Tour of the island of Sein

The island of Sein is small and flat, so walking around it is no problem! The hardest part is perhaps resisting seasickness on the boat off the coast of the Vieille lighthouse...

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.54 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 8 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 8 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 10 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -1 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Finistère (29)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.039021° / W 4.848608°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0419ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) When you get off the boat, walk up the jetty. Opposite you, on the left, is the imposing Men Brial beacon. Opposite you is a crêperie. Turn right at this shop. When the lane turns left, take a discreet path on the right. Follow it, staying as close as possible to the sea on your right. Pass a stone cross. Further on, squeeze between two rocks. Your path makes a wide turn to the left, then to the right.

(1) You will arrive at the back of a building. It is a hotel (Ar Men). Resist the urge to take the wide concrete path. Continue along the coastal path.

(2) You arrive at an imposing monument dedicated to the "Free French". Next to it is a magnificent rock, placed there by who knows what means. You reach the concrete path, which you take on the right, towards the Goulenez lighthouse. Shortly before the lighthouse gate, you take a wide path on the left. You arrive at the esplanade of the seawater treatment plant. You head towards the chapel.

(3) You are now at the Saint-Corentin Chapel. Take the path on the left, which is initially overhanging.
It leads you to a small menhir.

(4) Continue to the concrete path on the right. You will pass in front of the Cholériques cemetery (not the colériques...). Continue on. You will arrive in front of the hotel mentioned above. At the fork, turn right. Further on, ignore a wide path that branches off to the right. When you reach a point, your path turns to the left.

(5) You are now on Quai des Français Libres. Walk along it. At the end, the path makes a sharp left turn. You will arrive at the famous Quai des Paimpolais. Walk to the end, pass the Men Brial marker and you will find the pier (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2 m - Cale du Men Brial
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 5 m - Ar Men Hotel
  3. 2 : km 1.35 - alt. 7 m - Monument aux Français libres (Ile de Sein)
  4. 3 : km 2.07 - alt. 5 m - Chapelle Saint-Corentin (Ile de Sein)
  5. 4 : km 2.35 - alt. 7 m - Menhir
  6. 5 : km 3.74 - alt. 2 m - Quai des Français libres
  7. S/E : km 4.54 - alt. 2 m - Cale du Men Brial

Notes

You can reach the island of Sein from the small port of Esquibien, located south-west of Audierne.
The Penn Ar Bed company provides a daily service throughout the year. A return ticket costs €30 for an adult (price in October 2020). In summer, another company operates the crossing and some departures are from Douarnenez.

Please note that the advertised timetable (in 2020, 9.30 am outbound and 4 pm return) is subject to change without notice depending on sea conditions. In my case, the outbound journey took place at 11.30 am.

There are several hotels and restaurants where you can stay or eat. Otherwise, it may be useful to bring a snack with you.

The suggested route is the minimum. It goes without saying that it would be interesting to complete it by visiting the village, possibly taking a tour of the lighthouse, going to the tip of Beg al Lann...

The time it takes to complete this route depends, of course, on how long you spend observing and strolling around. I would estimate at least two hours.

Worth a visit

The atmosphere of the island will be the main attraction.

On the island you will find:
the Sein lighthouse,
the Free French monument,
dolmens and menhirs,
the Cholériques cemetery,
the famous seafront at Quai des Paimpolais.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 8458156

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb in every way, right down to the oyster tasting three-quarters of the way through

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Tébérando
Tébérando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We stayed on the Isle of Sein for three days. We really explored the whole island.
The "Visorando" route allows you (after S/E) to see the Nifran calvary, the highest point on the island (11m),
the remains of a mill and the two blockhouses, Kremlin and Vatican.
The "PR" route allows you to visit the Goulenez lighthouse (2), see the Amer and the Beg al Lann point, and take advantage of the location of the Governor's foghorn (4) to get a good view of the island's expanse with "the white sands" and the Kélaourou peninsula. Access to this peninsula is not easy: you have to walk along a stony path, there are birds' nests and you need to be familiar with the tide times.
We had no problems with accommodation (bed and breakfast) or meals (several good restaurants and a small supermarket). The locals are very welcoming.

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Pasdomi
Pasdomi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route is more of a stroll than a hike. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it immensely.
It's a change of scenery and very pleasant.
For a quick drink, we recommend the bar "Chez Bruno" on the Quai des Français Libres.

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leguyader
leguyader

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A short but very pleasant route. ...in March!

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dalapin
dalapin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Sein Island is tiny! It's impossible to get lost because you can see the entire route at a glance. The goal of the walk is to climb up to the lighthouse. There are dry toilets at this location. You'll even have time to stop at the crêperie on the harbour on your way back.

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