Brittany Coast Walking Tour - Day Four - Stables-d’Or-Les-Pins to Fort de la Latte - by Wayne

On day four we walked the 17km between Stables-d’Or-Les-Pins to the Fort de la Latte.  Like day one, this coastal walkways follows the The GR34—Sentier des Douaniers, offerring wonderful vistas of the French Coast and the English Channel.  While the track is narrow and well formed, it is poorly sign posted compared to the DOC tracks we have become accustomed to in NZ.  However, it is difficult to get lost when all you need to do is keep the sea on your left hand side throughout the journey. 

A significant part of the track passed through low scrub consisting of beautiful flowering heather (Calluna vulgaris), gorse (Ulex) and its closely related cousin, broom.  These plants are natives to Northern Europe.  While gorse is an introduced invasive species in NZ, it was an essential element to wonderful scrub that we passed.  

The weather was overcast with the occasional shower—requiring Julie to extract her ‘orange onesie’ from her back pack and climb inside it for protection: locals referred to her as the 'orange lady'.  But warm temperatures and a small sea breeze made for a very enjoyable hike. 

Two key points of interest was the lighthouse at Cap Fréhel and the Fort de le Latte. 

Cap Fréhel: There are two lighthouses at Cap Fréhel: the first—which still remains—was built in the 17th century.  This was replaced by the current lighthouse in 1950.  This current lighthouse is one of the most powerful lighthouses located on French soil and can be seen at a distance of over 50 kms.

Fort-la-Latte, or Castle of La Latte, is located about 4 km southeast of Cap Fréhel.  Built on a small rocky peninsular, it can boast hosting a number of famous films, including The Vikings (1958) and Life in a Day (2011).  The French Ministry of Culture classified the castle as a monument historique in 1925. Originally built in pink sandstone in the 13^th century, the Fort La Latte was extended and rebuilt to provide a strong coastal defence in the 17^th century.  It can now boasts an impressive array of walls, towers, drawbridges and dungeons.  The castle has been fully restored enabling all of these features to be enjoyed by visitors today.  While someone now uses the castle as a private home, it is open to tourists, like us, for a sum of €6.00. 

Day Four - Walking from Stables-d’Or-Les-Pins to Fort de la Latte.

Day Four. From Fort de la Latte, we travelled by van to the port city of Dinard.
We stayed at the Hôtel Printania.

The 'Orange Lady' using the Coastal Walkway.

The walkway follows the top of the clifts
offering grand vistas of the Coast.

Some of the interesting landscape features
just north of Stables-d'Or-Les-Pins.  
The English Channel in the background, but you can't see the English Coast.

Many cliffs, the this one shown here,
make up the rugged coast line.

Further view of the coastal walkway.

The walkway often passed through this gorgeous low scrub
containing heather, gorse and broom.

Approaching the lighthouse at Cap Fréhel.

The current lighthouse at Cap Fréhel.

In front of the current lighthouse at Cap Fréhel.

At Point de la Château Renard looking towards
Fort de le Latte.

Fort de le Latte.
An impressive 13th century feudal castle 

Castle of La Latte.

Evening meal at the Restaurant L'Abri Des Flots in Dinard. 
Eating a live Shrimp! Just like the Movie 'Mr Bean'! 
Julie is used to hairy whiskers; but nothing like these.

Dessert always a favourite, even in France.  
"Come on Julie, take the photo do that I can start".