Visiting Guidel: Activity Guide
Active seaside resort between sea, nature and heritage
Guidel, a commune on the Breton coast, is a veritable Swiss Army knife in the South Brittany region, on the edge of the Finistère département. Whether as a place to live, go on vacation or take part in sporting activities, many people come to enjoy the services and landscapes of this town in the Morbihan département.
Its location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and close to the city of Lorient has enabled this charming commune to develop as a seaside resort.
The paths along the sandy beaches, the marina, the surfing spots, its historical and cultural heritage allow locals and holidaymakers alike to enjoy a wide range of activities.
What to do in Guidel
Beautiful walks
Like the rest of Brittany, Guidel boasts a number of seaside and inland footpaths. Whether it’s the famous GR34 coastal path (sentier des Douaniers), or an impromptu stroll, there are over 110 km of paths and footpaths in this commune.
Between land and sea, set off on an adventure on one of the many trails through hamlets, woods, forests and parks – what diversity! Just as enchanting as the famous Brocéliande forest, the trails of Morbihan offer even more spectacular sights.
Discover the seaside
To be in Guidel is first and foremost to enjoy the charm of the sea and nature, which offers a spectacle of cliffs, creeks, dunes and other panoramas.
Lay your towel on a fine sandy beach in Guidel, enjoy the tides or simply look at the pretty Fort-Bloqué with its sea view near Guidel-plages.
These are just some of the simple pleasures that this commune in the Lorient region can offer you to enjoy with family or friends.
Cultural walks
A land of tales and legends, Guidel is no exception to the rule, and you can discover megaliths, dolmens and menhirs along the way.
More modest than the famous Carnac alignments in the Gulf of Morbihan, but just as majestic, these granite boulders are typical of the region.
Known as one of the 7 chapels, Guidel is also famous for its cultural heritage, particularly its religious buildings.
The best-known of these is the chapel of Saint-Matthieu (1487), which is listed as a historic monument. There are also numerous other chapels, including the Madeleine, Saint Fiacre, Pitié, Saint Laurent and Saint Michel.
Of course, in the village, you’ll find the church, which dates back to the 19th century.
What to see in Guidel
Guidel nautical base
Located at Bas Pouldu along the Laïta river, opposite the commune of Clohars-Carnoët, discover the Guidel water sports center.
Indeed, Guidel is known as a surfing town, thanks to its many large beaches which are ideal for board sports.
However, thanks to its qualified instructors, the base nautique also offers a wide range of other water sports such as optimist, windsurfing, catamaran and kayak.
Come and discover the range of water sports activities and equipment on offer.
The marina
The Guidel marina, still located on the Laïta estuary, has 210 berths for boats, including around 15 for visitors.
Built in 1975, the marina was enlarged in 2015 to meet the needs of yachtsmen.
The marina is well maintained by the marina staff, and is much appreciated by locals and tourists alike for strolling around and enjoying the setting overlooking the port of Le Pouldu, famous for having welcomed painters such as Gauguin and Filiger.
Loc’h fort and Lannénec pond
Leaving the Guidel marina, follow the wild coastline towards Larmor-plage to enjoy the idyllic setting facing the island of Groix.
On your left, you’ll pass the Loc’h fort, a military structure built in 1756 as part of Lorient’s outlying defences.
This building is now a historical monument. Follow the road for 2 kilometers and you’ll come to the Lannénec pond, covering over 70 hectares in the communes of Guidel and Ploemeur.
It’s a meeting place for amateur and experienced fishermen and walkers, in a lush natural setting.
What to see around Guidel
Les Terres de Nataé / Pont-Scorff Zoo
Les Terres de Nataé (formerly the Pont-Scorff zoo) reopened in 2022 as an animal conservation area.
Covering an area of 14 hectares, Les Terres de Nataé has become a sanctuary for the most endangered animals.
A huge amount of work has been carried out to bring this project to fruition and make it possible to reopen this nature park to the public.
Visit Terres de Nataé and discover over 120 animal species in a setting that allows you to learn about the history of Brittany and enjoy the famous Breton legends.
The island of Groix
One of Brittany’s must-sees, the island of Groix off the coast of Lorient is now well known for its natural, cultural and historical wealth.
Stroll through the narrow streets or plan a visit to learn all about the island’s secrets, as the Groisillons welcome you with open arms to tell you all about the history of their island.
The Sables Blancs beach is the ideal spot for a moment of idleness before getting back on your walk or bike to continue exploring this piece of land in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Lorient La Base
From the Eric Tabarly sailing museum to the submarine museum and the Flore-S645 submarine, or even to set sail on one of the Morbihan Tourisme companies, the Lorient base offers something for everyone.
Its name “la base”, of course, comes from the historic days of the Second World War, when military submariners defended the coast of southern Brittany.
The three gigantic concrete blocks are still there for visitors to see and learn about the history of this emblematic site, with its breathtaking view over the Lorient roadstead.
A typical day in Guidel?
Whether you’re an early riser or a late one, Flower Camping Le Kergariou is the place to start your day in South Finistère.
After enjoying some family time in your mobile home, set off 15 minutes from the campsite to discover the charming town of Guidel in Morbihan.
This could be your chance to discover Atelier le Minor or the Kerbigot pottery, both of which are emblematic Guidel landmarks.
For lunch, we recommend the restaurant “Les Pieds dans l’eau”, close to the marina, or “La Moule qui Saoule”, a Guidel institution!
Once you’ve finished eating, you can enjoy a stroll along the coast, heading either for Lorient or up the Laïta river.
In this case, the GR34 (sentier des Douaniers) will take you back to the heart of nature, enjoying the coolness of the river.
After this walk, you’ll have easy access to one of the beautiful beaches in Guidel, opposite Clohars-Carnoët and close to Flower Camping Le Kergariou.
At low tide or high tide, the beaches are wide enough to relax and enjoy a convivial moment.
When you return to your vacation rental, you can relax or, for the kids, take advantage of the indoor playroom or outdoor playground.
You’ll just have to get organized to take advantage of the superb indoor heated swimming pool, which is so relaxing!
As the day draws to a close, you can relax in your caravan / accommodation at the campsite, or take part in one of the family-friendly activities on offer a few days a week. You can also take advantage of the evening to discover Finistère Brittany.
The colors won’t be the same, but nature will transport you just as much to end the day in front of a sunset.