Some places feel as if time has passed them by. Doëlan is one of them.
This little fishing harbour, in the town of Clohars-Carnoët, stretches along two banks, the right bank and the left bank. The entrance to the channel is marked by two lighthouses, one green, one red. Often listed among the most beautiful harbours in Brittany, Doëlan has kept its granite houses along the quays, its trawlers and its seafaring life.
Le Lodge de Keruster sits at the end of the left bank. From the terrace, the view takes in the harbour entrance and, on a clear day, the blue line of the Île de Groix out at sea.
Things to do in Doëlan with children
Walk the coastal path
Doëlan lies on the GR34, the customs officers' path that runs right round the coast of Brittany. From the house you reach it in two minutes. Heading east, it follows cliffs and heathland all the way to Le Pouldu, with the sea alongside. With children, walk a stretch, stop in a cove, and come back the same way.
- The green lighthouse, at the end of the left bank, a stone's throw away
- The coves below the path, revealed at low tide
- The GR34 towards Le Pouldu, no car needed
Watch the boats come in
Fish is sold when the boats return, at the end of the right bank: times change with the tide, so arrive early. For langoustines, head to the nearby port of Bélon. Our other tips are in our address book.
Go to the beach
The sandy beaches of Le Pouldu and Kerfany-les-Pins are a few minutes by car. Our guide to beaches for children compares them one by one.
Nearby
- Le Pouldu (5 min): beaches, the sailing centre, and the memory of Gauguin, who painted here before Tahiti
- Quimperlé (15 min): the old town where two rivers meet, the TGV station
- Pont-Aven (20 min): the painters' town, its mills, galleries and biscuits
- Lorient (30 min): the Cité de la Voile Éric Tabarly, the ferry to Groix, the Interceltic Festival in August
- Concarneau (35 min): the walled town and the fishing port
Doëlan in practice
- By train: Quimperlé station (TGV from Paris-Montparnasse, about 3 hours 30), then 15 minutes by car
- By car: about 5 hours 30 from Paris
- Best season: June to September for swimming; all year round for the coastal path
- Tides: check the times before each outing; the coves appear at low tide
- Parking: limited on the harbour in high season; the Lodge has parking for two cars