Massif of Bretagne

Brittany is not known for its mountain ranges, as the mountains of Brittany rightly do not exceed 400 m! But it is a region with a huge number of marked hiking trails, including the GR34® which runs along the Atlantic coast.

The Armorican Massif

Aged 330 million years ago, the Armorican Massif offers two ridge lines: the Monts d'Arrée range to the north, jagged rocky peaks facing the sky, the Montagnes Noires to the south, with the gentle, bare curve of the Menez Hom as their summit.

The Roc’h Ruz is officially the highest point in Brittany with a summit at 385 meters high. Meaning "red rock" in the Breton language, the Roc'h Ruz offers a unique view of the Monts d'Arrée in which it is located. The GR380® allows you to go around this chain, enjoy the lunar landscapes of this corner of Brittany and climb this small peak.

The Black Mountains are less famous than the Monts d'Arrée but allow you to take beautiful walks in the footsteps of the bloodthirsty bandit La Fontenelle who scoured the region in the 16th century. Located further south in Finistère, they start at the entrance to the Crozon peninsula and include Menez Hom (a 330 m high promontory overlooking Douarnenez Bay), Brest harbor, Pointe Saint-Mathieu and the Aulne estuary.

The GR 34®, customs officers’ trail

The GR 34® is the longest GR® in France and one of the oldest French hiking trails. It runs along the entire (or almost) Breton coastline for over 2,000 kilometers and crosses six departments: Manche, Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes d’Armor, Finistère, Morbihan, and Loire Atlantique.
It starts at Mont-Saint-Michel and ends at Saint-Nazaire, in Loire Atlantique. So unless you have several weeks to spare, it’s quite rare to walk it all in one go! It’s best to do it in stages.

Its name, the customs officers’ path, refers to the people who protected the Breton shores from smugglers and looters in the 17th and 18th centuries. Indeed, customs officers carried out patrols, scanning the Breton waters for potential outlaws. These customs officers lived right next to the coast, in guardhouses or watchtowers, some of whose remains can still be seen.

It was in 1968 that hiking enthusiasts from the National Committee for Long-Distance Hiking Trails wanted to revive these trails by redeveloping them.

Some unmissable stops on the GR 34®:

• The Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel
  Although very touristy, this area is definitely worth a visit. You will appreciate the charm of Cancale and the Pointe du Grouin.
  
  
• A city stop in Saint-Malo
  Its fortifications and cobbled streets give this city a certain charm.
  
  
• The Bay of Paimpol
  An intimate and calm bay, with a beautiful view of the island of Bréhat that you can take the time to visit in a day.

• The Crozon Peninsula
  At the end of this wild peninsula, you will feel at the end of the world!
  
  
• The Gulf of Morbihan
  Leaving the fortified city of Vannes, the small sea ("Mor bihan" in Breton) reveals itself with a view of the islands that dot the gulf. At the tip of Arradon, the view of the Ile aux Moines and the Ile d'Arz is exceptional.

> Before setting off hiking on the Breton trails, don't forget to equip yourself properly: backpack, comfortable shoes, water bottle, hiking poles... Discover our adjustable and lightweight hiking poles and our Brittany model!

> Don't hesitate to consult our article "Choosing your hiking poles wisely".

Photo: Les2randonneurs