GR34, the Douaniers trail

More than fifty years old, the famous GR 34 long-distance coastal footpath circumnavigates Brittany over 2,000 km, including almost 900 km in Finistère. Like the Côte de Granit Rose, it attracts hikers for the breathtaking landscapes it invites them to cross and the remarkable sites it links along the coast. Here are a few ideas for walks along the GR 34 for your vacation in an open-air hotel in Breizh, North Finistère!

Around the Aber Wrac'h and Aber Benoît, the Pays des Abers stretches between Plouguerneau, Saint-Pabu and Kersaint-Plabennec. The GR 34 footpaths allow you to discover the region's natural and heritage treasures, such as the islets at the mouth of the Aber Wrac'h: the former seaplane base of Ile aux Américains, Ile Stagadon, formerly owned by the painter Buffet, and Ile Cézon and its fort. Further west, the landscape is transformed by the Sainte-Marguerite dunes and their long white sandy beaches. Well-maintained and perfectly signposted with a double red and white line, the GR 34 follows easy, family-friendly itineraries through customs trails, beach paths, forest tracks and dune environments.

With the entire GR 34 marked out thanks to the work of hiking enthusiasts and Breton local authorities, it's easy to find a portion of the itinerary to do with the family when staying in North Finistère. The tour of the peninsula above Plouguerneau can be done from the large Grève blanche beach in the north to Aber Wrac'h: the hike takes in paths, little-traveled roads and beaches. It culminates in the arrival at the port of Lilia and the view of theIle Vierge: at 82 meters high, the island's lighthouse is the highest in Europe and one of the highest on the planet. On your way to the island, you can visit the lighthouse and climb its 392 steps. Other sites of note on this hike include the port of Kelvert and the port of Porsguen in Plouescat.

The Côte des Légendes also offers magnificent walks and hikes for pedestrians on the GR 34. The marked trails wind through wild coastal landscapes, characterized by gigantic granite boulders, cliffs and coves. A paradise for climbing enthusiasts, these rocks also stimulate the imagination of dreamers, their shapes evoking multiple monsters and chimeras. Breton legends tell of their use as hiding places for korrigans. From Neïz Vran to Meneham, the GR 34 footpath skirts the coastline of turquoise waters that look like the end of the world. Meneham, an ancient village of goëmoniers and fishermen, is a not-to-be-missed stop on the GR: a lively tourist destination, famous for its history of shipwrecking and wreck raiding, which kept the Pagan country alive until the 17th century, when Colbert banned the practice.

Another must-see stop on the GR 34 in North Finistère for hikers, the Pontusval lighthouse is one of the most Instagrammable in Brittany. Built at the end of the 19th century to secure the coastline between Batz and Vierge islands, it is now a listed monument. The hike from the Pointe de Pontusval to Plouescat passes through the charming seaside resort of Brignogan, appreciated for its calm white-sand beaches and picturesque little port. The route then skirts the Goulven cove and the Ker Emma dune belt, a natural area protected for its rich biodiversity, including numerous species of orchid. Finally, the arrival at Plouescat is an opportunity to relax on the pretty beach of Pors Meur.