Hikes in Groix

Four nautical miles off the coast of Lorient lies the island of Île de Groix in the Atlantic Ocean. Its rocky coastline is dotted with beautiful, unspoiled beaches featuring sand ranging in color from golden yellow to bright white to garnet red. Unique in Europe is the approximately 800-meter-long, convexly shaped beach known as La Plage des Grands Sables. The magnificent shipowners’ houses at the harbor bear witness to the prosperity the island attained through tuna fishing. Interestingly, the church in the island’s capital features a tuna instead of a weather vane. During the tour, the crisp sea air refreshes the mind and senses.> Upon arriving at the charming Breton harbor of Port Tudy01 (12 m), we turn left across the harbor grounds, passing magnificent shipowners’ houses, and then continue left past the showers and a blue railing until we reach the end of the quay wall. At the wood-clad house with the blue windows, we keep to the right, and behind the stairs we reach the coastal path. At the end of the path, we turn left, and at the next fork in the path, we turn left again. Small lookout points offer beautiful distant views across the sea toward the mainland. We ignore the side paths leading to these lovely coves, as well as a right-hand turn leading to a campground. We turn left onto the dirt road marked with a “No Entry” sign and reach a megalith. And then we arrive at today’s highlight of the hike, the beach Les Grands Sable02 (4 m), which curves convexly into the sea, with fine white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Due to the prevailing ocean currents—which sometimes come more strongly from the northwest and sometimes more strongly from the southwest—its appearance is constantly changing. A beach that shifts with the tides—a truly unique sight. At the end of the beach, we climb some stairs to reach the trail that continues onward. At a fork in the trail, we turn left uphill and, after descending some stairs, pass by the Pointe de la Groix above a small lighthouse. After passing a large open area, we head slightly left down the road and reach a vacation resort. After a few meters, we discover the island’s next unique feature at Plage des Sables Rouge03 (9 m), the red-colored sandy beach. After passing three beautiful coves, the road begins to climb; we head toward the interior, but at a large rock, we make a sharp left turn. Staying on the coastal path the entire time, we head toward the lighthouse at Pointe des Chat04 (10 m). On a clear day, you can make out the Quiberon Peninsula and the island of Belle-Île to the southeast. From the lighthouse—which is showing its age—we now head northwest along the coastal path. We first walk around a small cove and then cross the cove of the small fishing village of Locmaria onto a path that runs slightly higher up. At the end of the cove—where a road branches off to the left—we turn right onto the path that begins there. Shortly past a pond, followed by a spring, we turn left onto the road ahead, then veer slightly right onto the dirt track behind the house with the red shutters. The dirt track ends behind the climbing wall, and we continue left on the road until the next intersection 250 m ahead. Here, we turn right and reach the island’s capital. Walking through the pedestrian zone, we head straight to the Église Saint Tudy05 (27 m); instead of a weather vane, the top of the bell tower is adorned with a tuna. It serves as a reminder of the early 20th century, when the island was France’s leading tuna port. We leave the church square heading north on Rue de St. Albin, pass a warehouse, walk a short distance alongside a stream, and, before reaching more warehouses, turn left and then immediately right again. On the next street, we walk straight through a small industrial area, and where the road turns left into a dead end, we continue straight ahead and reach a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the harbor.

Hiking starting and returning at the Port Tudy dock for the EAST part of the trail, perfect for a family day out.

It goes up, it goes down, and you get a feast for the eyes

belle rando le long de la côte