Brittany & Brehat Island Self-Guided Walking Tour

Your hiking in Brittany adventure begins in Lannion, a lively Breton town set in the wooded valley of the River Léguer. If time allows, you could enjoy a gentle stroll through the historic centre, where half-timbered houses cling to steep cobbled streets and elegant manors overlook the river. Flower-filled quays and welcoming cafés make this an ideal starting point for a walking holiday in Brittany.

Leaving Lannion, you follow the quiet towpath beside the River Léguer, one of the most unspoilt rivers in the region and a highlight of Brittany walking inland. Wooded banks and pastoral scenery gradually give way to coastal views as you approach the sea. The walk finishes in Trébeurden, a relaxed seaside resort overlooking the Bay of Lannion, with long sandy beaches and wide open, horizons.

Today’s route combines coastal and inland hiking in Brittany. You first reach Île Grande, a peninsula linked to the mainland by a stone causeway. At high tide, the sea can flood the narrow streets, reinforcing the island’s strong maritime character. The island is also home to a “bird clinic”. Turning inland, the walk reveals unexpected landmarks: the futuristic radome at Pleumeur-Bodou, the Christianised menhir of Saint-Uzec carved with ancient symbols, and the peaceful Chapel of Saint-Samson set amid rolling countryside.

This is classic walking holiday in Brittany territory. Crossing the Landrellec Peninsula and the protected Bringuiller moors, you walk along a path where the heathland meets the sea. Beyond Trégastel, the scenery becomes iconic: fine sandy beaches backed by immense formations of pink granite. At Ploumanac’h, the rocks appear sculpted into fantastical shapes, glowing with changing colours as the light shifts throughout the day.

After skirting the marina of Perros-Guirec, the coastline gradually grows wilder. From Louannec onwards, this stretch of Brittany walking feels more remote, with rocky headlands, small coves and offshore islets dominating the view. The route ends in the sheltered bay of Port-Blanc, long admired for its peaceful setting and artistic heritage.

Although shorter, today’s walk is one of the most dramatic sections of this hiking in Brittany itinerary. Small beaches alternate with jagged granite points, and the foreshore is scattered with rocky islets that give the landscape an almost lunar quality. The walk culminates at the Pointe du Château, a striking granite headland overlooking the Jaudy estuary. Nearby, at the famous “Gouffre”, a solitary house stands wedged improbably between two vast rocks — one of the most memorable sights on the Breton coast.

Leave your luggage at the hotel and take a short bus journey brings you to the Pointe de l’Arcouest, followed by a ferry crossing to the Île de Bréhat. Often described as the “Island of Flowers”, Bréhat enjoys a mild microclimate that supports an abundance of exotic plants and colourful gardens. Completely car-free, the island is perfect for relaxed Brittany walking, with coastal paths, quiet lanes and beautiful viewpoints around every corner.

Return by boat to the mainland and transfer back to Paimpol to collect your luggage. This brings your walking holiday in Brittany to a memorable close.