Lampaul-Plouarzel: Coast, Harbors and Hiking Trails

Lampaul-Plouarzel has a coastline on the Iroise Sea and also borders the Aber-Ildut. The municipality consists mainly of dunes and hinterdunes. When planning your trip, you can focus on the coastal landscape, paths between land and sea, or maritime heritage. The beaches also have different characteristics: alongside a wide sandy cove, there is a flat, rocky beach and an unspoilt cove.

Coast: Sandy Cove, Rocky Beach and Tides

Plage de Pors ar Marc’h is the municipality’s northernmost beach: a wide sandy cove framed by dunes and rocks. Beach conditions change with the tides and weather. Plage de Porsguen is the outer of the two coves bordering Pointe de Beg Ar Vir; conditions along its shore also vary with the tides and weather. Plage du Gouérou is a rocky, completely flat beach and a surfing spot. Surfing conditions also depend on the tides and weather.

Plage de Pors ar Goret is a completely unspoilt cove near the hamlet of Porscave and the Aber-Ildut. Access to the shoreline depends on the tides. The coastal stretches therefore differ both in their terrain and in how you plan your visit: at Pors ar Goret, particular account should be taken of the tide-dependent access to the shoreline.

Hiking and Cycling Between the Coast and Hinterland

The Circuit des lavoirs runs along the GR34 between land and sea. You can choose between 7.5- and 11-kilometre options; the circular route passes eleven municipal washhouses. Check current trail conditions before setting out on a hike.

The Sentier des Naufrageurs is family-friendly and connects a coastal section of the GR34 with an inland municipal path. In Lampaul-Plouarzel, the trail is located at Place de la Mairie. The Circuit de Porscav is a 9.4-kilometre hiking trail. Its length falls between the two options for the Circuit des lavoirs.

The routes therefore differ in both their layout and distance: the Circuit des lavoirs is a circular route with two length options, the Sentier des Naufrageurs connects coastal and inland sections, and the Circuit de Porscav covers 9.4 kilometres. The V45 is a coastal cycling route between Lampaul-Plouarzel and Brest. It follows greenways and minor roads; check current local cycling conditions before setting out.

Harbors and Maritime Heritage

The harbors of Porspaul and Porscave welcome pleasure boats and visitors making a stopover throughout the year. Since berth availability can change, check it before planning a stopover. Porscave was once a sand-export harbor for gabare boats and is now a fishing and leisure harbor. This change gives the harbor a clear contrast between past and present. Since 2020, Porscave has been designated a “Port d’intérêt patrimonial,” a harbor of particular heritage interest.

Discover more destinations: Rosporden, Tregunc, Mahalon, Trébabu, Quimper, Lanarvily, Landeda, Plouenan

For the main travel overview: Finistere.