There's no shortage of things to do in Brittany, as the region boasts France's longest coastline, all of which is lined with a coastal path, which can be followed either entirely or in sections. But Brittany isn't limited to its seaside, and its inland areas also boast magnificent landscapes, as do its many islands. This makes the region an ideal hiking destination, with trails ranging from easy to demanding.
1. Sentier des Douaniers GR® 34
- Distance: 2,000 km
- Altitude difference: 16,750 m
- Duration: 80 to 120 days
- Itinerary
The Sentier des Douaniers, or GR® 34, is undoubtedly France's most legendary long-distance hiking trail. It owes its name to the fact that customs officers used to make their rounds along the coast of Brittany. Today, it's a great way to hike the whole of Brittany , or just a selected section. Although it is considered one of the easiest GRs in France, due to its relatively low gradient, doing it in its entirety still requires a great deal of preparation, as it will take around 100 days of walking!
2. Cape Fréhel and Fort la Latte
- Distance: 13.2 km
- Elevation gain: 335 m
- Time: 3 hrs 30 mins
- Itinerary
This trail forms a loop that allows you to admire one of Brittany's most beautiful landscapes: Cap Fréhel, with its Fort la Latte. Cap Fréhel is one of the few sites to be classified as a "Grands Sites de France". This label rewards exceptional natural sites that successfully combine tourist attraction with environmental protection. Cape Fréhel remains wild and unspoilt, despite the number of visitors, and you are invited to take steps to protect this fragile environment. This is a medium-level hike, with a slight gradient, but accessible to all.
3. Around Cap de la Chèvre
- Distance: 8.5 km
- Difference in altitude: 250 m
- Duration : 2 h 30
- Itinerary
This medium-level hike forms a loop that allows you to explore Cap de la Chèvre, in the heart of the Armorique Regional Nature Park, a superb ecological destination. You'll mainly be following the GR® 34 trail, or sentier des Douaniers, mentioned above, as you explore the cliffs, creeks and moors that make up this cape closing in on the Bay of Douarnenez. You'll set off from the Cap de la Chèvre parking lot, which you can reach by hitchhiking. Make sure you bring good shoes, as the path is stony and even muddy if you do this hike after it has rained.
4. The forest of Brocéliande and its Val Sans Retour
- Distance: 3 km
- Height difference: 65 m
- Walkingtime : 1 h
- Itinerary
This is a particularly easy hike to do in Brittany, and it's an effortless way to discover a mythical place: the forest of Brocéliande. More precisely, it's into the heart of the Val Sans Retour that you'll enter: a place still inhabited by the legends of King Arthur, the soul of Merlin and the fairy Morgane. Above all, the Brocéliande forest is the largest forest in Brittany, and you'll need to protect it by practicing regenerative tourism. Here too, you'll need good shoes, as the forest floor can be muddy and slippery. Beyond that, the only difficulty lies in a slightly steep climb at the beginning of the route.
5. The Pointe du Raz tour
- Distance: 8.2 km
- Difference in altitude: 220 m
- Time : 2 h 15
- Itinerary
The Pointe du Raz is probably Finistère's most famous landscape. This rocky outcrop forms a long thread of tortured rock stretching far out into the ocean, and extended by a few islets off the Mer d'Iroise. This medium-level itinerary takes you all the way around. Once again, the integrity of this natural site is protected, earning it the status of Grand Site de France. Although not a destination far removed from mass tourism, this hike in Brittany remains unspoilt.
6. The pink granite coast
- Distance: 4 km
- Height difference: 35 m
- Duration: 1 h
- Itinerary
The Pink Granite Coast in the Côtes-d'Armor is one of the region's most emblematic landscapes. Here, the coastline is peppered with huge pink rocks that have been rounded by the waves for centuries. The spectacular landscape is bordered by Ploumanac'h, one of Brittany's most beautiful villages and voted France's favorite village in 2015. The icing on the cake: this hike in Brittany is very accessible to beginners or families, as it forms a loop and remains mainly flat.
7. The Pointe du Grouin
- Distance: 7.2 km
- Difference in altitude: 160 m
- Time : 2 h
- Itinerary
Head for Ille-et-Vilaine, to discover the famous Pointe du Grouin, located between Cancale and Saint-Malo. Here again, the trail mainly follows the Douanier path, but leaves it at one point to form a loop. On a clear day, this cliff even offers a view of Mont-Saint-Michel! This medium-level route starts from the Pointe du Grouin parking lot, which you can reach by public transport from Cancale.
8. Tour of Belle-Île-en-Mer GR® 340
- Distance: 77 km
- Difference in altitude: 1,590
- Duration: 3 to 5 days
- Itinerary
The Tour de Belle-Île-en-Mer is a must-do in Brittany for lovers of sport and beautiful scenery. Indeed, it's a challenging hike, since it takes place over several days and includes a certain difference in altitude. But your efforts will be rewarded by the scenic beauty of Brittany's largest island. To sleep, you can stop off at some of Brittany's most beautiful campsites, but you can also bivouac, which is tolerated on the island.
9. The Traouïéro valley
- Distance: 3.7 km
- Height difference: 60 m
- Walkingtime: 1 h
- Itinerary
Brittany is more than just its coastline. It also boasts some magnificent forests, such as the Vallée des Traouïéro, a particularly easy hike in Brittany. Here you can admire the eponymous pond, the Grotte des Contrebandiers and the majestic oak tree.
10. Around the island of Groix
- Distance: 25.5 km
- Difference in altitude: 500 m
- Duration : 7 to 9 h
- Itinerary
Completing the tour of the island of Groix is a difficult event, because it's long and involves a bit of an ascent. It will therefore take around 8 hours to complete, divided into one day for the more experienced, and two days for the more leisurely. In any case, it's well worth the effort, and offers breathtakingly beautiful scenery far removed from mass tourism. All along the route, there are numerous sites to visit, such as the François Le Bail national nature reserve, famous for its colorful rocks.
11. Pointe de Pen-Hir
- Distance: 2.5 km
- Difference in altitude: 70 m
- Duration: 45 min
- Itinerary
In the heart of the Armorique Regional Nature Park, this hike in Brittany allows you to discover the Pointe de Pen-Hir, which protrudes into the Iroise Sea. You'll mostly take the coastal path that loops back to the starting point, and enjoy magnificent views all the way. It's an easy trail, both short and almost level, making it perfect for a family outing. Again, this is a particularly unspoilt landscape, so you're invited to reduce your ecological footprint.
For more hikes in superb natural landscapes, check out our articles on hiking in the Alps, hiking in the Auvergne and hiking in the Pyrenees.
