Hiking and walking in South Finistere
With its fishing ports, beaches and cliffs, South Finistère offers a multitude of facets, from family walks to more challenging hikes. There’s something for every taste and level. Discover our selection of routes along the Breton coast in the Quimperlé area.
Family outings around the campsite
The painters’ trail starts in Clohars-Carnoët from the Maison-musée Gauguin in the village center. The route is divided into two loops: a short loop of around 2 kilometers and a longer loop of around 5 kilometers.
You’ll be able to observe magnificent landscapes, combining beaches, cliffs and wooded areas, while taking a step back in time. The trail inspired many 19th-century painters such as Gauguin, Sérusier and Filiger. Adults and children alike will be delighted to learn more from the 19 panels explaining the painters’ inspirations, and will be able to find reproductions of some of the paintings.
Circuits and forests in South Finistère
The Bois d’Amour circuit is located in Pont-Aven, a 25-minute drive from our 4-star campsite in South Finistère. The circuit is 9 kilometers long. The tour begins with a visit to the 16th-century Trémalo chapel, which inspired one of Gauguin’s “Yellow Christ” paintings.
You then continue on your way through the Bois d’Amour, a quiet, cool spot among the trees that inspired the post-impressionist painter Sérusier. Then you’ll head back through the Breton countryside, home to ancient stone houses.
Coastal walks in Southern Brittany
The walk along the Belon is about 15 kilometers long and not suitable for young children, due to its steep gradient. You’ll discover a fishing port and a view of the Belon and Aven rivers, not to be missed. Departure is from Moëlan-sur-Mer, a 13-minute drive from the campsite.
You’ll start by heading down the ria du Belon towards the port du Belon, where you may spot little egrets and other species, so keep an eye out. At the port, you can buy freshly caught fish. You then take the coastal path back to the starting point. Don’t miss Kerfany beach.
The customs trail
The walk from Trenez to Le Pouldu takes in a small section of the GR34 hiking trail, also known as the “sentier des douaniers”. The one-way trip takes a day, as it’s not a loop. You can park your car near the beach and stay at the Quinquis campsite in Le Pouldu in the evening, before setting off again the following day.
You’ll pass through the ports of Brigneau and Merrien, two typical South Brittany harbors. The landscapes offer shades of green and blue. The Merrien ria is a protected site, where you can see the old customs house offering a 180-degree view of the coastline.
Long-distance hiking trails in Finistère
The ” sentier des douaniers”, or GR34, runs along the whole of Brittany’s coastline for some 2,000 kilometers, from Mont Saint-Michel via Saint-Malo to Saint-Nazaire. The long, steep cliffs of the Emerald Coast, the many islets in the Golfe du Morbihan and the marshes with their rich flora and fauna are just some of the highlights of this long hike.
Don’t forget to stop off at the Crozon peninsula, with its cliffs, rugged coastline and sandy beaches. This hike covers some 100 days of walking, so a minimum of equipment is essential, but the Breton scenery is well worth the detour.
