Home » All trips » Brittany’s Coast of Legends: Part 2, Aber Wrac’h – Conquet or Brest

Brittany’s Coast of Legends: Part 2, Aber Wrac’h – Conquet or Brest

Highlights

Beautiful sandy bays and beaches enclosed by rocky headlands. The long tidal estuaries (or Abers) of Wrac’h, Benoit & Ildut. Holiday Profile : 7 or 9 nights/8 or 10 days – 6 or 8 days independent walking moving between guest houses. Dates : Everday of week subject to availability during 1 April to 31 October.

At a Glance

A self-guided walking holiday exploring the dramatic northern Finistere coast in Brittany

Price

From $ 1,625 per person

Every journey is tailor-made and can be personalised to your travel style, preferred accommodation and budget.

All highlights

Legend’s Coast . Your self-guided walking holiday takes you along the northern Finistere coast in Brittany heading west from Aber Wrac’h and going around the cliffs at the most westerly point in France before heading to towards Brest. This independent holiday is the second part of a two part walk between Roscoff and Brest. You’ll either undertake a 7 night walking holiday which ends in Conquet or a 9 night walking holiday which ends in Brest. The coast of Legends in Brittany has a thousand different faces, including dramatic cliffs, beautiful beaches, sand dunes and stretches of pebbles. The long estuaries or Abers create wide breaks in the coast. Starting with Aber Wrac’h, you’ll go around two further estuaries as you head towards the western-most tip of Brittany. This section of coast is varied, each day changing in character. There are sections of large bays and dunes, smaller secluded bays, protected by wild headlands, rocky peninsulas and heather-covered cliffs. One of the most striking features of this section of Brittany coast, however, is the multitude of tiny islands and rocky promontories which make this coast so difficult to navigate, making it a place of numerous shipwrecks and legends. After passing Pointe Carsen you’ll reach Le Conquet with its historic buildings and lively harbour. You can choose to finish your walking holiday at this point or continue along a more difficult cliff-lined section of coast towards the historic port of Brest. Holiday Profile . 7 or 9 nights/8 or 10 days: 6 or 8 days independent walking moving between guest houses.

Beautiful sandy bays and beaches enclosed by rocky headlands
The long tidal estuaries (or Abers) of Wrac’h, Benoit & Ildut
Pretty harbours & villages of Portsall & Conquet
A multitude of headlands, sandy bays, rocky shelves and tiny islands
Cliff walking along the Atlantic Coast and the Western most point in France (Pointe Carsen)
Explore historic port of Brest
Lots of pre-historic interest with burial chambers and standing stones

Brittany's Coast of Legends: Part 2, Aber Wrac'h - Conquet or Brest - Image 7

At a Glance

Moderate

Walks on this self guided holiday in Brittany are on an undulating coastline alternating between easy and moderate walking, with distances varying between 14 & 21km per day. The average amount of ascent and descent in the day is 200m and the maximum is 350m on the 6 day walk and 650m on the 8 day walk. Some days feel harder as they constantly rise and descend, and so it is harder to find a rhythm. The paths are well maintained and for the most part are well sign posted as you are following the long distance GR34 coastal trail. This walking holiday is graded moderate. You should have some experience of day walking and be in reasonable health. See more information about walking grades.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Aber Wrac'h

Arrive in Brest and transfer to Aber Wrac'h. Possibility of transfer from Roscoff (supplement).

Day 2: Aber Wrac'h - Kerasquer

From Aber Wrac’h you’ll head out and around the presqu'ile of Ste Marguerite with a multitude of off-shore islands and impressive views. A couple of large sandy bays lead you to another estuary, Aber Benoit. The landscape becomes hillier as you enter the estuary and find your B&B slightly inland.

Overnight: Kerasquer, Walk: 18km, +340m

Day 3: Kerasquer - St Pabu

From your guest house you’ll finish the tour of Aber Benoit estuary. The estuary is bordered by wooded slopes with headlands and tributary bays and inlets. The views vary according to the state of the tide from a wide waterway at high tide to exposed channels and mudflats at low tide. Finish the day in the village of St Pabu. (Possible transfer depending on availability of accommodation).

Overnight: St Pabu, Walk: 15km, +80m

Day 4: St Pabu - Portsall

From St Pabu, exit the estuary of Aber Benoit and then follow a section of coast with immense sandy bays and dunes. Off-shore islands and rocky shelves provide the decor for these bays. From these wide expanses you’ll pass around a series of beautiful small bays and low headlands to reach the pretty harbour at Portsall.

Overnight: Portsall, Walk: 15km, +120m

Day 5: Portsall - Porspoder

Head around the bays at Portsall before leaving the built up area behind, passing Neolithic monuments to walk along an unspoilt and beautiful section of rocky coast. A multitude of headlands, bays, islands and almost cut-off peninsulas then follow which can be quite disorientating, but relaxing at the same time. Make your way around this complex coast to your eco-hotel on the coast at Porspoder.

Overnight: Porspoder, Walk: 16km, +120m

Day 6: Porspoder - Ader Ildut

You are now facing the Atlantic as you head south from Porspoder along good paths above rocky shelves and bays. This leads you to the next estuary Aber Ildut. This is a narrower estuary than the previous ones and the walking goes back and forth around numerous small channels. Transfer to your accommodation.

Overnight: Ader Ildut, Walk: 21km, +190m.

Day 7: Ader Ildut - Le Conquet

Transfer back to the Atlantic coast as the shoreline becomes wilder with good walking along granite cliffs. You’ll pass Pointe du Corsen which is the most westerly point in France. The series of cliffs are interspersed by isolated sand bays before you reach a final stretch of beautiful white sands which ends at Pointe de Kermorvan. Cross the estuary to reach the beautiful port of Le Conquet with its historic buildings and lively harbour.

7 night, 6 day walking holiday ends in Le Conquet.

Overnight: Le Conquet, Walk: 17km, +350m.

Day 8: Departure or Le Conquet - Plougonvelin

Bus journey to Brest after breakfast on 7 night version (not included in price) or:

Continue along cliff tops overlooking the Atlantic Coast, passing Ponte Saint-Mathieu with its abbey ruins dating from the 12th century. It is also possible to climb the 163 steps of the lighthouse which sits on this peninsula on the edge of the Brest estuary. The coastal path then passes close to Fort Bertheaume as you now head East towards Brest. Here you'll find secluded beaches sheltered from the westerly winds. Transfer to Le Conquet.

Overnight: Le Conquet, Walk: 14km, +400m.

Day 8: Plougonvelin - Brest

After a transfer back to where you finished the day before, continue to head East, passing more historic forts protecting the coast and lighthouses showing the channel that the boats need to take to reach Brest, which is the 2nd largest military port in France. This is a much more difficult section of coast with the coastal path undulating between small headlands and narrow inlets. Transfer from near the entrance to Brest to your hotel in the centre.

Overnight: Brest

Day 8: Departure

Departure after breakfast.

Possible to book additional nights in Brest.

Accommodation & Meals

7 or 9 nights’ accommodation in several charming hotels (mainly 3 star) and guest houses in double or twin rooms with own bathrooms. A variety of styles with good hospitality and comfortable accommodation throughout.

When to Travel

Our self-guided walking holiday on the Legend’s Coast is available from the beginning of April to the end of October. Brittany has a typical maritime climate with warm summers and mild winters. Average summer temperatures are around 20ºC – 27º C (70° F -80º F) with winter temperatures rarely falling below freezing especially along the coast. Rainfall occurs regularly but in-between, sunny, cloudless days are also common. In the summer months, temperatures in the region can reach 30 °C however, the climate generally remains comfortable when compared to further south in France.

April average daytime temperatures are 13°C, climbing to 19°C by the time you get to June, whilst May is the wettest of these 3 months. As well as being the warmest months, July and August are generally also the driest months and on average each have 2 days with some rain per week. September is similar to June with warm days at 19°C, but is slighly wetter on average. October however, is considerably more unsettled than the other months and has much reduced sunshine totals.

Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps

Most of this walking holiday follows the red and white waymarks of the GR34 long distance GR trail. The markings are regular. Smal sections will also follow local trails waymarked in yellow. There is a fairly dense network of signposts with place names and directions. The walking follows clear paths, tracks and minor roads for its entire duration. Our walking notes are very detailed (more information here) and include intermediate distances for sections of the trail. They also include information about the sites which can be explored along the route. We supply one walking guide per person on this holiday. As well as the detailed walking notes we supply official walking maps produced by IGN at a scale of 1:25,000. Your trail is highlighted on the maps.

Luggage Transfers

On this walking holiday your main luggage is transferred between guest houses so you only have to carry a day rucksack with picnic lunch (supplied by the guest houses and included in the holiday price), water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this holiday a local taxi company is responsible for transporting your main luggage, so if you have any specific requests such as a lift to the next guest house then you can speak with the taxi driver. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 20kg. We only use hotels and small guest houses in historic buidlings and some of the rooms are accessible by stairs.

Travel Info

Make your own way to Brest. Transfer included from Brest to first guest house in Aber Wrac’h. Transfers also possible from Roscoff for a supplement.

By Ferry:

Brittany Ferries run boats from Plymouth to Roscoff in Brittany. Drive to Aber Wrac’h. Please contact us about possibilities for parking your car for the week.

By Train:

Eurostar and the TGV run trains from London to Paris where you need to change and catch a train direct to Brest.

Flights:

Direct flights to Brest from Southampton and Birmingham during July and August with Flybe and from London Southend from April with Ryan Air.

Return

Bus to Brest if finishing at Le Conquet. From Brest train services or flights as above.

Further Information & Advice

For useful advice about indep

Extra Nights

Extra nights are possible at any of the stopovers during the holiday. There is also the option of an extra night in Brest at the end of your walking holiday even if you don’t do the extra days walking from Le Conquet to Brest.

Combining walking holidays

This coastal trail walking holiday can be combined with any of our walking holidays elsewhere in the Brittany. You can combine this walk with part one of our Legend’s Coast walking holiday from Roscoff to Aber Wrac’h. on the GR34 long-distance coastal trail.

Tailor Made Trips

If you want to learn more about the region’s culture through tailor-made activities and visits, check out those trips that include a few days in the Brittany region. Contact us to add them to your hike.

Normandy and Brittany: Coastal Gems and Medieval Tales

Explore coastal landscapes where charming villages and historic sites transport you back in time, from Honfleur to Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo