Hiking in Morbihan

The Morbihan is part of the Brittany region. It borders the departments of Finistère to the west, Côtes-d'Armor to the north, Ille-et-Vilaine to the east, and Loire-Atlantique to the southeast, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. Its area is 6,823 km2 with 905 km of coastline.

The largest forests are located in the north of the department (Paimpont, Lanouée, Quénécan...) and in its center: the Lanvaux moors (Bois de Saint-Bily, state forests of Camors, Floranges, Pontcallec...). Until the Middle Ages, the forests, as everywhere in Brittany, were much more extensive: the legendary forest of Brocéliande has shrunk to a tiny part, Paimpont; the Rhuys forest, where the dukes liked to hunt, has completely disappeared. Morbihan is, in fact, the most wooded Breton department.

The coast of Morbihan is particularly indented: with the islands, the length of the coasts is 800 km while the straight-line distance between the estuaries of the Laïta and the Vilaine (which represent the natural eastern and western borders of the department) is only 150 km.

Some must-see places to discover include Belle-Île, the largest island in Brittany, or the sublime Port-Louis.

We also offer you a list of some magnificent places not to be missed if you pass through Morbihan, such as the Gulf of Morbihan, the wild coast of Belle-Île, the megalithic ensemble of Locmariaquer, the Kermario alignment, the island of the monks, or even the island of Groix.

Some long-distance hiking trails cross the department, such as the GR®34 "La littorale", also known as the "Customs Officers' Path," which is an essential hike in the region. You will follow the Customs Officers' Path along the coast while admiring breathtaking panoramas. In Morbihan, the starting point is in Vannes.

Also try the GR®340 which allows you to circle Belle-Île-en-Mer, exploring a preserved nature and the surprising colors of the coastline to go from ports to citadels up to magnificent natural sites. It is a loop route whose start is generally at Le Palais.

Finally, venture onto the GR®38 "In the land of King Morvan" which will take you to discover the Black Mountains of Morbihan whose heritage is very rich for a cultural hike. The starting point is in Gourin.

Whether you are a fan of nature, wildlife, history, old stones, Morbihan offers a multitude of walking trails to satisfy your desires for fresh air and discovery.

Here are some suggestions for hiking routes to do in the region. But after all, adventure is also about making your own path. So, go for it!