Renowned for its rugged coastline, the Bay of Quiberon also offers a lovely playground for sports in the undergrowth and plains. From the beaches of the Presqu'île to the dozens of kilometers of coastal paths and mountain bike singles, We Rock Sport takes you on a tour of this fabulous playground in Brittany.
Where are we?
Welcome to Brittany Quiberon Bay. This territory encompasses a much wider area than just the Quiberon peninsula, a piece of land that plunges into the Atlantic Ocean. Located in southern Brittany in the Morbihan department, Quiberon Bay covers 24 communes. After Saint-Malo, it's the second most-visited Breton site in the region. With names like Belle-Île-en-mer, La Trinité-sur-Mer, Carnac and Plouharnel, it's a destination that smells of sea spray, salt and... crêpes. But before you go to the table and sample the region's culinary delights, here are the spots that We Rock Sport recommends for you to enjoy mountain biking, trail running, kayaking, paddle or wakeboarding.
Where do we run?
Honor the land and the hundreds of kilometers of trails in Quiberon Bay. The Presqu'île coastal path is one of the most popular itineraries, offering superb wilderness scenery. Starting from the Pointe du Conguel (photo below), at the southern end of the bay, you're immediately immersed in the atmosphere. Protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral, the area remains wild and attracts many runners and walkers, especially in summer. A footpath leads around the Pointe, taking in the Teignouse lighthouse on a rocky shoal where the battleship France sank in 1922. In the distance, you can make out Belle-Île-en-mer and Île-d'Houat. Continuing westwards, you head for Quiberon, skirting the Grande Plage before tackling the coastal path of the Côte Sauvage. This trail is part of the GR34, a 2,104 km (28,000 m D+) long trail along the Breton coast between Mont Saint-Michel and Saint-Nazaire. This is where Jérémy Desdouets ran during his his record on this GR, covered in 27 days.
Visit coastal path (no bikes allowed) runs 17 km from the Pointe du Conguel to Portivy. There are no major difficulties on this itinerary, which has less than 250 m D+, apart from the occasional run over sandy areas and the wind, which can be quite strong depending on the day. So you can look up and admire the beauty of the landscape, the granite cliffs, the caves, the flower-filled moors, the creeks... There are no houses along the way, and the road to Quiberon can be seen from time to time, but without disturbing the peace and quiet of the walker or runner. Port Bara, the Port Blanc arch, the Pointe du Percho... So many superb spots that encourage you to drag your feet a little to admire this wild coastline. The color of the water is sublime and makes you want to take a dip at every beach you come across. The area is also renowned for its surfing, with some of the best surfers in the world. emblematic spots in the discipline in Brittany. It is also possible to follow the Presqu'île coastal path on the Bay side with this route of 11 km. Finally, a summer train called the Tire-bouchon links Auray to the Quiberon peninsula, serving the Kerhostin and Saint-Pierre-Quiberon stations. Not a bad idea when it comes to getting back to your starting point if a round-trip trail ride along the coast seems too ambitious.
As for Carnac, while the GR34® also passes along the beaches of this seaside resort, we recommend exploring the inland via a 17 km circuitand the famous menhir alignments. There's no particular difficulty in summer either, but the atmosphere isn't always the same in other seasons, when a Gore-Tex jacket will be needed to get through a few tricky passages. This looped itinerary also allows you to take a break from the frenzy of summer beaches and contemplate, for example, the menhir path from Krifol to Kermario, the astonishing "Géant du Manio" (Carnac's largest standing menhir) or the Mané Kerioned and Keriaval dolmens. And if you opt for another itinerary, there's a good chance you'll come across a megalithic site, as Morbihan boasts more than 550 in its territory.
Where do we drive?
A land of road bikes, Brittany also offers some great mountain bike itineraries, although we'll be putting the enduro in the garage in favor of cross-country (or gravel), better suited to the profile of the singles we'll encounter here. For our part, we opted for a fifty-kilometer outing around Erdeven. The area is a veritable cornucopia of trails, with a mix of singles in superb forests, passages near other dolmens (such as the one at Mané-Bras) and road links to reach coastal paths accessible to bikes and admire, for example, the pretty inlet of the Ria d'Etel, named after the river that flows into the ocean. In any case, if you're landing in the area, it's a good idea to prepare your GPS track using, for example mountain bike itineraries offered by the tourist office (with GPX trace). A Rando guide listing 62 walks and cycle rides is also on sale (10 euros) at tourist offices.
A visit to the wild dunes is well worth the detour. Classified as a Grand Site de France (a label awarded for six years by the French government to guarantee excellence in the management of classified sites), this spot stretches over 35 kilometers of dunes from Gâvres to Quiberon, with no urban development whatsoever. A rarity on the French coastline, it can be admired from a footpath that sometimes runs alongside it, notably at Kerminihy beach. Be careful, however, when crossing the paths leading to certain beaches. The sand slows down your bike, and you need to be careful on these slippery sections, where it's sometimes difficult to pick up the pace. As for nature, these wild dunes are home to 700 plant species, 80 of which are protected, representing more than a third of Armorican flora. To prolong the pleasure, you can follow the greenway from the Presqu'île de Quiberon to Erdeven along the coast. The route takes you past the isthmus and Fort Penthièvre, through the dunes of Le Bégo and the traditional village of Sainte-Barbe.
And at sea?
Of course, there's no shortage of water sports activities in Quiberon Bay, with the wild coastline to be found everywhere. On the Presqu'île, kayaking lends itself perfectly to the east coast, starting from the Saint-Pierre-Quiberon nautical base. Two years ago, this is where surfer Erwan Simon took his a "Wave Reserve" project which the municipality supported to make it the first spot of its kind. The aim is to preserve this heritage from human intervention. On the water, in total peace and quiet, kayaking allows you to admire this Breton coastline, passing by Kermahé beach, Port d'Orange, Keraude beach, Pointe de Kerhostin and as far as the Isthme de Penthièvre. And for the more motivated, certain service providers offer day trips. Six hours in the water to tour the Quiberon peninsula.
Like kayaking, paddling is also a more leisurely way to discover the beauty of the coast. From Saint-Colomban beach, the most westerly of Carnac's beaches, you can glide quietly towards Plouharnel Bay, passing in particular the beautiful Kerivor beach. The water is perfect for SUP, with its clarity allowing you to see the countless oyster bags placed there by the oyster farmers. It's even possible to push on to the Quiberon beaches just across the road, less than 600 metres from the Carnac coast, and make a round trip without straining your arms.
For even more adrenaline, kitesurfing, wingsurfing and wingfoiling are just some of the activities available in the area. And if the wind has also decided to go on vacation, as was the case on the day of our report, you can always opt for a wakeboard or wakefoil session. Some service providers offer this discipline using a motorboat to tow the rider. For those new to the sport, wakeboarding allows you to familiarize yourself with the principles of the discipline, and the fun comes quickly when you get up on the board. Once you've got the hang of it and you've found stability on the board, why not give wakefoil a try? Starting out behind a boat on a calm stretch of water guarantees the best possible conditions for trying to get the foil out of the water and get a taste of that very special glide. But in just one session and with a little self-denial (snowboarding or skateboarding experience will be welcome), you'll already be able to feel your first sensations.
Even more radical is flyboarding, an activity offered at Saint-Philibert near La Trinité-sur-Mer. Here, too, it takes just a few minutes to find your balance on this hydro-propelled machine. Power is managed by the jet ski pilot to whom the machine is connected. It's the pilot who decides the height and, of course, gives invaluable advice on how to get the most out of the activity. You don't need to spend three hours to try your first dolphin dive. Or more like a sperm whale on our side, when compared with the instructors whose experience on this machine is obviously obvious. Helmets and vests provide plenty of protection, but the impact can still sting a little when you fall back into the water without necessarily having total control over your direction. All the same, the sensations are addictive, and you keep coming back for more, only to be propelled several meters into the air. So you can admire the beauty of Quiberon Bay from a little higher up.
What's for dinner?
Of course, it's not in Brittany that you're going to starve... All these activities have probably worked up an appetite, so let's let loose and try out the local culinary culture. Once you've seen them at the bottom of the sea, sample the oysters of Quiberon Bay. The oysters benefit from the purest water on 2,500 hectares of oyster beds. Sardines have also been fished here for centuries. In the artisanal companies, the fish is always canned by hand to avoid damaging it. Of course, there are plenty of crêperies in the area. For your guidance, the best restaurant addresses are listed by the tourist office. For dessert, don't forget the famous Kouign Amann (eaten warm), Far Breton, salted butter caramel or La Maison d'Armorine's "Niniches" (home-made lollipops). Enough to leave with the necessary dose of carbohydrates for your next sporting activity.
Sports events in Quiberon Bay :
- Day foils / April / Saint-Pierre de Quiberon / Leading foil show with entertainment, competitions, conferences...
- SNSM Morbihan Paddle Trophy / April / Port de Saint-Goustan / France's biggest open-water paddle event.
- Auray Trail / June / 10 - 15 - 27 KM
- Grol Race / June / Saint-Pierre de Quiberon / 24-hour roller endurance race
- Quiberon Triathlon / September / XS, S and M sizes
