Hiking in Larmor Baden, Gravinis cairn and Berder Island
Larmor Baden – Gravinis – Berder Island
A well-deserved rest for this hike, as part of it is done by boat, snuggled up on a bench seat. Departing from Larmor-Baden, a boat trip takes you to the island and the Gavrinis cairn, built around 3500 BC during the Neolithic period, then back to Larmor-Baden, where you can visit nearby Berder Island on foot.
- Departure: Larmor Baden harbour, Golfe du Morbihan
- Duration: 2h10 (easy)
- Distance: 7.27km
- Difficulty: easy
- Click to enlarge map
At the port of Larmor-Baden, leave your vehicle in the parking lot. Be careful, as parking spaces are limited and it’s not easy to park in the vicinity. From this friendly little port, nestled in the Gulf of Morbihan, you can see a number of islands. The hike takes place on two of them.
(D/A) The first is only accessible by boat. Buy a ticket for the Gavrinis cairn at the port (ask about the sales outlet’s opening hours). Let yourself be guided by the shuttle while admiring the landscape. Disembarking on the Gavrinis island quay, follow the guide to the cairn a little higher up.
(1) After this stopover, take the shuttle back to Larmor-Baden on the other side of the island. The ten-minute journey is very pleasant and relaxing.
(D/A) Disembark in Larmor-Baden, and head to the right of the port along the small seaside path. At the end of the road, cross a parking lot to reach the road. Turn right and continue along this road. Opposite, and not far away, you’ll see Île Berder.
(2) To get there on foot, take the submersible track (or gois), impossible to miss. Cross it for a good fifty metres. On Île Berder, take the path to the right along the coast. You’ll find yourself in the shade of a wood. There are many fine viewpoints along the way, first towards the port of Larmor-Baden, then to the end of the island towards Gavrinis Island.
(3) As you round the island, you’ll come to a small harbour, obviously a sailing school for the vacation camp on the island. See the largest island in the Gulf, Ile aux Moines.
(4) Continue to the other end of the island, still on the coastal path, to reach a chapel, alas closed, but with a beautiful little facade and, what’s more, in the middle of the forest. A little further on, there’s another unusual spot: a pretty beach with a boat cemetery.
(5) Continue along the coast to return to the underwater path.
(2) Cross it again. Walk along the road to the left. This is the route taken on the outward journey: do it in the opposite direction to reach the parking lot (D/A).
Passage points :
- D/A: km 0 – alt. 2m – Port de Larmor-Baden
- 1: km 1.73 – alt. 14m – Cairn de Gavrinis
- 2: km 4.1 – alt. 0m – Île Berder ford
- 3: km 5.09 – alt. 6m – Pointe de l’île Berder
- 4: km 5.48 – alt. 7m – Sailing school
- 5: km 6.25 – alt. 5m – Chapel
- D/A: km 7.27 – alt. 2m – Port de Larmor-Baden