Coastal and countryside path from Porspaul

Start from the Porspaul car park near the restaurants.

GR ®34 marked in white and red

(S/E) From the car park, take Rue du Port towards the signs indicating the exit from Lampaul-Plouarzel and the entrance to Plouarzel. Note an old wash house on the right. Turn right onto the coastal path.

(1) At the end of the street, leave^{the GR®} and head towards a headland where a bench awaits you. Beautiful view of the Pointe de Beg ar Vir. Continue and rejoin the^GR®. Walk along Porsmain Beach, cross a small footbridge then a car park. View of Île Ségal, accessible on foot at low tide, and out to sea towards Île d’Ouessant. Continue along the coastal path until you reach the roadside.

(2) Turn right to begin an ascent followed by a rocky descent. Climb a flight of steps and cross a rocky area before rejoining the roadside (tricky section: see the alternative route in the practical information). Follow the road to the right towards a car park (signposted ‘frequent sand’). A beautiful beach lies to your right.

Off the marked route

(3) Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and enter the car park. Turn left and head straight up the dune to reach a small road. On the right, you can see the 37-metre-high Trézien lighthouse.

Yellow markings + a few marker posts

Turn right towards the east and continue along a gravel track. At the place known as Toul an Dour on the map, an old wash house is hidden away on the right amongst the vegetation. Continue along the track.

(4) Follow a path round the left of the hamlet of Kergouzien, with its old stone houses and a bread oven. At the junction with a small road, turn left, then left again at the Stop sign. Continue to the next crossroads where, of the cross shown on the map, only the shaft remains behind a hedge.
At the stop sign, cross over towards Ker Eol (watch out for the particularly high concrete kerb at this junction).

Pass Ker Eol (the name is inscribed on a large stone slab) and continue towards Kermalc’har. Pass some large livestock buildings and arrive near an old 16th-century manor house, largely hidden by an imposing wall. A beautiful stone table awaits you for a possible break.
Continue along the wall until you reach a three-way junction.

Off the marked trail

(5) Turn left and follow this road downhill, which runs alongside a large area of greenhouses. The water tower is clearly visible on the right. You’ll come to a Stop sign.

(6) Turn right into Rue du Prieuré, follow the road downhill which becomes closed to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and arrive at an old mill where you can see the waterwheel. On the right is the pond that used to feed it. Continue uphill and turn right at the next Stop sign, where you’ll find the signposting again (the purple route is out of date).

Yellow markings + a few signposts

(7) Turn left towards the Chapelle Saint-Égarec and the mission cross. Climb up to the top of the dune on the right to the mission cross (staircase under construction in September 2020). Lovely view of the bell tower.
Head back down, walk past the chapel and follow the road towards the sea, then turn left to reach the D5. Cross at the pedestrian crossing to return to the car park (S/E).

(2) To avoid a section that may be difficult for some people, turn left and follow the road to rejoin the route before (3).

The countryside section from (3) mainly follows quiet country lanes passing through pretty hamlets.

The little port of Porspaul and its beaches.
Ségal Island.

View of Trézien Lighthouse

The 16th-century Kermalc’har Manor House, barely visible as it is surrounded by high stone walls.

Saint-Égarec Chapel.

The Kroaz Nevez Calvary
Standing 5.50 m tall, it was erected in 1869 near the town hall in memory of a mission, before being moved near Saint-Égarec Chapel. A Virgin Mary is depicted on the reverse of the crucifix.

Very close to the start: the Beg ar Vir headland and its orientation table.