Pointe de Castel Meur, Pointe de Brézellec and Pointe du Van, nestled between cliffs and countryside

Start at the Trouguer mills car park.

No signposting

(S/E) Go round the mills on the right and reach a small road. Follow it to the right as far as the village of Keriolet (note some beautiful old houses), take a grassy path on the right then right again to join the^GR®34.

^GR® markings (white and red)

(1) Turn right onto the^GR®, which alternates between ascents and descents along the sides of steep cliffs, and reach the Pointe de Castel Meur. It is possible to make a round trip to the tip of the headland, from where the view of the entrance to Douarnenez Bay is splendid. Take care, however, as the path, lined with thorny bushes, is not really maintained.

(2) Continue carefully along the^GR®34via a narrow, rocky and very undulating path, cross two streams via footbridges, then descend towards the pretty little Théolen Beach where you’ll find the Buvette de Pors Théolen, ideal for a break before the climb up to Pointe de Brézellec (see Practical Information).

(3) Go round the refreshment bar to the right along a steep, uphill path that descends into a small valley. Cross a stream via a footbridge and begin a long climb towards Pointe de Brézellec (note an old navigation mark on the left and, on the right just before the headland, the forest of antennas from a former French Navy radio-location system (TORAN) rendered obsolete by GPS).

(4) Continue along the^GR®34, reach a car park and cross it to come out onto a small road.

No signposting

Ignore a road on the left that descends towards the small Port de Brézellec, leave the^GR®34and continue along the road, turn right onto a wide forest track and follow it to the next junction.

^PR® markings (yellow)

(5) Turn left onto a path leading down into asmall valley and climb back up to the charming village of Théolen (note the beautiful old houses and barns, as well as the impressive old walls surrounding some of the properties). Turn right in the village to reach the D7.

(6) Cross it carefully, continue straight ahead on a path that veers left, then turn right onto a narrow path. Reach a small road at the first houses of the village of Mescran, follow it to the left and come out onto a road.

(7) Follow it to the right for about a hundred metres, then turn right to cross the village (note some beautiful old houses). Ignore a small road on the left, continue along a path, cross a road in the village of Keramu and follow it to the right for a few metres until you reach the start of a path on the left.

(8) Continue along this path, ignoring all the paths branching off to the left and right, and cross a small road. Cross it, continue straight ahead along a path that joins a small road in the village of Kerhermen.

(9) Walk through the village (note some beautiful old houses) then turn left onto a grassy path at the gable end of the last house in the village. Continue until you reach a junction of paths and turn left for a few dozen metres until you reach the start of a path on the right.

Unmarked

Leave the^PR® by following this path, which leads to a small road in the village of Kergléguer.

(10) Walk through the village, turn right then left to reach the village of Kerléodin. Walk through it along a narrow road on the right (note some beautiful old houses) and reach the start of a wide farm track on the left near the last houses in the village.

^PR® (yellow) signposting in the opposite direction

(11) Continue along this uphill path, ignore a track on the right and head back down towards the Chapelle Saint-Tugdual (note the fountain and the wash house behind the chapel). Go past the chapel, take a road to the right for a few metres and look out for a discreet path on the right.

(12) Follow this narrow path uphill behind the houses, turn right at the next junction, ignore a path on the right then another on the left, and reach a junction of paths. Take the path on the left uphill and reach a small road in the village of Kertanguy.

(13) Follow it to the right to go round the village, cross the D607 with care, and head straight on to reach the village of Kerguioc’h (note some beautiful old buildings). Take a path on the left just before the first buildings, head back down and cross the D607 (along the way, there are lovely views of the Pointe du Raz, the Baie des Trépassés and the Étang de Laoual).

(14) Follow it carefully to the right for a few hundred metres to reach a road running alongside the Baie des Trépassés.

^GR® markings (white and red)

Follow it to the right for a few hundred metres and take a path uphill to the left just after an isolated house. Continue along this path, which is sometimes steep and rocky, until you reach a small road; follow it to the left to the little Port du Vorlen.

(15) Continue left along a path that climbs to a viewpoint above Baie des Trépassés and then descends into a small valley. Cross a stream via a footbridge, then climb back up a steep path, pass a first fountain and reach the Chapelle Saint-They. A second fountain is located to the right of the chapel.

(16) Pass the chapel, continue along a path leading to Pointe du Van, go past it, then look out for a path on the right that leads to the car parks at the headland.

^PR® (yellow) signposting in the opposite direction

(17) Follow this path, turn left just before the car park then right just before the village of Keriolet (note a very old bread oven on the left). Continue, cross a small road and follow it to the right for a few metres. Turn left to go round the Trouguer mills and reach the starting car park (S/E).

Between (1) and (4) and between (14) and (16), the narrow, rocky coastal path alternates between ascents and descents along the flanks of steep cliffs more than sixty metres above the sea. Do not attempt this route in strong winds or during or immediately after heavy rain (very slippery sections on rock). This route is also not recommended for those prone to vertigo.

Some sections are very muddy in winter in the wet areas between (6) and (10). Hiking boots are recommended in all seasons.

From point (12), it is possible to reach point (14) directly by following the road towards Baie des Trépassés. This reduces the distance by a good kilometre at the cost of a short stretch of fairly passable tarmac and missing out on beautiful views of Pointe du Raz and Étang de Laoual.

The route of^{the GR®34}, shown in purple on the IGN map, is not always accurate as some sections have been rerouted due to coastal erosion. Follow the^GR® markings (white and red) carefully and do not stray from them, for obvious safety reasons but also to respect the vegetation, which is very fragile in places.

The areas around Baie des Trépassés and Pointe du Van are busy during the summer months. It is much quieter around the headlands of Castel Meur and Brézellec, and virtually deserted in the countryside. Spring is the ideal time to explore these paths, where sea thrift, wild hyacinth, broom and gorse, amongst others, are in bloom.

The Pors Théolen refreshment bar is open daily from 2 pm to 7 pm except on Tuesdays.

Alternative car parks are available at Pointe de Castel Meur, Théolen Beach, Pointe de Brézellec, Pointe du Van and Baie des Trépassés. Avoid the latter two in summer as they can get very busy.

Picnic tables at Pointe de Brézellec and near the Saint-Tugdual Chapel.

Toilets near Baie des Trépassés.

Castel Meur, Brézellec and Van headlands.

Saint-Tugdual Chapel (18th century), its fountain and wash house.
Saint They Chapel (17th century) and its two fountains.

Windmills at Trouguer.

The small ports of Vorlen and Brézellec.

Superb views of Pointe du Raz, Baie des Trépassées and Baie de Douarnenez.

Villages, beautiful old houses and a rich architectural heritage in the countryside around Cléden-Cap-Sizun.