Coastal path of Douarnenez Bay via Pointe de Tal ar Grip

Follow theGR®34coastal path to Pointe de Tal ar Grip, where you can enjoy views of the long Pentrez Beach. Return along small roads to discover Saint-Sébastien Chapel and its fountain.
Finally, return to the coastal path you took on the way out and notice how the landscape changes with the tide.

(Please note) at the start, theGR® has been diverted along the road for about a hundred metres (information provided by a Visorandoneur)

Details

612609
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 84 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 84 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 56 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Plomodiern (29550)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.15528° / W 4.27352°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0518OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Kervijen Beach car park.

GR®34markings: White and red

(S/E) With your back to the car park, head towards the sea and take the coastal path on the right, which climbs steadily between two hawthorn hedges and overlooks Anse de Kervijen. Further on, the vegetation becomes sparser and you will see the various headlands and beaches of Douarnenez Bay on your left. The path veers to the right and descends towards Ty Mark Cove (you can go down into this pebble cove).

(1) Continue along the wide, uphill track and join a road coming from the right.

(2) Turn left and follow the coastal path, still on a wide track which then becomes narrower and rockier. The path veers to the right and reaches a rocky outcrop from where the view extends northwards (Pointe de Tal ar Grip, dominated by an old guardhouse, the next destination).

(3) Continue until you reach a wide path and pass a small grassy area on your left, which is used to house a caravan in the summer. Leave the wide path (access road to the area you just passed) and turn left, staying on the coastal path protected by a low stone wall.

(4) At the junction with a small road coming from the right, turn left onto theGR® which, further on, turns right to climb to the top of the point. This more delicate passage is through a rocky area and a staircase carved into the rock. At the top, a guardrail ensures safety.

(5) Continue along the coastal path to the left, which gradually descends along a dirt track. You will come to a staircase leading down to the top of the beach (please note: the last few steps were broken in April 2011). Due to the presence of several campsites, it is not possible to continue along the top of the path. Continue to the main access point to this beach. The contrast between the tranquillity of the coastal path and the sudden arrival in this area between campsites and residences is striking.

Off the beaten track

(6) Leave the beach via Rue Ar Vag, using the pedestrian crossings (information board with map on the left). Follow this steeply ascending street until you reach a stop sign.
Turn left and follow this road, which can be busy during the summer season. Pass the buildings on your right.

(7) At the bend, take a small road on the right towards the Saint-Sébastien Chapel (no information sign). Go around it on the right to reach the fountain, then return to the small road and continue to the right.

(8) At the road, at the Gorre an Allé sign, turn right despite a yellow cross and follow this small road downhill.

(9) Leave the houses on your left and continue along the small road that descends towards Anse de Ty Mark, ignoring the hamlet of Cosquer

GR®34markings: White and red

(2) Turn left and retrace your steps along the path you took on the way there. The landscape will have changed due to the tide. Return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 5 m - Kervijen beach car park - Anse de Kervijen
  2. 1 : km 1.45 - alt. 21 m - Ty Mark crossroads - Anse de Ty Mark
  3. 2 : km 1.8 - alt. 32 m - Crossroads of the loop
  4. 3 : km 2.54 - alt. 21 m - Viewpoint
  5. 4 : km 3.18 - alt. 20 m - On the left, at the road
  6. 5 : km 3.73 - alt. 23 m - Pointe de Tal ar Grip
  7. 6 : km 4.38 - alt. 4 m - On the right, Rue Ar Vag
  8. 7 : km 5.51 - alt. 53 m - Small road on the right
  9. 8 : km 6.02 - alt. 50 m - Gorre an Allé sign
  10. 9 : km 6.45 - alt. 38 m - Ty Mark dead end
  11. S/E : km 9.11 - alt. 5 m - Kervijen beach car park - Anse de Kervijen

Notes

Caution: Several signs warn of the danger of the coastal path and the risk of subsidence.
You must stay on the GR® trail. Take extreme care if you are accompanied by children.
There is a tricky section at Pointe de Tal ar Grip.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
vivisoso425
vivisoso425

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We’re doing the route in the opposite direction. An easy walk to follow using the GPS track.
Between point 5 and the beach, there is a tricky section for the more agile.

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sallandre.freddy@neuf.fr
sallandre.freddy@neuf.fr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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Durand-Omarjee
Durand-Omarjee

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike is pleasant along the beaches and then shaded in the park
We continued along the GR34 to Trezmalaouen beach: an easy, well-maintained trail.

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Pj9374
Pj9374

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with no particular difficulties and beautiful views.

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Trotti
Trotti

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, very easy walk. Beautiful views.

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Blek The Rock
Blek The Rock

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with very clear directions from Visorando. Thank you

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Alian
Alian

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike, a bit monotonous. Follow the GR 3 trail carefully.

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Cat29
Cat29

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route around Douarnenez Bay, best enjoyed in dry weather as the Tal Ar Grip headland can be slippery and dangerous in wet conditions.
In spring, you can enjoy the seaside flowers, which make the walk even more pleasant.
The descent to Pors ar Vag beach is via a staircase with broken steps, but you can sit on the bottom step and slide down just below it.

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cmadec29
cmadec29

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is interesting because it offers beautiful, sweeping views of Douarnenez Bay. However, I would emphasise the need for good walking shoes, given that you will be walking over fairly sharp and tricky rocks, particularly around the Tal ar Grip headland. Another point to check is the tide, because at the end of Pointe de Tal ar Grip you have to descend to a beach that can be completely flooded at high tide. Yesterday, this descent was a little tricky because the bottom of the stairs had collapsed and access to the beach was not easy.

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FredoS
FredoS

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route with lots of coastal paths and few roads – a real treat. Breathtaking panoramic views. Best done in winter, when the weather is dry, to avoid the crowds.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you very much for this information, which I will pass on.
Kind regards

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hascoet
hascoet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The closure of the trail at the start, due to rockfalls, is minor

the GR has been marked 100 metres further up the road
to return to the coastal path.
The descent to the beach is a little difficult due to missing steps.

very beautiful hike
thank you

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your message and all the information.
I've passed point 9 several times without seeing any indication that it's private property.
The last time I passed by, I understood that the passage was being privatised, but there were no signs.

I will modify the route to get around this problem by continuing along the small road to reach the coastal path.
As for the coastal path, which is part of the GR34, I don't know if the closure will be permanent or if another alternative will be proposed.
It's true that this path is in a delicate situation.

Kind regards

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Yann PLAIS
Yann PLAIS

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
At the start of the Kervijen car park, a sign indicates that the passage is prohibited from Kervijen to Ty Mark. Indeed, at the very start, the path along the cliff edge is ready to collapse for about 200 metres. But beyond that, it's fine.
In the description, at point (9): A few dozen metres before the houses and the entrance to the bypass road on the right, a sign (imperative, if not aggressive) indicates "STOP Private property. Dog". At the other end of this road, the barrier has a similar sign. Private road? Unfair prohibition?
Kind regards.
Yann Plais

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bilboid
bilboid

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

On the way back, we cut through Cosquer without going via Saint Sébastien Chapel to catch up with Anse de Ty Mark (there were some little 8-year-olds in the group). 8km340

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