Les Ébihens: an island to explore
During our stay with friends on the Emerald Coast, hiking on Les Ebihens (“little island” in Breton!) was a trip we were looking forward to! On the program: authenticity, idyllic landscapes and magic invite themselves to our trip...
An adventure to experience from the tip of the peninsula of Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer
To access theisland of Ebihens, we think about looking at the tide schedule : yes, this little Breton gem is not accessible on foot only at low tide! Good information to know if we don't want to get stuck on the Ébihens archipelago for 6 hours. But don't panic, if we ever get caught in the water, we'll think of the anecdote shared by our butler: “The benchmark is to look at where the plant part begins on the island: there is never water here, so you can climb for shelter.” Noted !
At high tide, we learn that it is possible to reach the island by boat or sea kayak! An experience not to be missed!
Arrivals at Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer, we leave the car in the parking lot the tip of the Bedside and follow the walking path. Unsurprisingly, the adventure begins even before arriving on the island. Stairs to descend, rocks to step over, we reach Les Ébihens feet in the water ! Luckily we thought about putting on our rubber boots!
A getaway to live in the heart of wild scenery
The charm operates from the first moments! Between tall ferns, thistles, bushes and huge trees, the small path makes us discover incredible fauna and flora. Here, no beacon, but a path that explores the place for a walk of about 1 hour in the heart of 18 hectares of vegetation.
After a few minutes walk, we stop in front of beautiful sandy beaches to take a souvenir photo… Worthy of a postcard! At the tip of Saint-Jacut, you can see families learning to shellfish: a good idea for an activity to do with the children!
Between two shots, we have fun spotting the wild blackberries: the island is private property, so we are very careful not to pick anything up on the spot! "Look ! A buzzard hunting its prey”. What show !
At our side, a new lover of the place explains to us that the island is the place that rediscovers itself to the rhythm of the sun and the seasons: the gradation of colors varies according to the tides... We who wanted a stroll 100% natural, no need to go any further, we have unearthed our Caribbean in Brittany!
Meeting around the heritage of the Ébihens
In addition to being a real paradise of nature, the island also conceals many small hidden treasures! And to think that in the 19th century, the trees we see today replaced a small farm surrounded by moorland...
First stop in front the Garangeau tower ! If we see it from the window of our hotel in Saint-Cast-Le-Guildo, she is even more beautiful up close!
To understand its history, a regular of the place takes us back to the Xth century, at the time or Garangeau. Student of Vauban, he built the monument using stones extracted from the island or nearby quarries! Before the tower? “You had to imagine that there was probably a lighthouse,” she tells us. She then explains to us that the house we see in the distance was an old chapel. It also served as a customs house!
The highlight of the show? Our enthusiast advises us to open our eyes well to find the treasure of the Ébihen rocks… We finally see it: the famous Indian head! An incredible natural phenomenon that sculpted an Indian face in stone, with Cap Fréhel and the Fort La Latte that we visited as a family yesterday!
Hike to the tip
That's it ! We see the tip of Ébihens: we are at the extreme north of the island! If we can't go further, the panorama offers us a 360° view of the scenery of our holidays! Between the sailboats and the boats returning to the port, the sandbanks seem to dance to the rhythm of the breeze...
In front of this postcard, impossible to resist the call of a little sweet break! We take our delicacies out of our bags and we think about keeping our waste. The island is not equipped with garbage cans or picnic tables to preserve the magic of the place.
At our side, a new lover of the place explains to us that the island is the place that rediscovers itself to the rhythm of the sun and the seasons: the gradation of colors varies according to the tides...
We who wanted a balade 100% natural, no need to go any further, we have unearthed our Caribbean in Brittany!
Reviews
The Judec Marie - August 09, 2019
5/5it's the island of holidays with our parents; a marvel; I now live on the island of Tahiti, another island, but I remain nostalgic for my little Breton island, so fragrant; with lots of rabbit holes; thank you dad and mom who are no longer there; thank you for such a great vacation.
Jacqueline Piot - August 09, 2019
5/5It is always a pleasure to go there.
Very very nice walk!