Pentrez - Pointe du Kerric via the Saint-Jean Chapel

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Circuit combining a route through the countryside and a return via the coastal path with views of Douarnenez Bay.

Details

n°26130
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 140 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 139 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 73 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m
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Photos

the fountain
Chapelle Saint-Jean
Panorama from the bottom of Douarnenez Bay
Mène Hom (330 m)

Description of the walk

Signposting:GR®37at the start, then VTT3 (Méné Lié in part).
(S/E) Car park at the end of Pentrez Beach, opposite the crêperie.

Markings:GR®37White and Red

Follow theGR®37, which starts on the D108 towards Saint-Nic, then Rue d'Ys.

(1) Turn left onto Rue Gradlon, which climbs and joins the Pentrez road. Follow this road for about 200 metres.

(2) Turn left towards Moulin Bernal. At this old mill, follow the small road on the right, which continues as a gravel path and joins a road.

(3) Turn left towards Ty Naou, Lessirguy and Lescorveau, where you will meet the D63.

Mountain bike trail VTT3

Leave theGR®37on your right and follow the VTT3 markings on your left. After about 100 metres, leave this road and head towards the hamlet of Ar Vern Braz

(4) Turn left to rejoin the D63 just before the Chapelle Saint-Jean, an ideal place for a short break.

(5) The fountain is signposted on the other side of the road on the right at the end of the field, about 200 metres away.
Continue along the road (take care, as it is busy in summer) which crosses a stream, then turn left onto the small road at Penhoat Ty Naou. Follow this country road, which turns right towards Costéquer then left towards Penhoat. At Gorréquer, turn left and continue.

(6) Before the small climb towards Pouloudour, turn left onto a grassy path (marked VTT3) which descends towards Lézargol. Climb up to the village and continue straight on to join a road.

(7) At the stop sign, turn right, then after 50 metres, turn left onto the stony path that leads to Coat Madiou.

(8) Descend on the left towards Keric Braz then Keric Bihan where you will find theGR®37. Turn left onto the road then halfway up the slope, take the coastal path on the right.

GR®37white and red markings

(9) Follow this path around Pointe de Keric and down to Caméros Beach.

(10) Climb back up the coastal path that goes around Pointe de Keréon.

(11) Descend via the Route des Falaises, which at one point goes around a blockhouse, and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 5 m - Pentrez Beach car park
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 16 m - Rue Gradlon on the left
  3. 2 : km 0.93 - alt. 30 m - Turn left towards Ty Naou
  4. 3 : km 2.11 - alt. 42 m - Turn left at the intersection.
  5. 4 : km 3.47 - alt. 56 m - Turn left at Ar Vern Braz.
  6. 5 : km 4.03 - alt. 42 m - Chapel and Fountain of Saint-Jean
  7. 6 : km 6.2 - alt. 47 m - Turn left before Pouloudour.
  8. 7 : km 6.93 - alt. 55 m - Stop
  9. 8 : km 7.49 - alt. 44 m - Turn left at Coat Madiou.
  10. 9 : km 8.33 - alt. 18 m - Junction with the GR37
  11. 10 : km 9.21 - alt. 6 m - Caméros Beach
  12. 11 : km 10.42 - alt. 31 m - Route des Falaises
  13. S/E : km 11.06 - alt. 5 m - Pentrez Beach car park

Notes

Signposting:GR®37at the start, then VTT3 (Méné Lié in part).
The route alternates between small country roads and coastal paths on the return leg.

Variation: After the (3), turn left to pass through Créac'Milin and rejoin the route at Penhoat Ty Naou.
This shortcut of about 1 km avoids the section of the D63 road but means you miss the Chapelle Saint-Jean chapel and its fountain.

Worth a visit

Chapelle Saint-Jean
In summer, Pentrez beaches in Saint-Nic: swimming or sports activities (sand yachting).

Climb up to Ménez-Hom for panoramic views, a starting point for paragliding and a popular spot for model aircraft enthusiasts.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Cat29
Cat29

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant surprise: beautiful farmhouses all along the route.
Accessible in all seasons, it ends at the coastal path with a beautiful view of Douarnenez Bay.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for this opinion.
The problem of closed chapels is becoming increasingly common.
Personally, I am sometimes disappointed by some chapels when they are open, although I don't want to generalise, as there are some real treasures to be found there.
I think the chapel and fountain are worth a visit.
I will suggest your idea as an alternative.

Best regards

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cmadec29
cmadec29

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Following my comments after the hike on 21 March, I redid this route with a variation that avoids the danger of the D63. Just turn left towards Creac'h Milin after point 3. For those who have already seen St Jean's Chapel and the fountain, this allows you to discover a pretty little hamlet and shorten the route by 1 km. Above all, it is a way to avoid the D63 by using a small, quiet country road. Furthermore, St-Jean Chapel is almost always closed, so the only point of interest is to see it from the outside, which can be done by stopping next to it in your car.

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cmadec29
cmadec29

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route combining countryside and sea at the foot of Menez-Hom. Take great care when you reach the D63 as it is a busy and rather narrow road. After leaving it at point 5, continue along the road to point 7. It's a bit of a shame, but it's a small country road with little traffic. Be wary of the yellow markings near St-Jean church, which appear to correspond to the route but should be ignored at Gorrequer. The route is easy to follow with the map and explanations. A beautiful walk that ends with splendid views of Douarnenez Bay.

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Lo59
Lo59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, we enjoyed the balance between countryside and sea... beautiful views of the countryside, pretty Breton houses, the chapel and fountain, not very well signposted, you have to turn right after the undergrowth, without entering the field.
Then the coastal path, superb!

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your comment.
I have always travelled this route outside of the summer season and have never encountered this problem.
I will add the note in bold: "(caution, busy road during the summer).

To make a circular loop, there was little tarmac on quiet country roads, while still enjoying views of the Douarnenez bays.

Best regards

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chogui
chogui

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful walk by the sea.
Pleasant countryside, but perhaps a little too much tarmac...
Be careful at point 5.
Extremely dangerous road!!!
It's a shame because the chapel is magnificent.

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jfyomalolo
jfyomalolo

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The ending is very beautiful, the rest is uninteresting.

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JM.lambert
JM.lambert

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk between land and sea.
A pleasant route.
I agree with the detail about the fountain: turn right when you leave the woods.
But what a superb view.

Thank you.

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tripack
tripack

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

At first, you wonder what the point of the route is. However, once you pass Saint Jean Chapel, it's dazzling. Thank you, Le Floch.

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laucefa.martin
laucefa.martin
• Edited:

Beautiful hike. There is indeed a long stretch on tarmac, but the route is pleasant, especially when you descend towards Douarnenez Bay, and the coastal path of course! We did this hike during spring tides, at high tide, and it was superb! Just a quick note: for the St Jean fountain, turn right as soon as you come out of the woods.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

A few comments following chtidu29's comment.

This route is well presented as "A route combining a country route and a return via the coastal path with views of Douarnenez Bay."

It is true that it includes sections of small country roads combined with footpaths.
This allows you to discover the Saint-Jean chapel and its fountain.
This route aims to combine the countryside, heritage and the seaside.
If only the seaside seems interesting, in that case, it is better to opt for a simple return trip along the coastal path.

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chtidu29
chtidu29

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Far too much driving. Only the return journey along the coastal road is pleasant. At low tide, it is possible to return via Cameros beach to Pentrez.

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