Trail des Caps

The Trail des Caps is a 45-kilometer trail race with 1,500 meters of elevation gain that takes place along the spectacular coastline of Cotes-d'Armor, starting from Cap Frehel. This coastal event offers runners a course of savage beauty, between pink sandstone cliffs, wind-battered heathland, and secret coves bathed in the emerald waters of the English Channel.

Cap Frehel, the iconic starting point of the race, is one of the most impressive natural sites in Brittany. Its cliffs of sandstone and schist rise more than 70 meters above the sea, offering a vertiginous panorama over the marine horizon. On clear days, the view extends to Jersey and the Channel Islands. The Cap Frehel lighthouse, a sentinel of pink granite, watches over this headland where colonies of guillemots, cormorants, and kittiwakes nest.

The Trail des Caps course follows the GR 34, the famous customs officers' trail that encircles the entire Breton coastline. Runners follow the Emerald Coast, chaining climbs and descents between rocky headlands and sandy coves. The terrain is demanding: narrow trails carved into rock, ancient stone staircases, passages exposed to wind and sea spray. The 1,500 meters of elevation gain, accumulated through the incessant ups and downs of the coastal relief, impose an effort comparable to a mid-mountain trail.

Fort la Latte, a medieval fortress perched on a rocky spur facing the sea, is one of the most photogenic passages on the course. Runners then cross the heathland of heather and gorse that borders the cliffs, expanses of purple and gold depending on the season, where the sea wind sculpts the vegetation into tortured forms. The fine sand beaches of Sables-d'Or-les-Pins and Anse du Croc offer moments of respite where feet tread on more forgiving ground.

The event stands out for the constant beauty of its landscapes, alternating between grandiose maritime panoramas and intimate passages through wooded valleys descending toward the sea. The estuaries, where fresh water meets salt water, shelter remarkable fauna and flora. Runners may spot grey seals, oystercatchers, and spoonbills, witnesses to the ecological richness of this preserved coastline.

Aid stations feature Breton specialties: buckwheat galettes, kouign-amann, and farmhouse cider. The welcome from volunteers is legendary, true to Breton conviviality. The organization ensures the race's environmental impact on this fragile coastline is minimized, enforcing strict rules of respect for nature.

The Trail des Caps is an event that speaks as much to the soul as to the body. Running along these ancient cliffs, with the crash of waves below and the cry of gulls above, provides a sensation of freedom and elemental power. It is the very essence of Breton coastal trail running, at its most beautiful and most demanding.