Coastal path in Saint-Marc sur Mer

Park in the car park at Courance Beach.

Red and white^GR®®34markings

(S/E) Take the coastal path eastwards towards the bunkers at Pointe de l'Éve. Once past the point, the path moves away from the coast, joins a road and then immediately returns to the coastline. Pass the Aiguillon lighthouse.

(1) Pass Port Charlotte Beach, then the fisheries, and arrive at Virechat Beach.

(2) The outward route indicates the long and rather unpleasant detour to take at high tide:
Go up the street, Chemin de la Ville Mine, then turn right onto Route de Saint-Marc. Pass the roundabout, turn right onto Route du Gavy, then turn right onto Chemin de Trébézy. Then follow the sign for "Sentier côtier" (coastal path) along a path on the right and finally return to the coast at the end of Trébezy Beach.
But before setting off to explore these housing estates, take a look at the fishery at the end of the beach: if you can walk underneath it, continue along the beach, pass under the fishery and continue along Trébezy Beach. At the end of the beach, you will find the coastal path.

(3) Continue along the path, which climbs higher to pass a group of fisheries, then two isolated fisheries, and arrive at Porcé Beach. Walk along the beach, then continue along the path to reach Bonne Anse, a small bay.

(4) Continue along the path, with the urbanisation becoming more apparent further on. This first round trip ends at the Ville ès Martin lighthouse.

(5) Return via the same route, adjusting for the tide at the Trébezy detour, and return to Courance Beach.

(S/E) Follow the beach and, at the end, rejoin the coastal path with its ups and downs. Reach Saint-Marc Beach, also known as Monsieur Hulot Beach, and climb up to the terrace.

(6) Cross the terrace and climb the steps to rejoin the coastal path. Further on, the path joins a street.

(7) The detour from the coastline is necessary here to bypass private properties. Go up the street and you will come to Route de l'Océan, which you should follow to the left for about 150 metres. Turn left onto Route de Géorama and continue until you see the sign for "Sentier côtier" (coastal path) at a picnic area and beach access point.

(8) Continue along the path to the Pointe de Chémoulin semaphore.

(9) Return to Courance Beach by retracing your steps (S/E).

In memory of my father, who often walked along this coastal path.

Moderate difficulty hike, lots of short climbs and descents, standard hiking equipment required.
Please note! To avoid a long and unpleasant detour between (2) and (3), it is best to start this hike at low tide.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo albums here

Monsieur Hulot's beach, where Jacques Tati's film "Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot" was shot.

The Pointe de l'Ève and Pointe de Chémoulin: defending the estuary, information here

Les Oides, little characters that have become emblematic of Saint-Nazaire.