Belle-île, a trail runner's paradise

With its multitude of climbs and descents in and out of the coves lining its length, this 13.9km section of coast seems purpose built for runners wishing to train uphill and take in the scenery.

Starting between Vauban’s Citadelle’s ramparts before heading towards the fortified creeks and beaches of Port Fouquet, Port Collen and Port Jean, this itinerary offers an excellent glimpse into Belle-Île’s historical heritage.
Runners wishing to work on their hill running technique will find this segment particularly appealing due to its descents into the coves, offering a challenging and engaging profile. The steep climbs and descents follow one another closely, allowing for significant elevation gain over a short distance.

Though beware of starting off too strong, as you risk burning out your quadriceps!

With its 320m of elevation change over 15km, this rather flat loop is the perfect opportunity for a gentler outing in discovery of the natural and historical heritage of northern Belle Île.

La Pointe des Poulains is located 6 km from the port of Sauzon. The path between Sauzon and Les Poulains is dotted with small, sheltered coves. Upon reaching the “Pointe”, you can descend to the beach and, at low tide, traverse the tombolo to the Poulains Islet. The trails around the Poulains Lighthouse offer a stunning panorama of the ocean and surrounding cliffs.

Please note: Les Poulains Lighthouse and the islet on which it sits are not accessible during high tide. To ensure you can visit the site, please check the tide schedules before your visit.
This route offers a first glimpse of the wild coast, with its rugged shoreline, low-lying heathland, and high rocky plateau. However, please be aware that although the path is flat, it is quite exposed to the elements. As Christophe Malardé notes, an important detail:

With 11 km and 427 m of elevation change, this route is perfect for a dynamic outing. Ideal for trail runners seeking challenging terrain, this section of the GR trail is particularly rocky. The heathlands are strewn with stones, and the steep descents into valleys require extra caution. You’ll traverse a variety of environments, including heathlands, small valleys, and pine forests, which is particularly beneficial for refining your running technique, as noted by Sylvain Bazin, editor-in-chief of WiderMag and jury member of “Mon GR Préféré” :

This last course located on the wild coast gives access to steep and playful grounds. The 12 km and 527 m of elevation change of this route will make you pass multiple environments and landscapes: beaches, creeks, wooded valleys, dirt roads or covered with small pebbles. This route also offers a superb view of the ocean. It is indeed in the commune of Locmaria that the cliffs are the highest of the island. This wild part of the coastal path is also very exposed to weather conditions. This will give an additional difficulty to your outings, as one of the greatest hopes of the French trail, Yves Heloury, who usually comes to Belle-île to train, remarks.