Walking the Brittany Coast Path
The GR34 from Mont-Saint-Michel to Roscoff
Walking the Brittany Coast Path
The GR34 from Mont-Saint-Michel to Roscoff
Guidebook detailing a 624km section of French long-distance route the GR34 (or Sentier des Douaniers, the Customs Officers' Path) along the scenic north coast of Brittany from Mont-Saint-Michel to Roscoff. The popular well-maintained trail takes in cliffs, beaches, seaside resorts and fishing villages and is rich in history and culture.A guidebook to walking the northern section of the GR34 Brittany Coast Path, following 624km (388 mile) of dramatic coastline from Mont-Saint-Michel to Roscoff. Known as the Sentier des Douaniers or Customs Officers’ Path, the trail traces one of France’s most celebrated long-distance routes, revealing a constantly changing landscape of rugged cliffs, sweeping bays, sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Along the way, walkers pass historic ports, traditional fishing villages and lively seaside towns, experiencing the distinctive character, history and culture of Brittany.
Suitable for any moderately fit walker, this section of the GR34 can be completed in around a month and requires no technical skills. The route is described from east to west in manageable daily stages, allowing walkers to experience the full variety of Brittany’s coastline at a comfortable pace. For those with less time, the guide also highlights shorter itineraries that capture some of the most spectacular scenery and rewarding sections of the trail.
- The Brittany Coast Path is described in 28 stages of between 13 and 33km, with clear step-by-step route descriptions, detailed mapping and route summary tables to help you plan daily distances and accommodation.
- Includes 1:100,000 mapping for each stage, larger-scale maps for towns and key locations, like Saint-Malo, Saint-Laurent de la Mer, Morlaix, Carantec and Roscoff.
- GPX files for the Brittany Coast Path available to download for easy navigation on digital devices.
- Comprehensive practical information on accommodation, food and refreshments, public transport connections and local facilities, making it easy to organise and adapt your GR34 itinerary.
- Includes four suggested 5-day highlight itineraries, ideal for walkers who want to experience the highlights of the Brittany Coast Path on a shorter trip.
- Helpful planning advice covering preparation, travel to and from the route, accommodation listings, and tips for walking a long-distance coastal trail.
Following in the footsteps of the customs officers who once patrolled this coast to prevent smuggling, the GR34 offers an unforgettable journey through one of France’s most beautiful and culturally rich regions. With ever-changing sea views, abundant wildlife and countless opportunities to enjoy Breton hospitality and cuisine, this guide provides everything you need to explore this remarkable coastline with confidence.
The Brittany Coast Path - Quick Facts
Trail name: GR34 Brittany Coast Path (Sentier des Douaniers)
Location: Brittany, north coast of France
Designation: Grande Randonnée (GR34) long-distance trail
Distance: 624km / 388 miles (Mont-Saint-Michel to Roscoff section)
Typical duration: Around 4 weeks to complete the full section
Start: Mont-Saint-Michel
End: Roscoff
Route format: Linear long-distance coastal walk
Stages: 28 stages, each between 13 and 33km (8–20 miles)
Navigation: Well waymarked with standard red-and-white GR markings
Terrain: Coastal paths, cliff-top trails, beaches, estuaries, woodland and heathland
Difficulty: Moderate, with generally good paths but frequent ascents and descents along the coastline
Best season: Late spring and early autumn (May–June and September) for favourable weather and fewer crowds
Accommodation: Wide range including hotels, guesthouses, campsites and gîtes in seaside towns and villages
Author Highlight
“One outstanding feature of hiking along the GR34 is variety. There are memorable traverses across steep slopes high above rocky shores where waves crash, such as between Pointe du Grouin and Pointe du Meinga (Stage 3) and from Locquémeau to Saint-Michel-en-Grève (Stage 23). Elsewhere, the trail stays closer to the water, passing innumerable beaches. Some of those beaches are vast expanses of sand in front of towns that attract many visitors; others are cosy crescents of sand, barely accessible to anyone but a walker on the GR34. The trail also passes through forests and crosses heathland, often beside coastal cliffs and in sight of the sea. The heathland sparkles in the spring with yellow gorse and broom, complemented in the summer by purple heather.”
- Carroll Dorgan, author of Walking the Brittany Coast Path
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.
Map key
Overview map
Route summary table
Introduction
What it’s like to hike on the north Brittany coast
Geology
Wildlife
History
Culture
When to go
Getting there and around
Accommodation
Clothing and equipment
Waymarking
Maps
Money
Staying in touch
Health and safety
Using this guide
The Brittany Coast Path
Stage 1 Mont-Saint-Michel to Saint-Broladre
Stage 2 Saint-Broladre to Cancale
Stage 3 Cancale to La Guimorais
Stage 4 La Guimorais to Saint-Malo
Stage 5 Saint-Malo to Lancieux
Stage 6 Lancieux to Saint-Cast-le-Guildo
Stage 7 Saint-Cast-le-Guildo to Petit Trécelin
Stage 8 Petit Trécelin to Sables-d’Or-les-Pins
Stage 9 Sables-d’Or-les-Pins to Pléneuf-Val-André
Stage 10 Pléneuf-Val-André to Hillion
Stage 11 Hillion to Saint-Laurent-de-la-Mer
Stage 12 Saint-Laurent-de-la-Mer to Saint-Quay-Portrieux
Stage 13 Saint-Quay-Portrieux to Bréhec
Stage 14 Bréhec to Paimpol
Stage 15 Paimpol to Lézardrieux
Stage 16 Lézardrieux to Le Québo
Stage 17 Le Québo to Tréguier
Stage 18 Tréguier to Port Blanc
Stage 19 Port Blanc to Perros-Guirec
Stage 20 Perros-Guirec to Trégastel (Coz Pors)
Stage 21 Trégastel (Coz Pors) to Île Grande
Stage 22 Île Grande to Le Yaudet
Stage 23 Le Yaudet to Locquirec
Stage 24 Locquirec to Plougasnou
Stage 25 Plougasnou to Saint-Samson
Stage 26 Saint-Samson to Morlaix
Stage 27 Morlaix to Carantec
Stage 28 Carantec to Roscoff
Appendix A Four 5-day itineraries on the GR34
Appendix B Facilities table
Appendix C Accommodation
Appendix D Transport
Appendix E Useful contacts
Appendix F Glossary
Seasons
The GR34 can be hiked at any time of the year, but - taking into account weather and holiday crowds - the best periods are late spring and early autumn.
Centres
Cancale; Saint-Malo; Dinard; Saint-Cast-le-Guildo; Sables-d'Or-les-Pins; Erquy; Pléneuf-Val-André; Saint-Brieuc; Binic; Saint-Quay-Portrieux; Paimpol; Lézardrieux; Tréguier; Perros-Guirec; Trébeurden; Lannion; Locquirec; Morlaix; Carantec; Roscoff
Difficulty
There are no technical challenges on the GR34; any fit walker can enjoy this trek. The GR34 is not a mountain trail: there are extensive sections of level walking. The trail does, however, climb and descend many slopes - never very long but steep in places.
Must See
Mont-Saint-Michel; Emerald Coast; coastal cliffs between Pointe du Grouin and La Guimorais; Fort La Latte; Cap Fréhel; Cap d'Erquy; Sillon de Talbert; Castel Meur; Sept Îles bird sanctuary; Pink Granite Coast; Beg an Fry; boulder-strewn coast between Pointe du Diben and Pointe Annalouesten; Barnénez Cairn
May 2022
Museum closures
Two historical museums in Saint-Malo, the Cape Horner Museum and the Museum of History and Ethnography (see p. 55), have closed. Their collections will be included in a new Maritime Museum, but that museum has not yet progressed beyond the planning stage.
May 2022
Accommodation update
Ti’Case guest house in Carantecno longer offers accommodation
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