Mont Saint Michel - walk from off island hotel

Last October I walked from Mont Saint-MIchel across the causeway to the small village and on to the parking lot. My small group had taken the shuttle over (pouring down rain, lol) but we all decided to walk back. There is a sidewalk so no problem.

It looks like your hotel is just past the main parking lots so should not be a problem.

I have not eaten at the restaurant you've chosen so I would just ask your hosts at the hotel/B&B their advice about driving vs walking.

I have only driven in this area, but I thought it was interesting that this Google Street View happens to include 2 backpackers, hugging the edge of the road. It looks dangerous to me, and more so at night.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/My77sbojzeQk3Syg6

Note that many Google photos are years old.

Be aware just how large the paid parking lots for MSM are. If you do some careful study, you might decide, especially if traffic seems light, that you want to risk the walk to the lots. It is an extremely long walk to MSM from the farthest lots, but as you note, there are shuttle busses, delivering you to the relatively short ride on a double-ended electric shuttle. Walking this entire route, within the parking lot zone, is also permitted, and is mostly on a sidewalk.

Everyone walks in Europe. Your biggest problem is going to be watching the tides, because when they are high you cannot get across the bridge to, or from, the island. And in May it will be light outside until around 9PM.

"Your biggest problem is going to be watching the tides, because when they are high you cannot get across the bridge to, or from, the island."

This is not a problem most of the time now with the new causeway. IF there is a super high tide then the end right by the entrance to MSM might be covered. This was the case when I visited in October - we had to wait about 15 minutes for the water to subside although some were walking the short distance (maybe 25 yards?) thru the shallow water.

Note that many Google photos are years old.

The Google Street views have a date code on the bottom. This one shows October 2022 (you can now even click on "show more dates" on the top to see Google's older photos). But I drove very close to MSM last June and dropped off a couple of hitchhikers right around there who were going to walk to the island. This is the way I remember the roads. YMMV.

Answer to question two:

NO! There is no way I would walk that very narrow two lane road from the inn to the restaurant. Cars go by swiftly. There's no real shoulder just overgrown uneven meadowy grass. You'll take one look at it in person and think otherwise. The restaurant is down the gated road; so I assume the restaurant will tell you how to get through the gate or what to tell the guard to get in to the private free parking lot.

Enjoy!

I didn't express myself very well before; I was trying to point out that THIS, partial walk, from your hotel to the Camper Parking for MSM, which has sidewalks to the main parking and then to the shuttle busses,

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NvsJUXB2bkGLESFn7

is only nine minutes, and the Google Street Views suggest that there are turnout parking areas and other "traffic calming" structures, and that the shoulders are MOWED, even with some evidence of other walkers. Some people might decided that the level of risk for this walk in daylight is more acceptable. I certainly can't decide for you. I think the highway is MORE dangerous towards your restaurant, and I don't see any imperative (other than Whale Hugging) to NOT drive to dinner. Well, there is ... wine consumption.

I read on TripAdvisor that across the street from the inn there is a path (along the edge of the field) that leads to the walkway/path along the Couesnon River. About a 20-25 minute walk from there to MSM; supposed to be very pretty/nice way to approach MSM.

I’m going to reach out to the inn via email before we go. I’ll try to remember to repost what we ended up doing once we return from our trip (June) in case someone else searches for the same info later.

Thank you all for your replies.

On Google maps there are photographs (as opposed to street view) of that surfaced riverside path. It does look like a good walkway And as sunset is at 9.30pm you could use that path to walk to the restaurant (there is a road back from that river path to the MSM bus terminus and car parks), then take a taxi back to the hotel.
Street view is ambivalent about the fieldside path to the river- it looks to be alongside a drain, having jumped over the low roadside crash barrier. It looks walkable in September 2023- though unclear if it is actually a public right of way.

Turn left as you leave your hôtel and walk about 2 minutes, then turn right at l'Antre Terre et Baie, and that gets you to the bike path, which is the repurposed path of the tram railway.

Although it has to be said if you just walk along the edge of the road it doesn't look scary - it's a pretty wide road for that part of the world.

Direct experience here. The riverside multi-use path Simon mentions above is not only perfectly safe and pleasant, but also provides beautiful views of MSM. Your biggest danger is that you'll stop for too many pictures and miss your dinner reservation.

You can walk back on it as well, which would be fun after dark. It is wide, and not a lot of bicycle traffic as it links tourist sites, not a commuter route. Maybe bring a tiny flashlight to make a spot on the tarmac so the theoretically possible night cyclist would know you are there. Handy as well to make you seen if you decide to walk the road.

Maybe something like this little flashlight

Have a great trip!

Thank you all for your input. We are just back from our trip and I am posting this “report” in case someone else has the same question in the future.

The B&B owner has a map that shows all the various ways to get from the hotel to the island (wish I could post a picture of it). To access the walkway along the Couesnon dyke/river you have to walk (3 minutes) along the road toward “Alligator Bay Reptile park” where you can cross the street on a cross walk and access the river walk at the back corner of the L’antre Terre restaurant parking lot. That 3 minute walk was fine - there is a dirt path worn in the grass and we felt perfectly safe as cars passed by us. The walk along the river (paved path with benches) provided amazing views; very glad we did it. From the hotel to the entrance steps that lead up into the Abbey itself took us 50 minutes.

Coming onto the island we took the “back door” archway entrance on the left recommended by Rick/did not go up the stairs and down the main street to avoid the thick crowds. Steep ramps and some stairs but not as many people and some nice views. We did walk down the main street and check out shops as we left.

When we came off the island we took the shuttle to the parking lot and then walked along the road back to the hotel (note if you get off the shuttle at the bridge you can easily access the river walk and get back that way). We walked on the same side of the road as our hotel, facing traffic. Sections of this walk had a worn dirt path but sections did not (you could walk through long grass or in the street). It was ok but not as safe feeling as the short walk to Alligator Bay (though it did allow us to stop in L’Atelier Biscuit shop and pick up yummy cookies).

At night we opted to drive to the restaurant (they offer free parking to patrons after 6pm - get access code online before going). After a delicious dinner we left our car in their lot and walked (sidewalks at this point) to the bridge to view MSM at night. Note: it was light out much later than we expected; dusk started about 9:30pm (May 10th).

We both decided we loved the daytime walk but were happier driving at night. If you were to walk the stretch of road to/from the restaurant at night be sure to bring a small flashlight to make yourself more visible to cars (there weren’t that many cars at night but it felt like they were driving faster than those during the day/not expecting to see people on the road).

Highly recommend both the B&B (rooms 1, 2, 3 and 4 have private patios. We were in 4 and enjoyed relaxing outside with a glass of wine) and the restaurant (the duck was very tasty and good desserts).