Plouzané walks

As well as its much-loved seaside, Locmaria-Plouzané boasts a countryside rich in heritage: manor houses and various wayside crosses lining the small roads and paths. Let’s not forget the Chapel of Saint Sebastian, whose history is linked to the plague epidemic that ravaged the parish in 1640.

After travelling through the countryside on hilly, shaded roads, full of flowers in spring, enjoying beautiful views of the sea and the Crozon peninsula, you will descend to the wild, authentic coastal path...

A countryside walk between Plouzané and Guilers, offering the chance to discover the sunken paths and charming landscapes of this little corner of Brittany.

From the Pointe du Petit Minou, the coastal path along the top of the cliff overlooks the rocky coastline, dotted with a few sandy coves. Further on, towards Anse de Bertheaume, several small beaches are popular with bathers in the summer months.Along this stretch of coastline, a few remains of the Brest strait defences serve as a reminder of the strategic importance of this area.The return journey, via small country roads and paths, will take you past the site of Lesconvel, a beautiful ruin.

Route combining exploration of the hinterland with a visit to the Lesconvel site, comprising a manor house, a small ruined chapel, a cottage with its bread oven, and a pond (a former fishpond).The return journey follows theGR®®34coastal path, which passes through the imposing gun batteries – remnants of the Second World War built to control the entrance to the Brest strait – and ends opposite the Pointe du Petit Minou and its lighthouse.

Circular route around Saint-Renan and Locmaria, Lake Ty Colo and Lake Pontavennec, the Source de l’Ildut in a marshy area rich in biodiversity, its rolling countryside and its woods.

After running alongside Sainte-Anne Beach, watched over by the statue of the saint, the coastal path leads to the seaside resort of Trez Hir and continues towards Fort de Bertheaume. The return journey, via small streets and paths, allows you to discover the rest of the countryside, which is gradually being swallowed up by urban development. The route ends with a visit to the small village of Cosquer, where old farmhouses have been beautifully restored.

After skirting the quiet beaches of Porsmilin, Portez and Trégana, the coastal path climbs higher and overlooks the rocky coast, at times from a height of 60 metres, offering beautiful views over Bertheaume Bay and the headlands of Camaret on the Crozon Peninsula. The return journey along small roads and sunken lanes winds through the hinterland, passing close to two lighthouses that remained in service until 1970 after 100 years of operation.

Starting from the small village of Lamber, this countryside route takes you along narrow country lanes, farm tracks and sunken paths.The route takes you past the imposing Kerloas menhir, the tallest in Brittany, and the Kéramézec viewpoint, the highest point in the Iroise region. From the top of this beautifully landscaped viewpoint, the view stretches from the Crozon Peninsula to the Abers region, taking in the islands of Molène and Ouessant.

The Keroual woods and their manor house are a veritable green oasis just on the outskirts of Brest. You’ll feel as though you’re in a forest and can enjoy the tranquillity of the surroundings whilst taking in the varied flora and fauna. Streams and ponds add variety to the landscape. This walk takes you round the woods, but there are plenty of alternative routes to explore the area in greater depth or extend your walk.

An easy, flat walk around the three lakes in Saint-Renan. There is also a slight detour through the medieval town centre of Saint-Renan. These lakes are artificial. Previously, there were tin quarries here. In the 1960s, these were gradually converted into lakes. Lake Ty Colo is home to water sports activities such as a wakeboarding centre. The town of Saint-Renan is an important medieval town. The town centre still bears traces of this.

The bed of the Penfeld, Brest’s iconic river, was long used by the navy to store tree trunks between piles for use by shipwrights. Since the 1980s, this part of the river and its banks bordering the western edge of the Bellevue district have been transformed into a park open to the public, featuring a navigable stretch of water for kayaks. These banks offer an easy and pleasant route, mostly in the shade.

Route exploring part of the Brest Arsenal’s site along the River Penfeld. The route takes in Rue de Saint-Malo, the only street to have escaped Allied bombing during the Second World War, as well as the Capucins plateau, a new neighbourhood since its handover by the navy.

From the pretty, flower-filled village of Trébabu, the route takes us to theGR®34, which runs alongside part of the vast Plage des Blancs Sablons. The return journey, via small country lanes and sunken paths, will take us past the old Kerléo Mill and the Notre-Dame-du-Val Chapel (Itron-Varia-an-Traon).

How to combine a visit to Brest with a beautiful walk: this walk takes you through the city centre neighbourhoods, the main streets, monuments and churches, the train station and the town hall. Start in the Recouvrance neighbourhood, then take Rue Vauban towards the Plateau des Capucins. Cross the Plateau des Capucins. Join and follow the Pont de l'Harteloire. Head towards Place Albert 1er, where you turn towards Saint-Martin. Join Rue de Richelieu to cross the Pont du Forestou bridge. Head towards Chemin du Merle Blanc before reaching the train station, then Brest Town Hall and walk up Rue Jean Jaurès to return to Saint-Louis Church. Cross Rue de Siam to reach Cours Dajot before reaching the Maritime Prefecture, Pont de Recouvrance and then the Tanguy Tower. Pass La Porte Jean Bart, then the Maison de la Fontaine before passing through the Jardin des Explorateurs to complete the loop.

Walk along the top of the cliffs facing the open sea. In centuries past, fortifications were built here to protect the Bay of Brest. The path crosses the moor. The return journey is inland.

This route takes you around the Roscanvel Peninsula to explore military structures (forts, barracks and batteries) dating from the 17th century to the Second World War, whilst offering superb views of Brest Harbour from the cliffs ofthe GR®®34.

This walk, starting from Roscanvel church, goes around the Pointe des Espagnols, which is the northern tip of the Crozon peninsula, offering breathtaking views of Brest harbour. It then follows the coastal path to the Fort des Capucins, before returning to the village via the inland route.

A walk from the village of Plouarzel to the Porscuidic campsite, avoiding traffic as much as possible via a track barely passable by cars between Toul-An-Dour and Kervilon and a cycle path for at least 80% of the route. I did it to go and get some bread at Maison Kérénneur.

A magnificent hike between land and sea, starting from Brélès along sunken paths and ending in Lanildut on the shores of the Iroise Sea. Return to Brélès along the Aber Ildut.