L'Aber benoit
It's a helping hand from the sea to the countryside. Aber Benoît is Aber Wrac'h's discreet little brother. To the south of Lannilis and Landéda, from its narrower mouth, you discover an arm of the sea that magnifies the river. Between lush green hillsides and farmland, it's a delight to stroll along, slowing down and savouring the peacefulness of this glaz*-toned area.
Glaz... What is it?
* Glaz: a typically Breton color that plumes the waters along the coast. It recalls the movement of the waves, the color of the sky, and the blue, green and gray tones of the interior of the Abers.
Benoît, the seducer!
4 reasons to fall in love :
- Its Devil's Rock: a charming stroll through the woods and a stop at the little kiosk on the shore. Perfectly romantic!
- Ultra-wooded, little-traveled trails: a one-on-one encounter with Mother Nature.
- Its delicacies: excellent mussels cultivated offshore and oysters matured in the gentle waters of the river for a meal to die for.
- Its golden mouth: sandy beaches to end the day, with an unforgettable sunset.
Gaëlle fily
"An aber is the Breton word for estuary. More precisely, it refers to a river valley invaded by the sea 20,000 years ago. During the last ice age, the sea was much further away than it is today. The English Channel was not a sea, but a large river where the main rivers flowed: the Seine, the Thames and the Rhine. During the last global warming, the ice melted and sea levels rose. The water then flowed inland, rushing into certain valleys and forming the "abers".
L'aber des moulins
Jusqu’au siècle dernier, l’activité de minoterie était très importante dans les eaux de l’Aber Benoît. Pas moins de 159 moulins ont pu faire tourner leurs roues et leurs meules de granit grâce à la force de l’eau.
Aujourd’hui, seules quelques traces de cette activité sont toujours visibles dans la rivière avec notamment la grande vallée des moulins de Plouvien mais également la petite vallée, non loin de la chapelle de Loc Majan à Plouguin.
Au fil de parcours de randonnée, au son du gazouillis des oiseaux et du murmure de la rivière, vous reconnaîtrez ces discrètes mais grandes bâtisses en pierre accolées à un plan d’eau aménagé qu’il est intéressant d’observer et de comprendre : digue, écluse, petite cascade, bief… Des moulins qui ont profondément marqué nos paysages, sans jamais les dégrader. Grâce à ces moulins, la farine qui en ressortait permettait à de nombreuses familles de préparer le pain, de bonnes crêpes et du far… breton bien sûr !
L'aber des pierres
It's good to get off the beaten track. Aber Benoît is home to the Loc-Majan chapel, with its breathtaking view over the water. A little surprise awaits you here: if you enjoy hiking in Finistère, you may have already seen these curious ceramic eyes along the coastline... Artist Pierre Chanteau has chosen the grounds of this chapel to pay homage to the people of the sea with a discreet and poetic installation. Because yes, even in the river, the marine influence is never far away!
A little higher up, off the coastal path, the Lannoulouarn menhir is another major surprise. This granite giant rises to a height of 6.5 m, in the middle of fields of wheat and corn. Finding it is quite a mission. But once up there, you'll be in the perfect place to enjoy the view and keep your feet on the ground!
A day along the Aber Benoît
In the early morning
The Tréglonou Bridge
We're happy to stop and get to know the area better. A hike is in order to enjoy the surrounding nature. The salt meadow vegetation makes itself at home, providing a vast refuge for birdlife: herons and egrets are right at home here. If you're lucky, the few swans that have taken up residence in the abers will give you the gift of their presence.
As the water flows
The GR 34
Follow the well-marked coastal path to the edge of the woods. A shady, wooded atmosphere on the north and south shores of the aber, where running enthusiasts will be keeping a close eye on the tree roots on this winding and far from monotonous trail!
Why not punctuate your walk with a search for a geocaching spot?
Along the way
The manor house and kiosk
A short distance away, through the woods, you can stop off at the Manoir de Trouzilit. A gîte for hikers, an equestrian center and a family-run crêperie.
Tip: in July & August, Tuesday evenings come alive with the late afternoon market. Here, you can discover local crafts and fresh produce, before letting go to the rhythm of the concerts that follow.
The walk continues under the trees along the shore. The unmistakable Devil's Rock, "Roc'h en Diaoul" in Breton, stands out with its rocky overhang and small kiosk surrounded by sandbanks at low tide.
In Saint-Pabu
The sea mouth
En suivant le sentier côtier ou via la véloroute littorale, un petit crochet par le port du Stellac’h et ses barques colorées. L’occasion de planifier une sortie plongée ou kayak ! En reprenant le chemin, profitez du magnifique panorama sur l’embouchure, niché sur les hauteurs de la plage de Beniguet. On immortalise les couleurs de l’eau et des massifs d’hortensias… Et on assiste, en été aux départs sur l’eau des voileux du centre de voile sur la plage de Ganaoc, et le soir, si on a de la chance à une petite régate de cotres… qu’ils sont beaux ces petits voiliers ! De quoi se donner envie de découvrir l’aber par la mer cette fois-ci…
On the dunes
La Maison des Abers
A Saint-Pabu, les dunes de Korn ar Gazel accueillent, face à la mer un centre d’interprétation et de médiation ouvert à tous et toutes. Ici on découvre l’histoire géologique des Abers, on en apprend plus sur un écosystème fragile et sur un trait de côte en mouvement. Pendant l’été mais aussi aux vacances de printemps et à l’automne, de très riches rendez-vous et ateliers font durer le plaisir (balades nature, contes, observation des étoiles, pêche à pied, causeries…) et nous aident à mieux connaître les lieux qui nous entourent.
At dusk
Sunset at the dunes
Après manger, le rendez-vous est pris. L’impression d’être les rois du monde !
The aber des papilles
After this bucolic stroll, a gourmet break will be most welcome! Don't wait any longer to taste, without moderation, the "nacre des abers". This oyster, featured on the finest tables in France, is characterized by a fleshy body and a crunchy texture revealing intense aromas combining hazelnut and iodine.
The coming and going of the tides and the exchange between fresh and salt water in the Abers give seafood exceptional qualities. In addition to oysters, let yourself be tempted by a tasty moules-frites... you won't be disappointed, as the mussels of the Abers region offer a remarkable taste experience!
Focus on...
L’histoire d’amour entre Jane Birkin et les Abers a été profonde. Son père, officier de la Royal Navy, a joué un rôle crucial pendant les années de guerre en aidant à l’évacuation de pilotes anglais avec le soutien des résistants locaux.
L’attachement de l’artiste au Pays des Abers l’a amenée à se retirer en toute discrétion, tout au long de sa vie, dans sa maison de l’Aber Benoît. Elle venait régulièrement s’y ressourcer.
"At the bottom of the garden I push open the gate at the bottom of the stairs...
And there's the sea! At high tide, it laps at the last steps... Venice! I've been going out through this little door for almost twenty years...
Pause... Sitting on the low wall, watching the green boat beached on its side.
Sunbeam, cigarette... No more! The mountain of oysters has almost disappeared. I try to ricochet shells into the water like Dad did when we were little, Dolly diving like Dora, Betty diving before her..." Excerpt from "Prat ar Coum, l'huître des abers" by Patrick Cadour
Discover also
Follow our Rand'Abers trails for signposted hikes. For the whole family, geocaching and Baludik "La Vallée des Moulins" will set the pace for your discovery.