Hike Along the Pink Granite Coast (Perros - Saint-Guirec)

Discover the Côte de Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast) with its stunning granite rocks, designated swimming area Ploumanac'h and the wonderful natural landscape of northern Brittany. One section of the tour around the Pointe de Ploumanac'h follows the Sentir des Douaniers, a long-distance trail which hugs the Breton coastline for some 1,700 kilometres (1056.3 mi).

You can start the tour at the Chapelle de La Clarté chapel and head north from here. Traversing the Rue de la Vallée, the Rue Léon Dubreuil and the Rue Théophile Salaün you'll end up at the Christian Gadsculpture park, which features beautiful statues made of different types of granite. Continue on the Rue du Ranolien and the Rue de la Plaine to reach the coast. Remain on this path until you reach the Plage de la Bastille. This beach is a great spot for a quick break and a rest. It also offers up great views of the castle Costaérès, which is situated on a small island off the coast. This neo-Gothic castle was built between 1892 and 1896 as the residence of the Lithuanian-Polish mathematician, electrical engineer and inventor Bruno Abdank-Abakanowicz. At the time it was a meeting point for many Polish immigrants, and today it serves as secondary residence to the German actor, comedian and singer Dieter Hallervorden. If you continue on the trail you'll reach the chapel and the oratorio of Saint-Guirec. The latter is particularly interesting for young, unmarried women. It is said that if you stick a needle into the nose of the statue of the saint and it stays there, you're supposedly going to be married in that same year. The beach of Saint-Guirec is just a stone's throw further, and the ideal spot for another quick break.

The next section of the tour follows the path Sentir des Douaniers. Here, the focus is very much on the region's beautiful natural landscape. At some point you'll reach the lighthouse of Ploumanac’h (officially: Phare de Mean Ruz) at the very end of the headland. The lighthouse was built in 1945 and stands 15 metres tall (49.2 ft). It marks the entrance to the harbor of Ploumanac’h. From the top of the lighthouse you can enjoy a great view over to the castle Costaérès, the island of Renote and the archipelago of Sept Îles. The bare, uninhabited islands were declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1912, as they are the chosen nesting places for many seabirds. Once you're past the lighthouse, follow the Sentir de Douaniers along the coast. You'll pass the small bay of Pors-Rolland, which marks the entrance to the nature reserve Ploumanac’h. At the Grève Saint Pierre, leave the Sentir de Douaniers. Then take the Rue des Fougères and the Rue du Tetre to return back to the starting point of your hike.

The Pink Granite Coast is one of the most beautiful natural areas in the world. The impressive stone accumulations, formed by the ocean and the wind, are nearly 300 million years old. Some of the granite rocks are more than 20 meters (65.6 ft) high. Especially when the sun is setting, the stone giants shimmer in exquisite shades of pink and orange. This magnificent scenery is the perfect photo opportunity. Each year millions and millions of visitors come here to admire the beautiful national cultural heritage.

By car

The starting point of your hike, the small chapel in Saint-Quay-Perros in the north of Brittany, can be best reached via the D788. You follow the road through the city center until you see the street Rue de la Chapelle on the lefthand side. At the end of the road you'll find the little chapel. Right next to it is a parking area, where you can leave the car.