A small Breton island located less than 5 miles south of Lorient, it lies on a plateau bordered by cliffs 20 metres high. This pebble is 8 km long and 3 km wide. Its size and height make it easy to spot in good weather. Smaller than its neighbour Belle-Île, it has kept all its authenticity with its pentys and houses with multicoloured facades. It's an island that lives with nature. Even if cars are present, they are finally few in number.
In the north of the island, facing Lorient, we will stop at Port-Tudy the only port on the island where it is possible to make a stopover.
There are no shoals on the west side. For the approach from the east, you have to overtake the tip of Spernec and don't hesitate to go back up Speerbrecker after Basse Melite to then start again Port-Tudy . The access is naturally protected from the swell coming from the south-west.
The port is made up of three parts: an outer harbour, a basin for yachting and a wet dock. The fore-port has lockers with a capacity of 70 couple boats. It seems important, but the places are quickly taken, Lorient is not far away, and neither is Concarneau.
Be careful, the shipping companies serving the island have priority and maneuver in the area.
It is also possible to moor on the pontoons in the first basin where 40 places are reserved for visitors. They have the advantage of being equipped with electrical and water terminals. The pontoon along the eastern side of the dike is reserved for the SNSM canoe and local fishermen.
In summer, do not hesitate to contact the harbour master's office on channel 9... Diverting to Lorient due to lack of space is not so rare.
Good news, the sanitary facilities have (at last) been completely renovated... in a colourful style. The part reserved for boaters with a code is clean but the public area is still in its juice.
The island offers a catering offer for all tastes: pancake shop, seafood, pizzeria, snack bar. A little nod to Ti Beudeff, the unmissable bar restaurant of Groix, open for 40 years. The atmosphere is great, especially when the Glénants' trainees make a stopover, but that's another story. You can drink a beer, rum beudeffien (secret recipe), eat homemade dishes and sing Breton songs.
Shopping is more complicated for crews without bikes. It is nevertheless possible to rent one in front of the harbour. Two supermarkets are located on the heights of Saint-Tudy, 15-20 minutes walk away. Don't forget the backpacks.
An island that hides secrets
Today there are 17 megalithic monuments, corridor tombs, burial chambers or standing stones often hidden under the gorse. The Kermario menhir, the largest on the island, is 5.5 m long.
One of the most astonishing sites is called the "camp of the Romans", but its construction goes back much further. This camp uses ditches to defend itself from the enemy coming from outside the island.
In 1906, excavations led to the discovery of a Viking burial place with a funeral boat. Only a few elements are visible at the Groix Ecomuseum located at the entrance to Port-Tudy.
Finally, beach lovers will be able to spread their towels on the Grands-Sables beach. A rare French beach with a concave shape, it moves with the wind and swell up to 10 meters per year. A pleasant spot for a fairground anchorage.
Distances :
- GPS: 47°38.7 N -03°26.8 W
- Chart Shom 7032 - 7139, Navicarte 544
- Lorient : 7M
- Belle-île : 21M
- Concarneau : 25 M
