Compostela routes in Brittany

[meanderthal]

Hello pilgrims. My childhood friend and I are interested in possibly walking a portion of one of the paths in Brittany. We are in our 60's, in good health, but you know, not spring chickens. My friend walked a portion of the Compestala in Portugal last year. This year we are going to Brittany for two weeks- one week walking and one week staying in place. We had been thinking of walking some of the coast path or one of the canals until we heard that there are portions of the Compestela in Brittany. We each have active contemplative practices at home (me in California, her in Oregon) and hope to walk the Camino in the next few years. Walking one of the (five) routes in Brittany seems right to us. We are not anti-social, (both of us work with people in very satisfying areas during the year) but both prefer smaller groups and long stretches of quiet too. We have both hiked and walked long distances during vacations. Two years ago I walked inn to inn the 60 miles around Monterey Bay by myself- so not so concerned with stamina. Although- not so much into mountain climbing these days either.

Do you have advice? A favorite section of any of the paths we could reasonably cover in a week? Your experiences with accommodations along the route? And?

 

[he.panpub]

Hi,
I think that the best place for an answer is this link :
St James ways in Brittany
with informations and with this link, the accommodations :
https://www.compostelle-bretagne.fr/index.php/fr/hebergements-fr
regards,
Henri (from Brittany)

 

[meanderthal]

Hi,
I think that the best place for an answer is this link :
St James ways in Brittany
with informations and with this link, the accommodations :
https://www.compostelle-bretagne.fr/index.php/fr/hebergements-fr
regards,
Henri (from Brittany)

Thanks Henri,
I have looked at that site and although some things are translated into English the central discussions and specific details about the different paths are all in French. Unless I missed something? Unfortunately my French is limited is such a way that it is unrecognizable by a native French speaker. I have traveled in France a number of times and have always enjoyed it but following specific instructions in French regarding sometimes tricky routes/ instructions/advice is likely to end in either tears or very bad comedy. Or both. I was hoping someone on this forum who is english speaking may have found directions written in english- even better- someone who has walked one or more of these routes. Probably it would have been best if I said that initially.

I wondered about finding a bi-lingual person on the ground in Brittany who could advise on routes.

Jane

 

[Deleted member 73526]

I recommend contacting local associations like Compostelle Loire Atlantique and Compostelle Bretagne

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Guides et Chemins bretons

www.compostelle-bretagne.fr

The Loire Atlantique group in particular looks like an enthusiastic association. They can surely advise you about the best route to walk for one week. I see that they sometimes meet pilgrims from abroad who come to walk the pilgrim routes in Brittany.

One route to consider is to start at the Crozon peninsula at the far west extreme of Finisterre and walk the GR34 coastal route on the south Brittany coast (toward Saint Nazaire). I think the official pilgrimage routes take inland shortcuts, whereas the GR34 hugs the coast. My preference would be to follow the coast, since you're not racing to Santiago. That will give you rugged scenery, quaint fishing / sailing towns like Douarnenez and Concarneau, and a taste of "authentic" Breton culture (e.g. Breton speaking).

GR34 stages:

Cartes des onze étapes | Galerie | Randonnée en Bretagne sur le sentier GR34

Randonnée en Bretagne : du Mont-Saint-Michel au Golfe du Morbihan, 1600 km et 73 jours de marche en 11 étapes sur le GR 34, appelé aussi sentier des douaniers ou chemin côtier.

www.wmaker.net

 

[freescot]

I chose to begin in Mont St. Michel in 2017 and enjoyed a peaceful Camino for 10 days. Nothing was too strenuous and the accomodation listed on the Brittany site already mentioned was excellent.

Is this the most enchanting place to start the Camino? | Blog at The Raft

www.the-raft-of-corks.com

 

[he.panpub]

To Jane,
Click first on the british flag, and after, you'll have the step by step way in english. I'm trying to find a irish guy who hiked a lot on the brittanies ways