Trails in Brittany

Those who know Brittany are aware, the trails are numerous and often quite beautiful on this land. You can start with the most famous one: the customs path, aka the GR34! 2000 kilometers of coastline and paths by the sea between Mont Saint Michel (shhhh, it’s in Normandy…) and Saint Nazaire! Get ready for rocky points, dunes, beaches, marshes... The fauna and flora will enchant you with their colors throughout the year. The ones of the Emerald Coast (Saint Malo) earned it its name and are worth a detour. Further on, the Pink Granite Coast is not to be outdone, near Lannion... The tip of Finistère, often windswept, will make you feel the full power of the Atlantic in front of you. Brest is a unique city that will leave you with fond memories. The 4 departments each have their own charms and identities. The Côtes d’Armor, the Finistère, the Ille-et-Vilaine and the Morbihan are not alike and their inhabitants will certainly agree! That’s the charm of Brittany. One thing in common: the ocean! The 4 prefecture capitals will be your landmarks during your journey. Between your runs, you can recharge (with galette, of course) in Quimper, Saint-Brieuc, Rennes, and Vannes. With a little bit of corked cider! It might warm you up; wind and rain 🌧 are staples of the region, even though local legends mention the regular presence of the sun ☀️. Southern Brittany is said to be milder than Northern Brittany in this regard. Among the must-sees, the Gulf of Morbihan and its little inland sea should be explored in every direction. Trail runners will certainly be tempted by the idea of exploring the wild lands of all the islands and peninsulas in the region, and there are many: Bréhat Island, Ouessant, Île aux Moines, Belle-île, the Glénan archipelago, Crozon peninsula... You'll find a bit of elevation in Brittany thanks to the gentle heights of the Armorican Massif stretching across the region. And when you need beaches 🏖, they will never be far away!

You don't believe us? Lace up your shoes, put on your raincoat, and come take on one of the many trails in Brittany: the race calendar is packed! If Brittany is an enduring territory, let's start with the Trail of the Legends of Brocéliande in the heart of the region, amidst forests, where you’ll follow the path of Merlin the Enchanter… The names of the races in the event? “Merlin”, “Grail”, “Excalibur”… Evocative, right? In Finistère, more precisely in Fouesnant, the Open Sea Race is a short trail by the sea. In the Côtes-d’Armor, the Glazig Trail is an essential race starting in Plourhan. Several thousand participants run this really nice event every year, especially if you're not familiar with this part of Brittany and its natural beauties. Many distances and a children's race are offered. Also in the Côtes-d’Armor, near Saint Brieuc, in the charming village of Moncontour, the Menestrail awaits you! The perfect opportunity to breathe the fresh air of the local forests 🌲. Another trail in Brittany? Let's head to the “little sea” (Mor Bihan)! The Ultra Marin Raid Gulf of Morbihan is part of the UTMB World Series. Short trail, long, and ultra trail are part of this great event, offering formats in relay and over multiple days... Since it takes all sorts to make a trail world, let's head to the city and Rennes, for the Rennes Urban Trail. Explore the capital of Brittany (sorry to the Nantes residents 😄, we didn’t want to start the debate) and its medieval charms! Let's head back to the coast after this urban episode… The World's End Trail (Finistère) is your chance to join with friends or family for a race offering cliffs and beaches for the ultimate seaside experience! To share these joys, a duo race is offered by the organizers. An ultra trail in Brittany? Check out the Brittany Ultra Trail in Clohars-Carnoët. Three race formats await you, including a nighttime ultra trail! You’ll have to tell us what you think... In Northern Brittany, a prestigious city to city race is not to be missed: La Passagère, running between Dinan and Saint Malo. A place full of charm… With the ramparts of Saint Malo to discover! We warned you that the trail calendar in Brittany is packed...

Running in Brittany? Prepare to come back windswept.