The Pink Granite Coast, in the department of Côtes-d'Armor, between Trébeurden et Perros-Guirec, is named after the gigantic blocks of granite that emerge from the moor by the coast.

This is the kingdom of little coves full of white sand and turquoise water, wild landscapes and the customs officers' path. This is best travelled on foot to better enjoy the charms of an unusual and unspoilt natural environment.

Three coastlines in the world have this particularity of pink granite, which comes from a mixture of three minerals, mica, feldspath and quartz: one is located in China, the other in Corsica and the last one in Brittany. This natural geological curiosity is worth more than one visit, for the beauty of the natural sites and the plant life, and to make the most of Brittany's wild and mysterious charms.

From east to west, the trail begins at the Ploumanac'h rocks in Perros-Guirec, an old fishing harbour that is now a seaside resort, with its two marinas and three big beaches. Also worth a look in Perros-Guirec are the Chapel of Our Lady of Clarity, a listed Historic Monument, and the Museum of History and Traditions of Lower Brittany.

The charming village of Ploumanac'h was voted "France's favourite village" in 2015. A popular hiking path named the GR 34 stretches out from here, so you can explore the whole Coast. Discover spectacular rocks by the sea and flowery moors inland. From the lighthouse, an emblematic building of Ploumanac'h, you can see Costaérès Castle and the Seven Islands Archipelago (Rouzic, Malban, Les Costans, Bono, Moines Island, Plate Island and Les Cerfs). This nature reserve is home to metropolitan France's biggest seabird colony. Gulls, cormorants, penguins and peregrine falcons all gather there, and there is even a colony of grey seals! Only Moines Island is accessible by boat. Feel free to stop there, or explore the archipelago by boat to admire the tens of thousands of birds who have made it their home!

Another sight to see in Ploumanac'h is the Oratory of St. Guirec, a monument that seems to float on the sea at high tide…

The route continues to Trégastel and its boating harbours, where you can visit a marine aquarium. From there, near Trébeurden, another nice outing in the Le Quellen marsh provides a chance to see fauna and flora, and sometimes Camargue horses.

From Bihit headland, you will have stunning views of the Bay of Lannion and Losquet Island.

The small and charming town of Lannion is worth a look. Take a walk around its cobbled streets to discover its mansions and half-timbered houses.

Between land and sea, this superb wild coast offers many sports activities in the tourist season: catamaran, windsurfing, sea kayak or ?? can all be practised at the local water sports clubs. And swimming of course, at the big beaches or in the clear water of the small, sheltered coves.

If ever you are walking between Trégastel and Trébeurden in Côtes-d'Armor, don't miss the Saint-Uzec menhir, or Kalvar Zant Uek in Breton, on Route du Menhir in Pleumeur-Bodou: this megalith, one of the few Christianised ones still intact, was erected in the Neolithic, between 5000 and 4000 BC.

This granite monument, standing over 7 metres tall and weighing nearly 80 tonnes, has a cross on top of it. It is adorned which carvings which were once painted, telling the story of the Passion of Christ and testifying to its evangelisation in the 17th century. On the south side, the low reliefs illustrate the Virgin at prayer and the instruments of the Passion. A cockerel represents the denial of St. Peter. You can also make out the sun and the moon, each one bearing a human face. On the north side there are deep grooves, perhaps due to human intervention and accentuated by erosion.

Near the menhir there are several hikes to see some small chapels, starting with the Chapel of St. Uzec.

The capital of Trégor, Lannion is the second biggest town in Côtes-d'Armor. Built on the hillside on the banks of the River Léguer, it comprises a lower part and an upper part of undeniable charm, with old half-timbered or slate-clad houses. The oldest ones, from the 16th century, are on Rue des Chapeliers. On Place du Marhallac'h, you can admire two houses with turrets.

For a direct view of the town, head to the Brélévenez steps: 140 steps lined by small houses, with an exceptional panorama when you reach the top. Time seems to have stood still in the district of Brélévenez, with its Templar church and typical houses.

Don't miss the Church of St. John du Baly, built in the 16th century and extended in the 17th century: its square tower once had a spire, which was demolished in 1760. Another sight to see: the old convent of St. Anne, now converted into a social and cultural centre.

There are some lovely woodland walks awaiting you along the Léguer: this is the realm of springs, secret chapels and sheltered little harbours, all the way to the beaches of Beg Léguer.

On Thursdays, the town is busy with its big, well-known market.

The characterful small town of Tréguier in Côtes-d'Armor, evangelised in the 6th century, is one of the seven stops on the Breton pilgrimage, the Tro Breiz.

This old episcopal city has a cathedral built in the 14th and 15th centuries: the Gothic St. Tugdual, named after the monk who converted the town to Christianity, is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Brittany. People come from far and wide to admire the bestiary in the stalls of the choir and the tomb of St. Ivo, patron saint of the region and a champion of the poor. Don't miss the 15th-century cloister, which is magnificent with its 48 arcades, and the 17th-century Augustinian convent.

The historic quarter extends to the harbour, with its half-timbered houses from the 15th and 16th centuries, narrow streets, hidden gardens and mansions: on Place du Martray, Rue Renan and Ruelle Saint-Yves, half-timbered façades abound, including the home of the philosopher Ernest Renan. One third of the municipality is a conservation area.

Located by an estuary washed by the tides, Tréguier has a commercial harbour which is mainly used for leisure.

Welcome to Paimpol, the fishing and oyster farming centre of Côtes-d'Armor! This pretty little Breton town, once a peninsula, has been shaped by its maritime past, starting with cod fishing trips to Newfoundland and Iceland. Today, its glory is an oyster: the famous Paimpolaise!

Restaurants are legion in the old town, serving fish specialities, and there are delicatessens specialising in local products. These include the delicious cocos de Paimpol, semi-dried beans with AOC status. These shops sit alongside beautiful ship-owners' houses and half-timbered houses from the 15th and 16th centuries, on picturesque side streets to be explored on foot. The Latin quarter is a maze of old streets that lead to the fishing harbour and marina. On Rue des Huit Patriotes stands a beautiful 15th-century house that is a listed Historic Monument, the Jézéquel House. It has been a hardware shop since 1886. Other sights to see are the Old Tower, part of the old church, and the Church of Our Lady of Good News, completed in 1914.

Three kilometres from the centre is Beauport Abbey, a magnificent, remarkably well-preserved monastic complex that is a Historic Monument and is well worth a look.

A great place for hiking with nearly 60 kilometres of coastal paths including the GR 34, the Paimpol-Goëlo area has stunning panoramas in store for you, including a beautiful view of Bréhat from the Rohou plateau.

Every two years in August, Paimpol harbour hosts the sea shanty festival, a festive and friendly event devoted to sea shanties and old boats.

Located between two rivers whose opposing currents shaped it, the Trieux and the Jaudy, this strip of sand and pebbles extends into the sea for nearly 3 kilometres, starting from the municipality of Pleubian, Côtes-d'Armor. This coastal area has been protected since 2006, when the Furrow of Talbert Regional Nature Reserve was created. This is one of Europe's biggest coastal pebble strips.

Legend has it that this stony path was created by Merlin the Wizard to reach the fairy Viviane…

A paradise for shellfish-gatherers who go there to find Palourde clams, Venus clams, prawns, spider crabs and velvet crabs, the area is also visited by many bird species that come to mate during their migratory journey.

It is here that wrack, a mixture of seaweed, is gathered and then dried. Protected plant species can also be found here, like sea kale, sea holly and sea radish.

Although the area has suffered from being trampled by its many visitors, you can still take a walk in this unusual place by the sea, taking care not to tread on the seaweed. Dogs must be kept on a lead and are not allowed from April to August.

Built at the start of the 13th century, the coastal abbey of Beauport is located in the village of Kérity, in the municipality of Paimpol, Côtes-d'Armor. Facing the sea in an unspoilt natural environment, the monastery complex is a listed Historic Monument and its site is protected by the French Coastal Protection Agency.

Shaped by its dual purpose as a place of welcome for pilgrims and a maritime trade centre, the Gothic abbey nestles within a magnificent natural environment, with its rose garden, orchards, marshes and sheltered harbour.

This haven of peace is open to visitors. Built around a cloister, Beauport Abbey includes a church, a refectory, a chapterhouse and cellars, a room dedicated to the lay brothers and another for the guests. The function of the "Duke's Building", located outside of the monastery walls, remains unknown: archaeological digs have unearthed bronze-workers' furnaces. In the 20th century, the building was converted into a cider works.

The abbey become private property after the Revolution. Today, with the support of the Coastal Protection Agency, which protects its fauna and flora, improvements have enabled this superb example of Breton architectural heritage to be opened to visitors.

Benefiting from the Land of Art and History label, Morlaix is located in an estuary protected by the Arrée foothills and mountains. This beautiful Finistère town has kept some magnificent 16th-century houses, like the one called Duchess Anne's house and the Pondalez house. There are no fewer than 152 half-timbered houses, to the delight of architectural heritage lovers!

The town's emblem, the Morlaix viaduct, a superb railway structure with a height of 58 metres, towers majestically over the old town and the harbour.

A walk around the harbour, once the biggest in Brittany, is also a must, to see the old Tobacco Factory and the spaces converted into exhibition venues or art centres.

From Morlaix harbour, you can set off for a tour of the bay, one of the most beautiful in Brittany, including the Taureau Castle island nearby.

The Bréhat archipelago, off the coast of Paimpol in Côtes-d'Armor, comprises the main island and 86 neighbouring islets and reefs. Accessible by boat in about ten minutes from the Arcouest headland, this delightful destination is a haven of peace and serenity. Charming houses, wild coves, over 120 bird species, a multitude of flowers, agapanthus, hydrangeas, mimosas, blackberry bushes, aloes, eucalyptus and camellias all contribute to the sense of calm and well-being that visitors find so appealing… especially as you can only travel around the island on foot or by bike! No cars are allowed on Bréhat: to explore it, you can also take the little train around the island or book a guided tour.

Measuring 3.5 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide, Bréhat Island has a wild northern part, with the White Tower (Tour Blanche) providing a reference point for sailors, the Rosédo and Paon lighthouses, and the Lenn salt lake. In the south, the most populated part, there are houses with floral gardens and a 16th-century church.

Among its tourist attractions are the Birlot tide mill, made of round stones and pebbles, one of the most beautiful in Brittany; the Bréhat Glassworks, in the old citadel, where you can admire the glassblowers' work; and Les Albatros water sports centre for sailing, kayak and diving activities.

Good to know: Bréhat was France's first ever listed natural site… in 1907!

For a panoramic view of the Bay of Morlaix, make for Pen-al-Lann headland in Carantec!

From Tahiti beach, you will have a magnificent view of Louët island and its lighthouse, as well as the castle on Taureau Island, a 16th-century fortress that used to protect the bay from enemy attacks. More unusual is the view of Noire Island, a long rock measuring about sixty metres in length. Its lighthouse is said to have inspired Hergé to write one of Tintin's adventures…

Also known as Ajoncs headland (after the French word for gorse), this beautiful site is dotted with pretty villas among the pines. It should be explored on foot via the famous customs officers' path, which you can reach from the approach to Claude Goude Park, one of Brittany's finest arboretums.