From the bay of Douarnenez to the Nantes–Brest canal, the GR38 crosses inland Brittany: bocage, valleys, the Montagnes Noires, forests and the Landes de Lanvaux.
357 km 221.8 mi14 stages3,750 m 12,303 ft ascentHigh point 250 m 820 ftDouarnenez → Redon
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Elevation profile: from 3 m to 242 m over 356.6 km.
The GR38 at a glance
The GR38 links Douarnenez, in Finistère, to Redon, in Ille-et-Vilaine, after a long crossing of the Morbihan. Less well known than the GR34, the coastal path, this “great trail” turns its back on the sea to explore inland Brittany: bocage, woods, valleys, moorland and small towns full of character. In 2025, the Morbihan and Finistère FFRandonnée committees took part in a feature devoted to it by Bretagne Magazine.
From Douarnenez, the town of three harbours, the path reaches Locronan, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, near a 270 m hill with views over the bay. It then crosses Quimper, follows the meanders of the Odet and reaches Châteauneuf-du-Faou, above the Nantes–Brest canal. Next come the Montagnes Noires and Gourin, nicknamed “the American”. In the Morbihan, the route passes through Le Faouët, the forest of Pont-Calleck and Plouay, then follows the ridge of the Landes de Lanvaux, among heather and gorse, to Rochefort-en-Terre. The last kilometers run alongside the Oust and the Nantes–Brest canal, via Peillac and the Île aux Pies, to Redon.
The terrain stays gentle and the path has no technical difficulty: it is the length of the traverse that makes it a real long-distance project. Quimper and Redon, both served by train, let you tackle it in sections. It suits walkers looking for a quiet, rural Brittany, away from the coast.
Highlights
Locronan, one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, and the view from its hill over the bay of Douarnenez.
Crossing Quimper, with its Saint-Corentin cathedral, then the wooded meanders of the Odet.
The Montagnes Noires and the Gourin area, in the heart of inland Brittany.
The ridge of the Landes de Lanvaux, with its views over the Claie valley.
An arrival along the Oust and the Nantes–Brest canal, via the Île aux Pies, to Redon and its Saint-Sauveur abbey.
Practical information
Start
Douarnenez
Douarnenez has no railway station: from Quimper station, the terminus for trains from Paris, the BreizhGo line 951 coach leaves from the coach station next door and serves the “Office de Tourisme – Center-ville” stop in Douarnenez.
Finish
Redon
The GR38 ends in Redon, whose SNCF station, in the town center, is served by BreizhGo TER trains, which link it to Rennes and Nantes in particular, as well as by TGVs.
When to go
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The GR38 can be walked all year round. In dry spells, the prefecture may restrict access to woods and moorland, as in the Morbihan in August 2026; in fall and winter, expect wet paths and find out about hunting drives.
Difficulty
Moderate
Gentle terrain and paths with no technical difficulty; the length of the traverse and the succession of stages do, however, call for stamina.
Accommodation
1 gîte, 10 B&Bs, 20 hotels, and 14 campgrounds
Accommodation is concentrated in the towns and villages along the way, such as Locronan, Quimper, Châteauneuf-du-Faou, Gourin, Le Faouët, Rochefort-en-Terre and Redon; in between, it is sparser. Book your nights in advance and ask the tourist offices in each area for information.
Rules to know
In the Morbihan, the prefecture points out that bivouacking is forbidden at all times in woods, forests and moorland without the prior permission of the landowner; elsewhere too, ask the landowner’s consent or sleep at a campground. When there is a fire risk, prefectoral orders may temporarily ban access to wooded areas and moorland, as in August 2026.
Water and supplies
The path regularly passes through towns and villages where you can find water and supplies: still, set off with water for the day and check which shops are open, especially out of season. Quimper, which the GR38 passes through, has a railway station, handy for starting or breaking off the walk.
The GR38 on the map
The 14 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on November 12, 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
Check the weather forecast before each stage and wear footwear that copes with mud in the wet season.
In summer, check on the prefecture websites for Finistère, Morbihan and Ille-et-Vilaine that no order restricts access to woods and moorland.
During the hunting season, stay on the waymarked path and wear visible clothing in the forest.
Follow the white-and-red waymarks and keep a map or a GPS track to check the route at junctions.
For a first taste, the section from Douarnenez to Quimper via Locronan allows a simple return by coach to the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR38 start and finish?
The GR38 links Douarnenez (Finistère) to Redon (Ille-et-Vilaine), crossing the Morbihan. It can be walked in either direction: the FFRandonnée presents it from Redon to Douarnenez, while the Finistère tourism website describes it starting from Douarnenez.
What scenery does the GR38 cross?
The path goes from the bocage of the Douarnenez area to the Odet valley, then to the Montagnes Noires, the forest of Pont-Calleck and the Landes de Lanvaux, a long ridge covered in heather and gorse. It ends along the Oust and the Nantes–Brest canal, between Peillac and Redon.
Can you bivouac along the GR38?
In the Morbihan, bivouacking is forbidden at all times in woods, forests and moorland without the prior permission of the landowner, as the Morbihan prefecture points out. Elsewhere, ask the landowner’s consent too. The simplest option is to sleep at a campground or in other accommodation.
How do you get to Douarnenez by public transport?
Take the train to Quimper, then the BreizhGo line 951 coach, which leaves from the coach station next to the railway station and serves the center of Douarnenez (Pays de Douarnenez tourist office). Schedules are available on the BreizhGo website.
Is the GR38 difficult?
Not technically: the terrain stays gentle and the paths have no tricky sections. It is the length of the traverse that calls for stamina; split into sections of a few days, it suits regular walkers.
Does the GR38 cross other GR trails?
Yes. In Douarnenez, it meets the GR34, the Breton coastal path. In Redon, it crosses the GR39, which links Mont-Saint-Michel to Guérande, and the GR347, which runs up the Oust to Josselin (Pays de Redon tourist office).
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on November 12, 2026.
