Walking to Port des Champs through the marshes, starting from Bouin

Parking is available at the Sébastien Luneau state school car park, Place Saint-Séran.

(S/E) Walk between the town hall and the church to reach Rue du Pavillon. Turn left and continue along Rue des Brochets until you reach the wide bend, with the community hall ‘L’Espace de l’Enclos’ on your left.

(1) Turn left to enter the Saint-Marc housing estate. When you reach Boulevard de la Procession Saint-Marc, turn left, then, a good hundred metres further on, turn right to enter the Moulin housing estate and join the cycle path.

(2) Turn left onto this track and carry on a little until you see a cycle path on your left. You are now entering the Marais de Bouin. At the first junction, turn right. Pass through Les Évins and carry on straight ahead. Take a right-hand bend and continue straight on, riding alongside the salt marsh on your right. At the next junction, turn left and then right to ride alongside a second salt marsh called the Salines de l’Isle d’Orée. Carry on until you reach the small tarmac road.

(3) Turn left and carry on until you reach a main road, the Route du Port des Champs (D21C).

(4) Turn right and head towards Port des Champs.

(5) Turn round and retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

During your walk, you’ll pass two salt marshes.
If you’re doing this walk during the summer, you might be lucky enough to see the salt workers at work. Do feel free to stop and have a chat – they’ll be delighted to explain their craft to you.
You’ll also be able to stock up on coarse salt, fleur de sel and glasswort, straight from the salt marshes!

(5) Once you reach Port des Champs, you’ll find an oyster farmer who can give you a tour of his farm and explain the oyster farming trade. You can also buy oysters and other shellfish there. If he’s not there, there’s a 24-hour oyster vending machine on site!

If you have time, I’d recommend extending your walk towards the sea. Simply walk along the right-hand side of Port des Champs and you’ll reach the sea wall, where you can continue walking.