again in summer.

Machine-translated

Fabien LFT
Fabien LFT

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There are two unpleasant things about this route, however: the virtual absence or disappearance of the (yellow) trail markings, which quickly becomes annoying, and we got lost twice...and the one-kilometre section between the cow fields, separated by a corridor "as wide as my toilet" with electric fences on either side, which is "not great" with children and could be dangerous. It's a shame.

Machine-translated

JY B
JY B

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. The sea in the countryside

Machine-translated

Tahar
Tahar

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk.
We walked along the top of the dyke on the way there and returned at the foot of the dyke (as the tide had come in a little). We had a great time walking through the 2-metre-high reeds. It was really enjoyable, with the added bonus of seeing a seal during our walk.

Machine-translated

Claude_Rennes
Claude_Rennes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Obviously, with the current weather, the path was very muddy and slippery. Walking sticks were very useful. But the view of the Rance is splendid. There's a short stretch of road on the way back, but it's not too much of a bother. We followed this up with a hike from the Mordreuc tide mill to the Prat tide mill. It forms a figure of eight around the Mordreuc mill car park. It was very pleasant.

Machine-translated

Nedelek
Nedelek

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Very muddy this winter.

Machine-translated

sebbarret
sebbarret

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Machine-translated

Le Duc Malouin
Le Duc Malouin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A wonderful discovery at low tide along this magnificent walk. However, we didn't do the whole circular loop but turned back after crossing the village of Mordreuc and following the long, uninteresting road (in my opinion) to return to junction no. 3 on the map. Be careful, some sections are very wet in winter!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Loop between Rance and Terre, from Pont Saint-Jean to Pointe du Puits

Visorando member
Boucle entre Rance et Terre, du Pont Saint-Jean à la Pointe du Puits
↔18.33 km ↗+158 m ↘-165 m ◔5h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from La Ville-ès-Nonais (Ille-et-Vilaine)
Walk in the Pays Malouin between the sea and the Rance around one of the most beautiful villages in France. To be done at low tide, check before you go.

Walking Around Mont Garrot

Visorando member
Autour du Mont Garrot
↔7.67 km ↗+91 m ↘-95 m ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Suliac (Ille-et-Vilaine)
In the midst of this tide-changing natural environment, Mont Garrot, a true promontory above the river Rance maritime estuary, offers a panoramic view of Saint-Suliac to the north and Anse de Vigneux to the south, where the foundations of an ancient Viking camp emerge at low tide.

Walking The Prat and Livet paths in La Vicomté-sur-Rance

Visorando member
Les chemins du Prat et du Livet à La Vicomté-sur-Rance
↔12.90 km ↗+112 m ↘-111 m ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Vicomté-sur-Rance (Côtes-d'Armor)
Throughout this route, there are no fewer than five viewpoints from which you can admire this small coastal river, famous for its mouth between Saint-Malo and Dinard thanks to the tidal power plant dam. After following it first through fresh water and then salt water, you will end your route by taking sunken paths that will lead you to a monument dating back five thousand years.

Walking Saint-Suliac, North point

Visorando member
Saint-Suliac, pointe Nord
↔6.39 km ↗+46 m ↘-51 m ◔1h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Suliac (Ille-et-Vilaine)
A lovely walk around the northern tip of Saint-Suliac. Do it whatever the weather! Moderator's note as of 06/04/2021: Some modifications on the ground since the creation of this hike: see the comments at the bottom of this page. Moderator's note a description of June 2022 in reverse order to this one is available here

Walking The mills of Rance - Les Grèves

Visorando member
Les moulins de la Rance - Les grèves
↔15.33 km ↗+181 m ↘-186 m ◔4h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Le Minihic-sur-Rance (Ille-et-Vilaine)
La Rance saw its first tidal mill built in 1181 (Moulin du Lupin near Rothéneuf). Were built between the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Today there are not many of these renewable energy suppliers. This tour allows you to see the ruins of two mills (Fosse Mort and La Herviais) and to walk around this estuary ideal for the construction of mills.

Walking The garden of Minihic-sur-Rance and its dry dock at La Landriais

Visorando member
Le jardin du Minihic-sur-Rance et sa cale sèche de la Landriais
↔8.47 km ↗+83 m ↘-87 m ◔2h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Le Minihic-sur-Rance (Ille-et-Vilaine)
From the beautifully landscaped public garden, there is a remarkable view of the Rance and its right bank, from which the village of Saint-Suliac stands out. From the garden, you can easily reach Garel Beach and the Landriais shipyard with its specific equipment: the above-ground wooden dry dock, via the cliff-top path. The wet Guérouse valley winds through the undergrowth that makes up the Domaine du Pièton.

Walking The Fort of Saint-Père-Marc-en-Poulet

Visorando member
Le Fort de Saint-Père-Marc-en-Poulet
↔7.34 km ↗+51 m ↘-52 m ◔2h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Père (Ille-et-Vilaine)
Built in the 18th century, the fort completes the coastal fortifications designed by Vauban to protect the bay of Saint-Malo from English attacks. With a capacity of 3,000 men, 26 casemates and a 46-metre-long powder magazine, it was delivered too late to play a defensive role. During the 1914-1918 war, it housed German prisoners and, during the last war, it was converted into an ammunition depot by the Germans, who blew up part of the casemates during their evacuation. Decommissioned in 1988, it is now owned by the municipality of Saint-Père-Marc-en-Poulet, which has restored it; shows are organised there.

Walking Circular around the Fort de Saint-Père-Marc-en-Poulet

Visorando member
↔8.26 km ↗+45 m ↘-53 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Père (Ille-et-Vilaine)
The main attraction of this hike is the Fort de Saint-Père, built between 1777 and 1785 to protect Saint-Malo from English attacks by land and to complete the defence system designed by the famous Vauban. Part of its enclosure was destroyed in 1944 by the Germans as they fled during the Liberation. Today, the fort has become a cultural and leisure space. Every year, it hosts various trail events, flower markets, festivals and concerts. The fort is open to the public during the events it hosts, but the outer rampart walk is accessible to walkers all year round.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.