The Fresnaye Trail is an April trail-running event held in Matignon, on France’s Emerald Coast in Brittany. It utilizes the GR 34 coastal path between Saint-Cast-le-Guildo and Matignon, offering three distances and four timed events: a 10 km trail race, a timed 10 km Nordic walk, a 16 km coastal race, and a 30 km trail race. The 10 km race is a loop starting from the Matignon sports hall, featuring woods and the edge of Fresnaye Bay with minimal climbing or technical difficulty. The Nordic walk follows the same 10 km circuit, receives an official ranking, and contributes to the Brittany Nordic Walk Challenge. The 16 km and 30 km races are open to juniors and older, while the 10 km events also include cadet categories.
The 16 km race begins on the Grande Plage at Saint-Cast-le-Guildo, covering about 1.5 km of sand before joining the GR 34. It passes coastal views of Fort La Latte, Fresnaye Bay, and the old sea mill near Saint-Germain. The 30 km race starts at the Guildo football field, proceeds by Port du Guildo and the castle ruins, crosses Pen Guen beach, and then merges with the 16 km course for its later section; it is the technical choice for runners with established training. A solidarity hike follows the 10 km loop, with all entry fees supporting Din’handisport and Mille et un sourires. The event holds the Trail Runner Foundation eco-responsible label, provides every participant with a locally made souvenir, operates free shuttles for the point-to-point starts, and concludes with practical Breton elements: showers, refreshments, and sausage galettes.