Ploumanac'h Lighthouse and the Granite Chaos

What it is

The Ploumanac'h lighthouse is a 15 m tower of pink granite, planted among the most photographed rock blocks on the Pink Granite Coast. Its official name is the Mean Ruz lighthouse, which comes from a mistake in writing the Breton Maen Ruz, "red stone". It replaces a lighthouse-keeper's house from 1860 that the German army blew up on 4 August 1944; the present one was built after the war and lit in October 1948. It is automated and cannot be visited inside.

What you come to see is the whole: the lighthouse, the granite chaos around it and the sea with its islands. From here you see the islet of Costaérès with its castle, the Île Renote, the Île Tomé and, about 4.6 km away, the Sept-Îles archipelago and its lighthouse. The natural site of Ploumanac'h has been protected since 1940.

Getting there

The lighthouse is on the customs officers' path, halfway between Trestraou beach and the port of Ploumanac'h. There are three ways to get there:

• From Ploumanac'h, the shortest: a walk of a few minutes from Saint-Guirec beach along the GR 34.
• From Trestraou, along the path: a little over an hour one way among rocks.
• From the Pors Kamor or Sémaphore car parks, the nearest, both paid from 28 March to 1 November. Pors Kamor has about 85 spaces and the Sémaphore 135.

In July and August the most convenient thing is to leave the car in the free Ploumanac'h car park (172 spaces) and take the free shuttle that goes down to the village, Saint-Guirec and the port every half hour, from 9:00 to 23:00, from 6 July to 31 August.

The Maison du Littoral

Opposite the lighthouse is the Maison du Littoral, the centre of the Ploumanac'h natural area. It has a permanent exhibition on the Conservatoire du littoral, which protects this coast, and in summer a tourist information point. Its wardens explain what you are seeing and where not to tread. Opening hours are not published online: call 02 96 91 62 77 before going.

When to go

At sunset and first thing the granite takes on an orange tone and there are fewer people. At midday in August the lighthouse area fills up. At high tide and in a heavy swell, the waves break against the blocks; at low tide pools and seaweed appear at the base.

Any season will do. In winter, in a storm, the place changes completely and is almost empty.

With children and with caution

Climbing on the rocks is what they like most, but the granite is slippery when wet and some blocks drop sheer to the sea. Keep an eye on the children and do not jump between rocks when the ground is wet. The area around the lighthouse is not practicable with a pushchair beyond the main path.

Stay on the marked paths: the Ploumanac'h heath is a protected natural area and is degraded by walking off them.

To round it off

Combine the lighthouse with the boat to the Sept-Îles, which in summer also leaves from Ploumanac'h, and finish at the port with a galette at Les Vieux Gréements. If you want to sleep next to the rocks, the Castel Beau Site is at Saint-Guirec.