Roundtrip Pointes du Van, du Raz and de Castelmeur 21 km

Great hike with magnificent sea views, cliffs, capes, the Baie des Trépassés, the Pointe du Raz, Van and Castelmeur, views of Île de Sein, a beach, lake, countryside, purple heather in August, and chapels. Large stretches of the route are on a Sentier Côtier along the coast. Access to Pointe de Castelmeur is through thick scrubs. You can only find something to eat and drink at the beach at the Baie des Trépassés. There are a lot more restaurants to find at the tourist center of Pointe du Raz, but that is slightly off-route. The last part of the track onto the Pointe du Raz involves some scrambling, and is only for the sure-footed, but can be omitted. The entire coastal walk requires steady footing, and goes up and down. I saw dolphins near Pointe du Raz. The route starts at a free and large parking lot near Pointe du Van.
From this parking you walk directly to the coast where you find the Chapelle Saint-They. From here you walk south along the coast, past Fontaine Saint-They, to the Plage des Trépassés. This sandy beach is very popular with surfers, and there are two restaurants. At the end you leave the beach via some dunes and climb back up the coastal path. The views are great of the beach and the bay and you follow the path all the way to the Sémaphore de la pointe du Raz. You continue to the Pointe du Raz. Views are great of the cape, the Île de Sein in the distance, the Phare de la Vieille, and the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the two bays. From the main path, you can follow a track which goes further towards the cape. This track requires steady footing and you should not be afraid of heights. The views are good, but I did not go all the way to the western tip, which is more for climbers. I went back and then stayed on the south side, along Baie d’Audierne. You pass a viewpoint, where I observed dolphins, and then the status of Notre-Dame des Naufragés. You continue past the Semaphore (military terrain), and take the coastal path which takes you past Pointe de Koummoudog and the little port Porzh Bestre. To the left here is the access to the tourist center of Pointe du Raz, but unless you are in need of something to eat and drink or want to visit the visitor center you continue on the coastal path. The path passes a cove called Porzann. A bit further you leave the coastal path and take a broad field track to Kerhuon, and then Kerlédec. A path through the field bring you to Chapelle Saint-Michel. You then walk to the main road D784, take a short look at the village menhir, and leave the village at the northern side, via a track that takes you back down to the Baie des Tréspassés. You pass an old washing place and descend further to the bay. You walk a short stretch along the way with the Étang de Laoual on your right side and the beach on your left. You then follow roads along the lake to Trouzent. Here you take a look at the Chapelle Saint-Tugdual. You then take paths uphill, past an old mill and through fields to Kerleodin. A field way takes you further north towards the Baie de Douarnenez. You cross the D7 and walk to the coastal path. You shortly follow this path, and then take a small track which leads you through some thick scrubs (prone to leaving some scratches on bare legs) to the Pointe de Castelmeur. After having admired the views, you turn back to the coastal path. You then follow this coastal path all the way to Pointe du Van with great views across the bay towards Crozon peninsula. From Pointe du Van you take the path back to the Chappelle Saint-They, and then return to the starting point.