Port du GuilvinecAre you looking for activities in an area of unspoilt natural beauty? With a turn of the pedal, a stroke of the oar or just a few steps, you’ll be in the middle of the half-land, half-sea universe of Finistère, with its ocean, its immense white sandy beaches, its secret paths, its chapels and fountains, its picturesque fishermen’s houses, etc.
You’ll visit Quimper, pass by Ile-Tudy in a boat, meet grey seals as you sea kayak and then you’ll walk along Pont-l’Abbé river
Quimper - Passerelle Max Jacob
Processed with VSCO with a6 presetYou’ve arrived at Quimper station. Notice the steeples in stone lacework on the cathedral. After dropping your luggage in the concierge service in the old town, discover the ancient streets and their many corbelled houses. For lunch, you can try one of the many crêpe restaurants on Place au Beurre or try “La cantine des chefs” in Rue Kereon; the “all home-made, all in jars” formula will surprise you. After a little tour of the nearby cathedral or a guided tour of the town, it’s time to head to your overnight stop. Pick up your luggage and take bus 56C on Quai de l’Odet, direction Loctudy. When you arrive, you’ll only have a 50-metre walk to the bright house of Corine and Laurent. A delicious dinner based on organic products awaits you. Enjoy it in the garden if the weather is good.
After an organic home-made breakfast, you’re ready to visit Loctudy, after picking up your bikes from the rental firm. As you follow the heritage trail, you’ll come across fishermen’s houses, the lighthouse, the former sardine cannery and the beautiful 11th-century Romanesque church. At the marina, take the pedestrian ferry boat across Pont-l’Abbé river. After a 10-minute crossing, you’ll be on Ile Tudy. This picturesque little fishermen’s village was an island until the mid-19th century. Walking through the maze of little streets with their squat houses all pressed against each other is like going back in time. For lunch, enjoy an organic zero-waste picnic prepared by Corine, or go to the restaurant on the square opposite the ria. Then pedal along the beach and take a refreshing dip. Feeling fit? Keep going to Sainte-Marine, but keep your eye on the clock because the ferryman won’t wait. For a sunset drink and dinner, go to “La mer à boire” on the Loctudy marina.
To start with, cycle to Guilvinec port along “La littorale”, a portion of the V5 cycle route. Once there, Haliotika, the city of fisheries, will reveal the sea fishing universe with the fish market and a discovery area. After a little rest on Grève Blanche beach and an organic picnic, it’s time to go to the water sports centre for a two-and-a-half-hour sea kayak trip. Accompanied by a certified instructor, enjoy the magic of the moment in complete safety. You’ll approach a colony of grey seals just off the coast. They won’t be disturbed by your oar strokes and you can get quite close. On the way back, observe the circular traces on the granite on Pointe de Men Meur. They are the exploitation marks of a former quarry. Enjoy a sunset drink on Lesconil port before abandoning yourself to the benefits of the spa in your guest house. You can dine at “Relais de Lodonnec”, 300 metres from the house.
Today you’ll explore the secrets of Pont-l’Abbé river on a peaceful 6-km walk with just a pair of binoculars. After a little detour to Pen Ar Vir bay, once the only port in Loctudy, follow, opposite the newsagents, the red and white marks of the GR® 34, the mythical “Sentier des douaniers”. As you go upstream towards Pont-l’Abbé, you’ll notice some lovely manor houses and a tide mill before joining the towpath, along which the boats were brought to the port. With your binoculars, observe the many bird varieties: little egret, common shelduck, black-headed gull, European herring gull, etc. At a bend in the path, you’ll get to Pont-l’Abbé, its inhabited bridge (there are only 9 in France) and the surprising bulb-shaped steeple on the Carmelite Convent. Not far from the striking granite mass of “Château des Abbés du Pont”, the former warehouses of Quai Saint-Laurent testify to the activity of this trading port. Stop at the picturesque Café de la Marine, on the corner of the quay, before setting off to discover the historic centre. The coach station is just on the other side of the lake, where your luggage is waiting.
The atmosphere in this large house clad in light grey wood and opening onto a lovely terrace is bright and joyful. You’ll be warmly welcomed and the refined cuisine makes use of organic and local products and home-made bread. A lovely fine sandy beach nearby is perfect for swimming.
The nearest railway station is Quimper.
To get to your accommodation after visiting Quimper, take bus 56C on the BreizhGo network at Saint-Corentin on Quai de l’Odet, close to the cathedral.
For an arrival at the end of the day, take line 56 C directly at the bus station that adjoins the railway station. Note that the last bus leaves at around 7pm.
Get off at Loctudy-Lodonnec.
Your accommodation is 50 metres on the same pavement
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The hosts of “En Bretagne sans ma voiture” are all committed to a Sustainable Development approach.
In concrete terms, this means that the professionals commit to:
