Arriving in Préfailles, follow the signs leading to the city centre. There are several car parks near the main beach and its chapel.
Walk along the beach to the right and follow the coastal path to Pointe St-Gildas where you will come across the semaphore, a viewpoint, and several bunkers from the last world war. Along this path your will see Bourgneuf Bay to the south.
At the Anse du Boucau turn left (1) on the trail and pass by the road that goes straight to Haut des Vignes.
Continue your journey along the coast to La Prée. The place provides beautiful view of the bay of the same name, as well as the Loire estuary, the city and the bridge of St-Nazaire.
From the car park (2) in front of the panoramic restaurant in the Bay de la Prée, follow the right Rue de l’Ilot right and then (3) the path of Prée still to the right. Continue straight along a grassy path to the intersection with the D213. (4) Cross and turn left.
At the end of this road, you will find the resort of Préfailles. Turn right on (5) Rue du Bois Roux, then left on (6) Rue Ste-Anne.
Take the second right (7) on Rue du Docteur Guépin, and reach Route de la Pointe Saint Gildas. Turn left. Once on the avenue you will reach the church and return to your vehicle.
Préfailles - Circuit around Pointe Saint-Gildas
An easy hike in the commune of Préfailles, to Pointe St-Gildas, which juts out in the waves.
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 7.30 km -
Calculated time: 2h 10 -
Difficulty: Easy -
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Return to departure point: Yes -
Vertical gain: + 21 m -
Vertical drop: - 21 m -
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Highest point: 26 m -
Lowest point: 0 m
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District: Préfailles (44770) -
Start/End: N 47.127927° / W 2.220767° -
IGN map(s): Ref. 1123OT -
Description
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 10 m
- 1 : km 3.12 - alt. 2 m
- 2 : km 4.69 - alt. 2 m
- 3 : km 4.83 - alt. 5 m
- 4 : km 5.8 - alt. 16 m
- 5 : km 6.26 - alt. 26 m
- 6 : km 6.61 - alt. 20 m
- 7 : km 6.75 - alt. 22 m
- S/E : km 7.3 - alt. 10 m
Useful Information
Follow the yellow signs.
You can swim in several places at the small beaches interrupting the rocky coast.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
The semaphore overlooking Pointe St-Gildas dates back to the 19th century. It features a museum of local maritime history and coastal surveillance techniques.
Near Préfailles lies the cities of Pornic and Saint-Nazaire. The town of Préfailles has many attractions: a small seaside city, a unique perspective on the Bourgneuf Bay and the estuary of the Loire, very pleasant promenade paths, small beaches stringing along a rugged coastline. Many World War II bunkers were built in Pointe Saint-Gildas.
Other walks in the area
From the Petit Maroc to Monsieur Hulot beach
Walker 20.41 km
+109 m
-106 m
6h 10
Difficult
Departure from Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique) (44 - Loire-Atlantique)
A route to walk alongside the Loire River as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. In Saint-Nazaire-Plage, the seaside promenade is very popular with Nazairians. It is open to the Loire estuary and its maritime traffic. Further on, on the beautiful coastal path, open to the south, and shaded by pine trees, you sometimes have the feeling of being on the edge of the Mediterranean.
⚠️ Hiking poles prohibited on the Nazairian coastal path
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.