The beaches and Suscinio Castle

Suscinio Castle stands near the sea and on the edge of an area of ponds and marshes. Before visiting this superb fortified castle, this hike offers a route along the coast and then inland. Several variations are possible.

Details

n°1023540
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.23 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 85 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 85 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 98 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 10 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Starting point and access:
Suscinio beach car park. From the D198, between Sarzeau and Penvins, follow signs for Château de Suscinio. Drive past the castle entrance and, immediately afterwards, turn left towards Landrezac. Then take the first right towards the beach: the car park is at the very end of the road.

Yellow + Red and White markings + directional signs

(S/E) Head west and cross the car park. Continue along a path running alongside the marshes on your right, with the sea a short distance away on your left. A low fence on the left indicates that you must not tread on the dune, which is fragile.

(1) At the first junction, ignore the turn-off to the right onto the Sentier des Marais and continue west-south-west along the often sandy path.

(2) Pass a small car park on your right, go through a forest gate and continue along a path lined with private property fences on your right. After a shaded section, ignore another small car park on your right and walk alongside a property wall on your left.

(3) At the end of the track, turn right and walk along the beach on a wooden boardwalk designed to protect the dune. At the end of the boardwalk, continue along a track with property fences on the right-hand side. Pass through a forest gate and emerge onto a small road.

(4) Follow the road to the left, cross a car park and continue along the path. Pass a chicane and continue along a fenced-off path with tall cypress trees on the right. Take another wooden jetty and, at the end, rejoin the tarmac road.

Yellow markings + directional signs

(5) Then turn right towards Kergorange (let theGR®®34continue straight on). Follow a wide path through a pine forest, bordered by a fence on the right-hand side. After skirting a field on the left, you’ll come out onto a small road and follow it to the right. Walk through the hamlet of Lan Hoëdic, ignoring the side streets.

(6) At the fork in the road on leaving the hamlet, turn left (the path on the right leads to the campsite). Enter Kergorange and, at the three-way junction, turn right. Immediately ignore a dead-end on the right and, at the ‘give way’ sign, turn right towards Sarzeau-Centre. It is best to walk down the pavement on the left, passing two dead-ends in turn, first on the left then on the right.

(7) At the next junction, turn right onto Impasse Victor Hugo towards Château de Suscinio. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead. After a sewage treatment plant on the left, the tarmac gives way to a track. Follow this wide track south-east until it ends (wet patches).

(8) At the entrance to the hamlet of Sodrio, follow a road to the left, still heading towards the castle. At the Fork in the road that appears shortly afterwards, turn right.

(9) Ignore the start of the Sentier des Marais on the right and continue due east along the quiet little road. As you approach the castle and the marsh, turn left onto this road and you’ll reach a junction. Then turn left towards the castle.

No signposting

(10) Once you reach the foot of the castle, begin your walk around it by turning left onto a hard-packed track. Join the tarmac road, follow it to the right and walk past the castle entrance.

Yellow markings + directional signs

(10) Continue straight on for a few dozen metres, then turn left towards Landrezac. Take the first right towards the beach and, at the end of this road, you’ll reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 13 ft - Suscinio beach car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 10 ft - Junction – Sentier des Marais
  3. 2 : mi 0.7 - alt. 13 ft - Beg Lann car park
  4. 3 : mi 0.9 - alt. 16 ft - Beg Lann
  5. 4 : mi 1.5 - alt. 10 ft - Suscinio beach car park
  6. 5 : mi 2.03 - alt. 16 ft - Le Rohalinguen
  7. 6 : mi 2.67 - alt. 66 ft - Lan Hoëdic – Fork in the road
  8. 7 : mi 3.35 - alt. 30 ft - Kergorange – Impasse Victor Hugo
  9. 8 : mi 4.27 - alt. 20 ft - Sodrio
  10. 9 : mi 4.68 - alt. 36 ft - Junction – Sentier des Marais
  11. 10 : mi 5.45 - alt. 33 ft - Château de Suscinio
  12. S/E : mi 6.23 - alt. 13 ft - Suscinio beach car park

Notes

Hiking boots or good trainers are suitable for this walk.

No water points were spotted along the route. There is a crêperie near Suscinio Castle (off the route, to the north).

In summer, the beach car park fills up quickly: don’t hesitate to set off on this walk early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

Alternatives:
- Beach route – Between the starting car park (S/E) and the Beg Lann car park (2), as well as between the Suscinio beach car park (4) and Le Rohalinguen (5), it is possible to walk along the beach rather than the path (provided you enjoy walking in the sand).
- Marsh Trail – Situated between points (1) and (9), this trail offers a close-up view of a sensitive environment rich in biodiversity. You can take it on the way out for a circular route of around 4 km, or on the way back for a circular route of around 9 km. Warning: never stray from the path; the section crossing the marsh immediately north of point (1) may be flooded.
- Avoiding the inland section - If you wish to follow only the coastal section of the route, walk the stretch between (S/E) and (5) there and back. Allow around 6.5 km for this shortened version.

Walk completed by the author on 18 March 2018.

Worth a visit

- Superb coastal scenery between (S/E) and (5).
- Ponds and marshes between (S/E) and (2) and between (10) and (S/E).
- Suscinio Castle (13th–14th centuries). A magnificent fortified castle where you can visit the interior, the ramparts and the courtyard. Check opening times and admission fees.

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 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 11164849

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

There’s not much point in doing this route – you end up cycling on tarmac for ages! You’re better off doing a return trip along the beach and then heading straight to Suscinio Castle...

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User 2802605

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike between the sea and the countryside. Stunning scenery.

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User 19036044

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

First time using it, very accurate application.

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michel coudé
michel coudé

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

too much tarmac in the last part. I suggest taking the superb path over the marsh from the 9th.

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LouKas
LouKas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk! You have to go early in the morning as it's quite busy and exposed to the sun. We cut across the marshes in search of fresh air and that was very nice too. The scenery is superb throughout.

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andre demey
andre demey

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk. We took the PR route through the marshes, which is a nice change from the tarmac. I can confirm that the car park fills up quickly, which can be explained by the attraction of a real sandy beach! To be done in the morning,

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lou17lou17
lou17lou17

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a very nice walk, with lots of variety: the marshes with birdwatching, the countryside and the sea, not forgetting the castle of Suscinio.

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theo44
theo44

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I really enjoyed the start of the walk, despite the fact that it was a bit sandy, but I didn't like the road part so much. Don't hesitate to take the marsh path. Pleasant arrival at the château.

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dupire martine
dupire martine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pretty walk combining the seaside and the countryside, with a sublime start and finish at the Château de Suscinio.

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Mylena56
Mylena56

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent 1st part, I didn't like the whole part on the road afterwards. I'm thinking of doing it again with a variation at point 9, taking the marsh path and then getting back around the château just before point 10.
Obstacle: just after point 5, once you've turned right and entered the pine forest, 3 large trees have fallen and are blocking the path. I climbed them (but that's just me and my physical condition!!). It might be possible to go round them to the left but it's marshy. Possibility to be checked.
Otherwise, it might be possible to go a little further than point 5 and then pick up point 7... To be tested...

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Christine 14
Christine 14

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A small problem on arrival at the château: the path was unusable because of the events at the château during the All Saints' Day holidays.

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philouis
philouis

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route along the seafront can be a little hard to walk in the sand (but it can be avoided), but the rest of the way to point 5 offers remarkable views of the distant islands (in fine weather). For the return journey, we preferred to take the marsh path (dry at the end of the summer). The tour of the château is essential if you want to see Suscinio from all angles. It's an extra 1 km, but well worth it.

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Wilma
Wilma

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant walk. It's a shame that part of it is on a tarmac road, even though it's not very busy.

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gulf 22
gulf 22

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a magnificent route to do in any season! and the return to the marshes on the callibotis is grandiose! highly recommended.

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Mike95
Mike95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An impressively well-preserved castle. Arriving at Rohaliguen, we extended our walk along the coast to Kerkambre beach. We were delighted by the varied coastal scenery, despite the chilly weather.

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