SKL's Walking Blog

Île d’Arz

Île-d’Arz Loop – 20th May 2024

A quick breakfast in the hotel in Île aux Moines and then the five minute ferry ride to the mainland followed by a ten minute hump to the car park to find that someone has dinged the car door, frig knows what that will cost me.
A short, forty-five minute drive to the middle of nowhere and a concrete jetty that is supposed to be a stop on the boat trip from Vannes to Île d’Arz.
It was indeed, and fifteen minutes later I disembark right by the hotel where I was able to drop my bag before heading off around the island.

There is nothing here but this is supposed to be my pick-up spot for the Bateaux-Bus.
It was and just off the ferry heading south. The tide is out so miles of muddy bays.
The little hotel and the pier back the way.
Going to head out around that isthmus.
You find a pair of pants on the beach say. And then you pick them up and think, I know, I’ll put them on this post to keep its head warm.
Hidden on the other side of that isthmus is this nice beach.
Don’t know if you can see the house in the middle on that little island.
Now that’s perfect isolation.
A small black dragon.
I’m gonna beak off in the middle on this one up a road to a lunch stop.
A double-tiered windmill.
Of course, you’ve got to have a church. Look at the guttering. They’re like water cannons. Prob blessed the congregation if they weren’t quick enough to get indoors.
Strange square sails on that boat.
Very weird things and is that Gandalf?
Nope. Typical caricature of a Frenchman. The stripey things are pieces of the stumps left behind and painted.
Everywhere on these last two islands evidence of a big storm years ago that brought down loads of pine trees.
Last but one isthmus and island.
Last one and ile aux Moines up on the left.
Looking west.
Little house right on the tip of this one. I have seen a few vans here but they seem to be plumbers etc. that come over to work. These peeps prob stick to the bicycle and trailer.
I always think about the history when I see things like this. It was probably made around here with care and skill and then sailed for years out in the wild Atlantic before being left to rot until a storm broke it free from its mooring and dumped it here.
The large silted up lagoon to my right is man made and that looks like a pumping station and sluices.
A lot of effort for what?
Ah, it was a tidal mill. Very neat.
Hotel approaching behind that house with the pink bit.

I liked Île d’Arz more than Île aux Moines but that may be down to the fact that its Monday and I’m not seeing crowds of people on their day trips.
I’ve noticed that the paths that are designated as sentier côtier [coastal path] on these islands do not allow bicycles. Excellent policy I say.
I’m stuffed with Langoustines. Today’s were monstrous but delicious. Must try something else for lunch tomorrow.