If you’re dreaming of fresh sea air, dramatic cliffs, gorgeous beaches, and Celtic legends, a walking holiday in Brittany might be just what you need. This coastal region in northwestern France offers a rich blend of natural beauty and unique Breton culture, and it’s home to one of France’s most iconic hiking trails: the GR®34. It’s also the perfect hiking destination if you prefer a mix of coastal and inland circular walks. Whether you’re looking for a multi-day adventure or short scenic strolls, Brittany is a walker’s paradise.
Hiking in France: Understanding GR® Trails & FFRandonnée® Classifications
France’s walking trails are among the best signed and most well-maintained in Europe, thanks to the work of the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRandonnée®). The trail system is broken into:
- GR® (Grande Randonnée): Long-distance footpaths marked in white and red, designed for multi-day to multi-week treks. Many cross through Normandy or connect to nearby regions like Brittany.
- GR de Pays®: Regional loops, marked yellow and red, perfect for discovering a specific area without leaving the region.
- PR (Promenade et Randonnée): Short walks and day hikes, often circular and marked in yellow.
Each trail is well signposted, with maps available through local tourist offices or the official FFRandonnée® site. In general, terrain in Brittany can be…
Coastal Hikes in Brittany France
GR®34 Customs Trail
1,243mi (2,000km)
The GR34, also known as the Sentier des Douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path), was once patrolled to prevent smuggling along Brittany’s coast. Today, it’s one of France’s most beloved long-distance trails. It starts near Mont-Saint-Michel on the Normandy border and traces the entire Brittany coast. Hike it inn to inn or choose base towns from which to day hike (which is what we did on our Brittany Coast Adventures: GR34 by Car & Foot). Some of our favorite sections include:
- Saint-Malo to Cancale: Stunning views of oyster beds and tidal islands.
- Dinard: Boardwalk on the edge of the English Channel with historic villas.
- Ploumanac’h to Trégastel: Iconic pink granite rock formations.
- Brehat Island: Lush vegetation, windy wild landscapes, beautiful homes and lighthouse.
- Crozon Peninsula: Towering cliffs, sea stacks, and wildflowers.
GR®340 Belle-Île-en-Mer
62mi (100km)
A spectacular 4-day coastal loop trail that circles Brittany’s largest island, offering dramatic sea cliffs, golden beaches and windswept moorland. With ever-changing ocean views and lovely villages like Sauzon and Le Palais, it’s one of the most scenic and rewarding short-distance hikes in France.
Interior Hikes in Brittany
While the coast steals the spotlight, Brittany’s interior offers quiet beauty and cultural exploration. Walk through ancient forests, canal towpaths, and small towns with timbered houses and local markets. This is where you’ll find the truly ancient and unique Breton customs and architecture.
GR®37: Heart of Brittany
485mi (780km)
Crosses Brittany from Mont‑Saint‑Michel to Camaret‑sur‑Mer via Brocéliande Forest, Monts d’Arrée, Nantes–Brest canal, Guerlédan lake, and the Crozon Peninsula. Great choice if you want mostly interior hiking that ends with an epic coastline.
GR®38: Redon to Douarnenez
227mi (366km)
East–west interior route through Morbihan and Finistère, linking Redon with Douarnenez via Rochefort‑en‑Terre, Quimper, and Locronan (all beautiful towns worth visiting). Often combined with the GR®34 for a loop trail that offers the best of both routes.
GR®39: North–South via Vilaine Valley
217mi (350km)
Interior route connecting Mont‑Saint‑Michel alongside the Vilaine river down to Hoscas/Brière marshlands. The full route passes through the city of Rennes, which serves as the middle point dividing this long-distance hike from north to south.
GR® de Pays Tour de Brocéliande
75mi (120km)
This interior loop focuses on the legendary Brocéliande forest, famous for its misty moorlands, ancient woodlands and Arthurian sites, and historic landmarks including the Château de Trécesson.
Coastal & Interior Circular Hikes
Some of the best hikes in Brittany combine multiple GR® and GR de Pays® trails to form circular routes that blend dramatic coastal scenery with peaceful inland landscapes, offering a rich variety of terrain and cultural highlights along the way. The perfect mix if you don’t want long thru-hikes.
GR® de Pays of the Crozon Peninsula
98mi (158km)
Crozon is not to be missed, and this circular route is the best way to see the entire peninsula on foot. Mostly following the GR® 34, it weaves dramatic cliffs and bays with the wild interior woodlands, which feel like a backcountry hike.
GR® de Pays Du Cap Sizon
75mi (122km)
A similar loop to Crozon but on the more remote peninsula just south, this route features rugged coastal terrain with high granite cliffs, windswept moors, and dramatic water views. The trail passes through heathland and valleys within the protected Pointe du Raz landscape.
GR® de Pays Du Bigouden
36mi (59km)
If seeking flatter elevation, this route offers gently rolling coastal terrain with mostly level paths, dunes, beaches and farmland along Brittany’s southwestern edge. It links fishing towns including the port of Saint‑Guénolé, Lesconil, and Pont‑l’Abbé—the lively capital of the Bigouden region.
GR® de Pays Tour du Pays Malouin
62mi (100km)
A loop starting and ending in Saint-Malo, showcasing the best of the Malouin region, blending sandy coves and dramatic Emerald Coast cliffs, winding through the scenic Rance estuary and pretty villages like Cancale and Saint‑Suliac.
GR® de Pays of the Morlaix
130mi (210km)
This mostly interior loop winds along the jagged coast of Morlaix Bay, passing sites like the Château du Taureau and Pointe de Primel, then dips inland through picturesque valleys, the Cragou–Vergam moorlands, and notable villages like Guerlesquin and Saint-Thégonnec, before returning along the Penzé estuary to Morlaix. Solid choice for exploring the region near Brest and Lannion.
GR de Pays® d’Iroise
59mi (92km)
A mostly coastal loop near Brest offering dramatic ocean views over the Iroise Marine Park, including the Pointe de Corsen, Ploumoguer beaches, and historic fortifications like Fort Bertheaume and the lighthouse at Saint‑Mathieu. It begins and ends in the medieval village of Saint‑Renan.
GR® de Pays Scorff Blavet Océan
296mi (477km)
An interesting combo of 5 loop trails, beginning from the coastal town of Lorient. It alternates between sandy beaches, estuaries, and sea vistas around Lorient, Plouhinec, Guidel, and the ria d’Étel—and rolling inland through wooded river valleys like Scorff and Blavet, passing heritage-rich towns such as Guémené-sur-Scorff, Pontivy, Hennebont, and Pont‑Scorff.
Best Day Hikes in Brittany
If you’re short on time or looking for scenic day walks, here are a few standouts:
- Pointe du Meinga: Popular coastal hike near Saint-Malo
- Cap Fréhel (near Fort La Latte): Wind-swept heaths and panoramic sea views
- Cap d’Erquy: Gorgeous easy hike on the Emerald Coast
- Cap de la Chèvre: Coastal loop on the Crozon Peninsula, more challenging terrain than Pointe de Pen-Hir
- Pointe de Pen-Hir: Coastal loop on the Crozon Peninsula (and our personal fave in Brittany)
- Île de Bréhat: Ferry-accessed island walk with pink stone homes and blooming gardens (also a personal favorite)
- Perros-Guirec to Ploumanac’h: A spectacular Pink Granite Coast walk
- Huelgoat Forest: Mossy boulders, folklore & Arthurian legends in central Brittany
- Pointe du Raz: Remote coastal section of GR®34 near Douarnenez
- Côte Sauvage: Wild beach hike on Presqui’ile de Quiberon
Planning a Walking Holiday in Brittany
DIY Itineraries
With a good trail map or GPS app you can plan daily stages and book inns or B&Bs in advance. For luggage transport services and transfers to/from the trail, consider La Malle Postale. They serve the GR®34 and other key trails in Brittany and Normandy.
Trail apps we recommend:
- Mapy: Excellent free app with route planning and elevation data
- Visorando: Most widely used in France, especially for GR® trails
- Komoot: Best for those with the paid version—excellent user reviews
How to Book Lodging
For overnight stops, use Booking.com or Expedia for guesthouses and small hotels. Airbnb is great for multi-night stays with kitchens. Be aware that not all French rentals include linens and towels or parking, so always double-check!
Walking Tour Operators for Brittany
Local Tour Operators
Want a seamless walking holiday in Brittany? These locally-based companies offer inn-to-inn walking tours with route notes and baggage transfers. They cover popular stretches of the GR®34 and work with travel agents to design custom tours for our clients.
- Visit Ouest (our top recommendation for Brittany)
- Normandie Rando
- Sentiers de France
Self-guided Walking in Brittany
Larger tour companies like Inntravel, Macs Adventure, On Foot Holidays, and Eurohike also offer self-guided walking tours in Brittany. These are ready-to-book tours that include accommodation, route notes, and baggage transfers—great for those who want something quick and easy to book.
Guided Walking in Brittany
If you prefer a guide, look at companies like Wilderness Travel, Country Walkers, and Backroads. Many offer small group itineraries that combine walking in Brittany and Normandy, often tailored for moderate fitness levels. Walkabout Gourmet Adventures occasionally features coastal Brittany hikes in their multi-country itineraries.
Resources for Hiking in Brittany:
- FF Randonnée: The official source for topo-guides, routes, and updates (in French)
- Brittany’s FF Randonnee: Sub-site specifically for hiking routes in Bretagne
- Sentiers en France: Excellent for day hike inspiration
- Cicerone’s Brittany Coast Path Guide
- Knife Edge’s Walking Brittany: Best day hike guidebook in English
- FFRandonnee’s PR guidebooks: Great selection of day hikes in Brittany (French only)
- Lonely Planet’s Normandy & D-Day Beaches
- Rough Guide to Brittany & Normandy
For personal stories, detailed photos, and inspiration from our own adventure, read Brittany Coast Adventures: GR34 by Car & Foot.