Préfailles - Circuit around Pointe Saint-Gildas

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An easy hike in the commune of Préfailles, to Pointe St-Gildas, which juts out in the waves.

Details

n°5459
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.30 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 21 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 17 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 25 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Préfailles (44770)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.127927° / W 2.220767°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1123OT
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Photos

blockhouse
Hollow rock
Flannels

Description of the walk

Arriving in Préfailles, follow the signs leading to the city centre. There are several car parks near the main beach and its chapel.
Walk along the beach to the right and follow the coastal path to Pointe St-Gildas where you will come across the semaphore, a viewpoint, and several bunkers from the last world war. Along this path your will see Bourgneuf Bay to the south.
At the Anse du Boucau turn left (1) on the trail and pass by the road that goes straight to Haut des Vignes.
Continue your journey along the coast to La Prée. The place provides beautiful view of the bay of the same name, as well as the Loire estuary, the city and the bridge of St-Nazaire.
From the car park (2) in front of the panoramic restaurant in the Bay de la Prée, follow the right Rue de l’Ilot right and then (3) the path of Prée still to the right. Continue straight along a grassy path to the intersection with the D213. (4) Cross and turn left.
At the end of this road, you will find the resort of Préfailles. Turn right on (5) Rue du Bois Roux, then left on (6) Rue Ste-Anne.
Take the second right (7) on Rue du Docteur Guépin, and reach Route de la Pointe Saint Gildas. Turn left. Once on the avenue you will reach the church and return to your vehicle.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 8 m - Préfailles church car park
  2. 1 : km 3.12 - alt. 6 m - Pointe de Saint-Gildas
  3. 2 : km 4.69 - alt. 5 m - La Prée
  4. 3 : km 4.83 - alt. 6 m - Chemin de la Prée
  5. 4 : km 5.8 - alt. 17 m - D313
  6. 5 : km 6.26 - alt. 25 m - Rue Du Bois Roux
  7. 6 : km 6.61 - alt. 19 m - Rue Sainte-Anne
  8. 7 : km 6.75 - alt. 22 m - Rue du Docteur Guépin
  9. S/E : km 7.3 - alt. 8 m - Préfailles church car park

Notes

Follow the yellow signs.
You can swim in several places at the small beaches interrupting the rocky coast.

Worth a visit

The semaphore overlooking Pointe St-Gildas dates back to the 19th century. It features a museum of local maritime history and coastal surveillance techniques.
Near Préfailles lies the cities of Pornic and Saint-Nazaire. The town of Préfailles has many attractions: a small seaside city, a unique perspective on the Bourgneuf Bay and the estuary of the Loire, very pleasant promenade paths, small beaches stringing along a rugged coastline. Many World War II bunkers were built in Pointe Saint-Gildas.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 35 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
isa27
isa27

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, done on a very windy and damp day at the start, so not many people, great for enjoying the magnificent scenery as you walk along the coast.
The inland return is only interesting if you don't want to make a round trip on the same route and also allows you to walk for an intermediate length of time: not too short, not too long.

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nayou
nayou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice tour, very well informed!
A lot of people on the seafront as we did this walk at the height of the summer season...
Very pleasant indeed

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RICOU62
RICOU62

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy and very well signposted route. A large part of the route is by the sea. Very pleasant.

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Paul, PIAT
Paul, PIAT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a very beautiful tour with sublime scenery. Do it on your own or with friends, it's a ride you won't forget.

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gmevel
gmevel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant tour that fills the eyes and the lungs.
I was a bit worried about the return inland but the author has found a way to avoid asphalt as much as possible.
Thank you for this walk.

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vivierois
vivierois
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very pleasant walk by the sea. the bunker in the photo is now almost covered in grass
apart from the villas, there is little of interest in the narrow streets of Prefailles

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petitsmollets27
petitsmollets27

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike!

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nanouchka
nanouchka

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very pleasant walk by the sea, a little less pleasant in the narrow streets of Prefailles

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TVCG
TVCG

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route.
Crossing Préfailles requires you to follow the map if you are unfamiliar with the route.

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LAURENT DRT
LAURENT DRT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

a good walk with no difficulty...

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franckcojean
franckcojean

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

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NellyDavid
NellyDavid

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very nice, easy walk in very good weather. Very nice route along the coast. The return to Préfailles was a little less pleasant. Same observations as the previous reviews.

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lapetitereine
lapetitereine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely easy walk with a beautiful coastline.

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barracca72soleil
barracca72soleil

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Easy and pleasant walk.
I agree with the previous comments, the hill section is superb.

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cosme anne marie
cosme anne marie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The route is well signposted. The return section through the village is less beautiful than the seaside section, but it allows you to see the architecture of the beautiful villas.

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