Belle-Île-en-Mer cycling trip 98 km

This bicycle tour takes you all around the beautiful island Belle-Île, starting at the ferry dock in Le Palais, and is suited for a day trip. The trip is suited for a road bike, except for some stretches near the coastline, where the asphalt turns into semi-paved or unpaved stretches for a few hundred meters at most (see descriptions at the waypoints) to get to the best viewpoints. I did the trip on a road bike, and did not have much problems with the short unpaved parts (that could also be omitted), but this could be different in rainy conditions. There are quite a few climbs in the trip, usually short, and sometimes steep, but large parts are also relatively flat. The best parts are Le Palais with Citadelle Vauban, Sauzon and the estuary, the Phare des Poulains, Port-Donnant, the famous Aigiulles de Port Coton (painted by Monet), Locmaria, Grands Sables, and the numerous quiet villages, coves, beaches and cliffs. You can find something to eat and drink mainly in Le Palais, Sauzon, Kervilaouen, Bangor and Locmaria.
I arrived from Quiberon with the ferry (do not forget to book in time, also for the bicycle, or rent a bike in Le Palais). From the ferry dock you cycle past the inner harbor and then climb to the back of the Citadelle Vauban, where you take a short look. You then turn west and make a short excursion to the Plage de Port Fouquet, and then continue towards Sauzon. You arrive at the estuary and cycle along it into the picturesque town, along the waterfront. You climb out of the village and continue towards the Îles Des Poulains at the northwestern tip. From the parking lot there is a small paved road to a point where you can observe the lighthouse, beach and island, a popular spot. You return on the D25, and make a short visit to the Plage de Stêr-Vras at the end of valley with marshes. You turn back and then continue to the rugged coast west of Kerguerc’h. From the parking lot here it is a short stretch on a path to get the best views. Back on the parking you cycle on minor roads to Kerlédan and then to a viewpoint of Port de Donnant beyond Anterre. Also here, a short path from the parking lot gives access to the best view of the beach popular with surfers. You turn back via Anterre to Anvorte. At the D25 you cycle past two large menhirs, Jean and Jeanne. You cycle south of the airport to Petit Cosquet and then to Donnant for another view of the coast near Port Donnant, as well as the lighthouse near Kervilaouen. You then cycle to to this Phare de Goulphar and then on to the famous cliffs Aiguilles (needles) de Port Coton. These Aiguilles have been made famous by the paintings of Claude Monet. Next stop after having returned to Kervilaouen is the Pointe du Talut with the Talut semaphore with a short stretch of unpaved path beyond the semaphore. Via Bornor and Kernest you cycle towards Bangor, a larger village in the center of the island. From here you cycle east on minor roads and then turn towards the coast at Point de Saint-Marc. To get near the coast, there is about 500 meters of unpaved road. You turn back and then cycle west on the D25 to Locmaria. Just before this town, you turn south to the coast at Pointe de Skeul, with another 750 meters of semi-paved beyond Skeul. You turn back to Locmaria. From this village you descend to the beach at Port Maria, and then turn back to cycle to Port Andro near the northeastern tip of the island. There is a lighthouse here as well, Phare de Kerdonis. You cycle along the northern coast to the Grands Sables, a large sandy beach. From here you make a detour inland with a climb and then get back to the coastal road near Port York, another sandy beach. You climb along the C3 coastal road and then make a large inland detour via the D25 and D190, with a steep descent and climb through the valley upstream from Port Guen, to get back on the C3 at Port Salio. From here you descend to Port Guen, and then continue to Ramonette on the coast near Le Palais. There is a beach, and steep road here, and you enter town via the battlements. You then descend back to the center and the ferry dock.