Pornic - Pointe St Gildas - Tharon beach

Two types of landscape for this hike:

Jagged rocks and coves from Pornic to Pointe Saint Gildas,
Flat rocks with water holes, then the sandy beach from Saint Gildas to Tharon.

The journey from Tharon beach to Pornic is by bus.
For experienced walkers, the hike can be completed in one day. It can also be split into two days, with an overnight stay at the hotel at Pointe Saint Gildas.

Details

n°39510

Creation:
18 Aug 2013

Last update:
11 Mar 2024

Last review:
10 Mar 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 20.64 km
Average duration: 6h 00
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: No
Ascent: + 22 m
Descent: - 41 m
Highest point: 28 m
Lowest point: 2 m

Country: France
City: Pornic (44210)
Start: N 47.114796° / W 2.129978°
End: N 47.168248° / W 2.16629°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1123OT
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Photos

Fishery near Tharon

The wind can blow strongly

Description of the walk

Park your car near the port of Comberge in Tharon Plage, in the commune of Saint Michel Chef Chef.
Take the Aléop bus no. 315 (Saint-Nazaire - Saint-Brévin - Pornic) from the Port de Comberge stop near the port, on the sea side.
Get off at the Pornic Sainte Marie Place de Verdun stop.

(S) Take Rue Charles de Foucault, Rue Jean Bart and then Rue des Roses to reach the sea.

(1) Turn right and follow the coastal path. This path is marked (^GRP® de Retz), mostly wide and well maintained.
The route is dotted with small coves with a small beach surrounded by rocks, which are ideal for swimming if the weather and water temperature allow. Reach Préfailles.

(2) Pass by an old iron spring that once attracted many spa visitors.
Then head to the protected site of Pointe Saint Gildas.

(3) Head back towards Tharon Plage, first walking along the port of Pointe Saint Gildas, then taking the first path on the left after a sort of petrol station that was never completed.
Follow the coastal path all the way to Port Giraud.

(4) Here, houses built close to the sea force you to return to the road, a little inland. At the port itself, when the tide is low enough, it is possible to walk along the beach to Tharon.

(5) Continue along the beach and you will easily find the car park at the port of Comberge (E).

Waypoints

S : km 0 - alt. 28 m - Pornic Sainte Marie Place de Verdun stop
1 : km 0.52 - alt. 8 m - The sea
2 : km 9.1 - alt. 8 m - Préfailles
3 : km 11.72 - alt. 5 m - Pointe de Saint-Gildas
4 : km 17.51 - alt. 5 m - Port Giraud
5 : km 20.12 - alt. 10 m - Tharon Plage
E : km 20.64 - alt. 13 m - Combarge port car park

Notes

Before setting off, check the tide times. If possible, it is best to avoid high tide, as you will not be able to cross the beach from Port Giraud.
The route is also well equipped with toilets and even showers at some beaches (these facilities are probably closed in winter).
Also worth noting: here and there, signs indicate the passage of painters from different eras with reproductions of one of their paintings on the site itself.
There are also many fisheries, huts perched on stilts overlooking the sea for fishing with square nets.

Aléop bus timetable, line 315

Hôtel Le Calluna in Saint-Gildas

Worth a visit

Tharon beach does not offer much of interest to tourists apart from the beach itself. Pornic, on the other hand, has a very pretty little harbour. It is not uncommon to see beautiful traditional wooden sailing boats there.
Enjoying a drink on the terrace in fine weather is a real treat.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5

Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4.9 / 5

gmevel

10 Mar 2024 at 12:06 3600

Hello,
I am the author of this hike.
I have taken note of the change in the name and number of the bus route.
I have modified the description accordingly.
Thank you for your constructive feedback.

Gérard

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fmarchandeau

07 Mar 2024 at 16:26 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route taken on 7 March 2024. Not many people travelling at this time of year.
The bus that runs from Tharon to Ste Marie (Place de la Marne stop) is now Aléop's No. 315 (about 50 minutes).
Otherwise, it's still just as enjoyable to follow this coastal path.

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Diro

06 Jul 2020 at 17:05 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk close to the coast.
You can take the beach between Port Giraud and Tharon when the tide allows. It's more interesting than taking the road, unless you're interested in houses. If the beach is too difficult to access from Port Giraud (it's rockier there), you can take the road and reach the beach as soon as possible via the first cul-de-sac on the left.
The path beyond Tharon, towards Saint Brevin l'Océan, is also worth taking, with its changing landscape: dunes, harbour, cliffs, pine and holm oak forest, and large beaches.
Again, depending on the tide, it's worth going via the beach.
The route from Tharon to Saint Brevin l'Océan is worth a walk in its own right! (17-20 km round trip)

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cysot

23 Apr 2017 at 09:28 7200

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely walk. Despite a slightly less "interesting" stretch in terms of scenery after the point
I particularly appreciated the details about the bus route and stops. Very handy.
FYI, there's a small market behind St Mary's Church (it was a Wednesday!) where you can find everything you need for a picnic, and a bakery just opposite with very good sandwiches.
The hike took 4½ hours with a picnic break at Pointe St Gildas.

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France Vasseur

09 May 2016 at 15:39 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk, despite the gusts of wind. Well-maintained paths and lovely photo opportunities. Interesting information about the painters and their works dotted along part of the route. I set off from Porteau beach in Ste Marie and turned back at the semaphore at Pointe St Gildas because of the light rain that had started to fall. I had decided to do the return trip from Ste Marie to Tharon Plage. I will continue the unfinished section at a later date. I covered the 22 km return trip in about 3½ hours; on my own, I keep a very good pace.

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_apy

16 Jul 2015 at 09:02 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

An excellent walk, but due to lack of time, we turned off before Tharon beach without any difficulty thanks to the IGN map.
Superb coastal path starting at the port of Pornic, then passing by beautiful old houses.

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Laurtoul

19 Dec 2014 at 13:06 3600

Yes... my partner and I had a lovely walk on Wednesday. We crossed the Pointe de St Gildas via dirt tracks to return to Tharon and collect the car... It was about thirty kilometres... As we weren't carrying much and are very good walkers, we covered the route at about 5.4 km/h with barely twenty minutes of breaks... Completing the circular in 5½ hours.
Similar routes, but sorely lacking in elevation, include Mindin - La Pointe de St Gildas and back, and Pornic - Le Port du small pass and back... These are healthy walks, but not for everyone... There you have it! Have a good day and enjoy your walks...

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FARNE

30 Apr 2014 at 17:46 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful seaside route, well maintained throughout.
Convenient return journey by Lila bus.

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courjon

19 Dec 2013 at 15:35 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Enjoy your hike in exceptional weather conditions. Easy route.

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Author

gmevel
38 Walks

Visorando Member

City: Angers (49000|49100)

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