Tro-Brehat off the beaten track

If you take this hike, even during the tourist season, you will encounter few people as it follows the island's shoreline as closely as possible.
However, you will see all the island's must-see sights: Guerzido Beach, Paon Lighthouse, Saint-Michel Chapel, Birlot Mill, the Fort...
This hike should be done with the help of a GPS or the Visorando app, which is the price you pay for getting off the beaten track.
If necessary, there will always be a helpful sign to guide you back to the harbour.

Details

23181249
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.30 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 148 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 141 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 35 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Port Clos, landing stage for the boat at high tide.
Turn right onto the uphill street and immediately turn right onto a small path.
Follow the path as close to the shore as possible, taking the paths and trails that lead to Guerzido Beach.

(1) Walk along the beach and turn left to reach the tiny Port de la Chambre. Go around to the left and follow the Crec'h Briand road.

(2) Turn right onto Rue du Chemin Vert.

(3) Turn left, passing by the cemetery and the church.

(4) Cross the village square, take the uphill road and turn right before reaching the calvary. Keep right and take a path near the shore towards Gardenno.

(5) Turn left to rejoin the busy main road towards Île Nord and follow the signs.

(6) Cross the Pont Vauban bridge connecting Île Sud to Île Nord. Follow the signs for Phare du Paon.
Pass the ruins of Saint-Riom Chapel.

(7) Turn right towards the moor to reach the foot of the Phare du Paon lighthouse.

(8) Enjoy the view of the open sea, then head back down and take the first coastal path on the right. A long walk along almost deserted grassy paths awaits you.

(9) Cross a pebble embankment between a small lake and the sea. Keep to the path closest to the sea.
Take the path on the Digue de la Corderie and then return to the Pont Vauban.

(6) Return to the South Island by crossing the Pont Vauban bridge again.

(10) Turn right towards Kermiquel.

(11) Turn right again towards Crec'h Touric.
Continue along the tarmac road, then take a path along the coast to reach the Moulin de Birlot (tidal mill).
(12) Make a round trip to the Chapelle Saint-Michel, located at the top of a rock offering an exceptional view of the Bréhat archipelago.

(13) Return to the road and walk towards Rue Roc'h Losquet, then turn right onto Rue du Canot de Sauvetage.

(14) At the base of the lifeboat, follow the coastal path towards Fort de Bréhat.

(15) Pass in front of the Bréhat glassworks housed in the old Fort de Bréhat. Reach Port Clos (S/E) through the gardens overlooking the beach.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 5 m - The - Port Clos (Bréhat)
  2. 1 : km 0.8 - alt. 8 m - Guerzido Beach
  3. 2 : km 1.53 - alt. 23 m - Crech Briand
  4. 3 : km 1.84 - alt. 6 m - Access to the village
  5. 4 : km 2 - alt. 7 m - Town square
  6. 5 : km 2.47 - alt. 11 m - Trail/road junction
  7. 6 : km 2.9 - alt. 6 m - Pont de Vauban (Pont ar Prat, Bréhat)
  8. 7 : km 4.98 - alt. 15 m - Turn right towards the moorland
  9. 8 : km 5.74 - alt. 16 m - Phare du Paon (Bréhat)
  10. 9 : km 7.14 - alt. 6 m - Between a small lake and the sea
  11. 10 : km 10.46 - alt. 9 m - Towards Kermiquel
  12. 11 : km 10.94 - alt. 13 m - Towards Crech Touric
  13. 12 : km 12.32 - alt. 8 m - Towards the Chapel
  14. 13 : km 12.53 - alt. 31 m - Chapelle Saint-Michel (Bréhat)
  15. 14 : km 14.12 - alt. 8 m - Lifeboat shelter
  16. 15 : km 14.75 - alt. 29 m - Bréhat glassworks - Fort de Goareva (Citadelle de Bréhat)
  17. S/E : km 15.3 - alt. 6 m - The - Port Clos (Bréhat)

Notes

The hike is mapped out based on the most favourable landing point for the boat at Port Clos.
Keep some energy in reserve at the start and finish, as at low tide, disembarkation and embarkation take place at slipway 3, located 800 m from Port Clos

Worth a visit

From the outset, you leave behind the crowds who, on foot or by bike, take the road leading to the village.
As you walk, you will find:
- the island's beach: Guerzido
- the small port of La Chambre
- the village square
- the Vauban bridge
- the ruins of Saint-Riom Chapel
- the Paon lighthouse
- birlot mill
- saint-Michel Chapel
- the glassworks of Bréhat.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Mawine18
Mawine18

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The path couldn't be found at the first stage, unless the tide was low or you had to take private roads... With children in tow, this is a shame as the appeal of the trails is to avoid the crowds.
The island is beautiful, though.

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Véronique A
Véronique A

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

hike undertaken in slightly cool weather. The sea was very calm.

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Dan35
Dan35

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A really nice route to enjoy the charm of Bréhat, its shores, its little paths and typical narrow streets, largely away from bicycles...
In the north, among the ferns, GPS and IGN maps (optional in Visorando) are a useful addition. ;-)
Thanks to the author of the route... :-)))

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noemie3380
noemie3380

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route delivers on all its promises: you avoid the crowds, but you don't miss out on any of the island's stunning scenery. The wilder southern part of the island is particularly worth taking the time to explore.
Many thanks to the author for this off-the-beaten-track itinerary! We loved this day's walk!

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anlenofaka
anlenofaka

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Some small passages require you to pay close attention to the route, as it is possible to miss them. However, it is very easy to find your way again or make a small detour.

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CACOIN
CACOIN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A VERY BEAUTIFUL ROUTE, SEEING BRÉHAT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE IS VERY NICE.
THERE ARE THE MUST-SEES, BUT THIS ROUTE TAKES US AROUND THE ENTIRE ISLAND AND AVOIDS THE CROWDS AND BICYCLES THAT ARE STILL VERY PRESENT AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER.

After point 15, the path becomes private before you arrive, but it's easy to get around it via the beach at low tide. What about when the tide is high? 🤔

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aillouda
aillouda
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for these trails, which are a little away from the crowds still present in September. Thanks to the choice of trails, we encounter fewer bicycles, which allows us to enjoy the calm of the island without feeling like we are on a stage of the Tour de France.
Just a note about the last section after point 15. After the road that descends from the glassworks, we take a small path on the right, but the section that then turns left between the gardens seems to be private, and we were asked not to go there and to go straight down to the beach. It's passable at low tide, but otherwise you have to go back up to the road.

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Boblatitude
Boblatitude

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We thoroughly enjoyed all the walks we did around Trégastel. The routes are not always accurate, but it is still a very useful tool for ensuring you don't get lost. Kind regards

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Mamoune47
Mamoune47

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It is difficult to find your way around. There are practically no signs on the island. Some paths have no signs and lead nowhere. Others are difficult to access because they are not maintained. I am disappointed.

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frafre
frafre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This island is magnificent.

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philouviso
philouviso

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This island is a gem
A must-see

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JPED
JPED

The route was very useful in helping me plan the trip for a group of 25 elderly people.
There are already lots of bikes, so you have to learn to share the paths.
You never tire of Bréhat.

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Denys Borel
Denys Borel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike at the end of May in mixed weather, so it wasn't too busy that day. The island is magnificent with its landscapes of greenery and rocks, and lots of flowers at this time of year. A must-see!
A word of advice: take a boat trip around the island before exploring it on foot.
And the glassworks workshop is well worth a visit.

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Franck35000
Franck35000

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 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 walk that allows you to avoid the crowds of tourists.

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JPED
JPED

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We used the two routes suggested on Visorando to optimise our hike.

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