Contents

Map of Green Ways and cycle routes inside front cover Introduction to the 3rd edition page 5 Glossary and Abbreviations 6 navigating the book 7 Grading of cycle tours & Vtt/mountain-bike routes 9 Map symbols 10 Green WAys and CyCle routes - a detailed list 11 the rAIlWAys in - by Wendy Mewes 21 lonG DIstAnCe Green WAy routes maps and cycling companion 30 V2 st-Malo to 31 V3 st-Malo to Questembert 46 V6 Pont triffen to st-Méen-le-Grand 66 V7 roscoff to Concarneau 88 V8 Bosméléac to 111 VD6/VD2 Ploërmel to Messac 122 ACCoMMoDAtIon lIst 130 useful websites 140 Journey Planner 141 Distance chart 144 and inside back cover Map SyMbolS

Green Way (no motor i tourist information point traffic, easy gradients, M museum prepared surface) sports field Green Way route M racecourse ( hippodrome ) continued and signed on + roads shared with A abbey motorised traffic church (usually the centre suggested alternative to of a bourg ) signed route Green Ways & Cycle Routes + chapel the network of Green Ways and cycle routes in Brittany is still growing. Green Way route † cemetery the information given here reflects the situation in early 2016, according continued, but not to information available at that time. signed, on roads shared liaisons with motorised traffic V4 (un-signed, so only  Green Way ReGioNal RouteS suggested) VD6 departmental cycle routes name: V1 Roscoff to (part of Velodyssey * from Ilfracombe Green Way route, cycle tour/vélo promenade in Devon to hendaye on the French / spanish border) practicable but not yet circuit clockwise Developed: roscoff to nantes developed to full Green length: 358kms (approximately) Way standard (possible cycle tour/vélo promenade lack of signs, poor circuit anti-clockwise type: cycle route, largely on Green Way (canal towpath or railway) surface, unsecured cycle tour/vélo route: roscoff - st -Pol -de -léon - Morlaix - Poullaouen - Carhaix - junctions, etc.) promenade/circuit (Port de Carhaix) - rostrenen - - lac de Guerlédan - - rohan - Josselin - Malestroit - redon - Guenrouët - detour route m direction not specified X Blain - nort -sur -erdre - nantes minor road or track 6 Vtt (mountain bike) circuit crossing starts at roscoff and shares the V7 cycle-route (see below) to Morlaix then X busy road crossing a walking circuit the V7 Green Way to Carhaix. From here to Gouarec there is a choice of routes. lllllllllllX railway/level crossing GR380 Gr - grande randonnée - Alternative 1 (shorter): follow the V6 from Carhaix to Gouarec. canal/lock long-distance footpath Alternative 2 (prettier): from Carhaix, continue on the V7 to Port de Carhaix P parking S train service ter (bikes (or just before at the bridge over the canal, see map on p.107) then follow the wc toilets accepted) canal towpath eastward to Gouarec.

k From Gouarec the V1 is contiguous with the V6 to a point just east of lac

_ water J _ ferry/boat service de Guerlédan, where the V1 leaves southwards on a signed linking route to X picnic table/area accommodation rejoin the nantes-Brest Canal (below the barrage de Guerlédan), and follow it ------SS seat (the numbers refer to the to Pontivy. From Pontivy the V1 continues eastwards on the canal. Just before ∆ the end of the canal the V1 (signed as Velodyssey) diverts southwards to re-  shelter (often a trackside accommodation listings, see p.130) integrate with the road system to nantes (c.25kms including some further hut, somewhere to get ã hotel/B&B/ out of the rain) 4* chambre d’hôte sections of Green Way or cycle track). R café Nb Full details of the route from Port de Carhaix to the end of the canal T restaurant ã near nort-sur-erdre are not given in this book but can be found in ã6 gîte d’étape/hostel the Nantes-brest Canal, a guide for walkers and cyclists (red Dog Books). supermarket to position of tourist office W camping to 2 *Velodyssey is part of the euroVelo Atlantic Coast route (ev1) from the north Cape in norway to seasonal tourist office sagres in Portugal (eurovelo is a concept of the european Cyclists’ Federation. ecf.com 10 Navigating the book Green Ways & Cycle Routes 11 name: VD3 / VD8 Fougères - St-broladre name: VD6 St-Méen-le-Grand to Vitré length: 61kms length: approx. 135kms type: Fougères to Antrain mostly Green Way, cycle route from type: cycle route st-Méen-le-Grand to Moutiers; Antrain to roz-sur-Couesnon, then Green Way to st-Broladre Green Way (railway) Moutiers to Vitré route: Fougères - st -Germain -en -Coglès - st -etienne -en -Coglès - route: st-Méen-le-Grand - st-Malon-sur-Mel - Plélan-le-Grand - st -Brice -en -Coglès - Antrain - sougéal - Vieux-Viel Bréal-sous-Montfort - le Pont réan (on the river Vilaine) - the Green Way VD3 from Fougères to Antrain follows a former railway from Pont Péan - - essé - Marcillé robert - Moutiers - Vitré the centre of Fougères. At the midway point the Green Way is diverted From st-Malon-sur-Mel to Plélan-le-Grand the route passes through the alongside a road for a kilometre to near st-etienne-du-Coglès. the last few legendary Forest of Brocéliande. later, between essé and Marcillé robert, kilometres approaching Antrain are said to be the quietest and prettiest, don’t miss the massive dolmen ‘la roche aux Fées’ beside the D341. passing through a wooded river valley, with a short tunnel. From Antrain the VD3 continues as a cycle route to Vieux-Viel, from where it continues as the name: VD7 St-pern to Redon VD8. At les Quatre salines, a hamlet in the lowlands between st -Broladre and length: approx 110kms roz-sur-Couesnon, the VD8 meets the V4 littorale coming from normandy type: cycle route and shares its Green Way to the Chapelle ste-Anne (Bay of Mont st -Michel). route: st-Pern (link to VD4) - - - Maxent - - st-Just - redon (link to nantes-Brest Canal V1) name: VD4 St-pern - antrain In conjunction with the VD4, this is a useful north-south route linking the V3 length: 70kms Green Way at Plouasne or the V2 at hédé with the V1 nantes-Brest Canal type: cycle route (Velodyssey) at redon. highlight on the way for megalith hunters is the route: st-Pern - Miniac-sous-Bécherel - - - multiple site at st-Just, second only to Carnac. st -Brieuc -des -Iffs - hédé - Montreuil-sur-Ille - - name: VD8 Vieux-Viel - St-broladre Marcillé -raoul - Bazouges-la-Pérouse - Antrain (see VD3 / VD8 Fougères to st -Broladre, page 21) At st-Pern, the V3 is only 2kms away at Plouasne, over the border in name: VD9 parcé - bazouges-la-pérouse (see p.49 for liaison). the route goes from st -Pern via Miniac-sous-Bécherel (but don’t miss nearby Bécherel, Brittany’s equivalent of hay -on -Wye for length: approx. 38kms bookshops). then on through les Iffs, where a detour is in order to the type: cycle route Château Montmuran (see p.41). Continuing via st-Brieuc-des-Iffs to hédé and route: Parcé - saint-Marc-le-Blanc - - Bazouges-la-Pérouse (l ink the Ille-et-rance canal (V2 Green Way). leaving the canal again at Montreuil- with the VD4) sur-Ille the route continues via Feins, Marcillé -raoul and Bazouges-la-Pérouse loIre A tlAntIQue to Antrain. name: Vélocéan (north of loire) length: 46kms name: VD5 Fougères - louvigné-du-Désert type: cycle route on roads length: 22kms route: Piriac-sur-Mer - Guérande - branch to le Croisic - la Baule - type: Green Way (railway) st-nazaire route: Fougères - st-Germain-en-Coglès - le Châtellier - Parigné - Piriac -sur -Mer ( Petite Cité de Caractère ) is a seaside resort with a marina. louvigné-du-Désert Guérande, a well-preserved medieval walled town gave its name to the treaty starts near centre of Fougères, from the parking du nançon, initially following of Guérande (1364) that ended Brittany’s War of succession. For more than a the same route as VD3 (see above). After 4.5kms, at a crossing 1km after the thousand years salt has been produced from the extensive salt marshes in the D782, the line forks. Divert a few metres right to take the right hand track area. the route branches to le Croisic, seaside town on a peninsula beyond (straight on goes to Antrain). After louvigné-du-Désert the Green Way continues the salt marshes, la Baule, resort with extensive harbour, leisure port and towards st-hilaire du harcouët in normandy (Manche) and on to the Green Way plenty of restaurants, and st -nazaire, industrial town, port and dockyard. east/west from Vire to the Bay of Mont st-Michel (V4). the extensive wetland area of the Parc naturel régional de Brière and the Château de ranrouët at herbignac make an interesting detour inland. 18 Green Ways & Cycle Routes Green Ways & Cycle Routes 19 V2/V3. 1: St-Malo - (10 minutes by boat) to st-Malo 08 25 13 52 00 saint-malo-tourisme.co.uk

loNG DiStaNCe GReeN Way RouteS maps and cycling companion t-Malo is a place of arrivals and beginnings. Both LIAISONS : the V2 and the V3 nominally start here but the J ferry/boat service to V2 (st-Malo - Arzal) St-Malo - Rennes p.31 - 45 Gsreen Way itself starts in Dinard, the other side of Dinard or Dinan. the rance. Before taking the ferry to Dinard, the S St-Malo ter Dol-de- walled city of st -Malo ( Intra-Muros , or ville close ) is Bretagne, rennes. V3 (st-Malo - rhuys) evran - Questembert p.46 - 65 well worth a detour. explore the narrow streets, enjoy the pavement cafés, or walk around the Refreshments : Intra Muros ramparts. For the history of st -Malo visit the museum - plenty of choice. in the château, or the Corsaire’s house, 5 rue d’Asfeld provisions : Intra Muros (no large supermarkets V6 (Camaret - Vitré) pont triffen - St-Méen-le-Grand p.66 - 87 (demeure -de -corsaire.com). nearby). Getting from St-Malo to Dinard: from the Cale de Dinan, the landing stage at the foot of st -Malo’s city V7 Roscoff - Concarneau p.88 - 110 walls, there are frequent departures for the 10 ã ge ã2* minute boat trip to Dinard. Bicycles are Pla nd accommodated for a small extra charge. Gra V8 (st-Brieuc - ) bosméléac - Hennebont p.111 - 121 Alternatively, take ² the boat up the le Grand Bé Fort national ã 1* rance to Dinan, for an M to 01 VD6/VD2 ploërmel - Messac p.122 - 129 easy, level departure St-Malo D3 on the V2 or V3 from Intra- l Muros l l l l l l l l J l l l l Dinan (see p.35). gare l l l l S l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l the V2 and V3 share the same route from st-Malo J l l docks 6 l l 12 l l D l l to evran ( écluse du Mottay) Cale de Dinan J l l l l l l l l l l marina l l Gare Maritime l l l l (Channel Is. Ferries) l l l l l l Cross Channel Ferries l l l l l E l l l l Dinard l l l tour solidor l l

R . R a n c e

barrage = D168

V2 St-Malo - Rennes / V3 St-Malo - Questembert 31 V2. 6: Hédé to St-Médard-sur-ille (22.3kms, Green Way) liaiSoNS : tourist information - Maison du Canal, la Magdeleine, hédé (see map) VD4 St-pern - antrain , Ille-et-Vilaine cycle route. or bretagne35.com or paysdelabaie-mtstmichel.com C. Circuit Duguesclin (see p.38). fter hédé the V2 leaves the tow-path but still 3 De canal en bocage , 24kms medium. Montreuil-sur-Ille, north to étang de follows the canal along a lonely stretch of Boulet, Feins( Ref. & pro. ), south to Aubigné and rejoining the Green Way wAoodland track from which, initially, one can look where the Gr37 crosses, south of Montreuil (velo promenade no.3). down on the last few in the ladder of 11 locks. then a. Various circuits, details from local mairies and tourist information points. the Bassin de Bazouges can be glimpsed through the 11. Sentier des Guipellois circuit 8.6kms. starts in , Place de l’église. trees before the canal turns east and heads across Waymarked ‘11’ on yellow square (route from www.valdille.fr or local mairie ). the high ground in a deep cut. As usual in these 20. Sentier de la plousière circuit 7kms via rigole de Boulet, étang de

loneliest of spots where canal construction was at its t Poidevin, Ville Bué and back to canal

e l

u bridge on the D82. Waymarked 20 on yellow

most laborious, there was a place nearby for the étang de o La Maison du Canal workers that is still called ‘ le camp ’. Poidevin B square (route from www.valdille.fr or local e

d mairie). 2 hédé regularly hosts street theatre in mid-August 8 e l D o 8. Sentier du bois de Cranne circuit a and a weekend jazz festival on the canal in mid- 20 ig A 14.5kms on westl side of canal via Bois de R l

l

l

la Plousière D

l september. X

l Cranne. Waymarked ‘8’

8

l

3 l

B B l

l on yellow square (route

_ l

20 _P 3 l

X l X 11 ã from www.valdille.fr or Ville Bué GR l 37 X G l 2 R3 ã4* l 1 7 l D l local mairie). Bassin de l l l l Bazouges l l

• l

X le Camp l gare

11 X l

S l la Madeleine l l X Montreuil-sur-ille 7 VD4 l

8 l

ð l

M l _ D i X l _ P l

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37 l l

X R _ l 5 _ G l 9 l l 7 X X l l 3 x l l D D G l 2 ã C Guipel l 2

GR37 7 R l 1

3 221 l D 3 l 3 VD4 L R X l G 7  l l

l l Refreshments & provisions : l l 37 castle ruins l GR

E liaiSoNS (cont.) : l l

ã l

hédé (bourg ), Guipel (bourg ), l

l

ã Hédé l

2 l

l

bourg l

1 Montreuil -sur-Ille ( ), 7. Sentier de St -Médard circuit 9.3kms. l l

l

l

st -Médard-sur-Ille ( bourg ). starts from the lock at st -Médard, goes l

l l

Signage: V2 Hédé, Guipel, l north of the bourg and east of the canal. l

1 l

l 2

Montreuil -sur -Ille, St -Médard -sur -Ille. l

Waymarked 7 on yellow square (route l 5

l

l D l

from www.valdille.fr or local mairie). l

l N Canal tow-path, follow signs for l Route: S l ]l [ Montreuil-sur-ille ter to rennes; l u l correct side of canal. S at Hédé V2 l

l

l

Combourg, Dol-de-Bretagne, st -Malo; l

l

switches sides and climbs into woods to l

l

Dinan. l

l follow canal at a higher level (some l S l 0 1km l St-Médard-sur-ille ter less frequent, l l shared roads here). l l stopping trains only). l l l l l

Surface: compacted sand, l l

l l

l _ S l _ places of interest nearby l X occasional tarmac, good. l l l l P 7 l l X •Maison du Canal , la Madeleine, hédé. A canal l l 8 l l l Hédé - pleasant, small town l Detours: l St-Médard- museum in a former lock -keeper’s house. l

l

none noted. l

Difficulties: l

with a ruined castle overlooking the - l sur -ille l

200 m •Flight of 11 locks climbing to the highest point on l l

l

old Roman road between Condate l W Gradient Profile l

l

- the canal. From the lock beyond the rigole de l

100 m l

B + l 5 (Rennes) and Aleth (near St-Malo). l

A Boulet the canal flows in the opposite direction l

I I I I I I I I l - l

Worth the climb for the view. 0m l kms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7.9 towards the r. Vilaine at rennes. l

l - Bois de l 1 200 m l l 9 •Château de Montmuran , les Iffs (10kms). l Cranne l D l Gradient Profile l - historic château fort and 17/18th century l 100 m l l B C l l residence. open Jun-sept, pm sun-Fri. (From hédé l l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I- l 0m l kms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14.4 follow cycle route VD4 westwards to les Iffs.) l C 40 V2 St-Malo - Redon V2 St-Malo - Redon 41 V8. 8: lochrist and Hennebont - (9.7km Green Way) to hennebont (mairie) 9, Place Maréchal Foch 02 97 36 24 52 ville -hennebont.fr lorient 02 97 84 78 00 lorientbretagnesudtourisme.fr

places of interest nearby Industrial sky-line across the river at Lochrist • lochrist . ecomusée des Forges. Museum of the metalworking industry that was formerly on this site. LIAISONS : • Hennebont. a. Circuit de St-urlo, B walking Haras national - (national stud) Musée and Vtt (12kms). starts from du Cheval en Bretagne Kerentestec (), joins Ville Close - the old town walls the Blavet towpath between les tours broërec’h (gate to Ville Close) - locks 21 le rudet and 22 The tidal river Blavet, below the last lock trébihan (see page 118). Visits museum of art, traditions and history of the Chapelle de st-urlo on the hennebont. way back to languidic. yellow A parc botanique de Kerbihan - botanical waymarks. ( blavet.bzh) S------S----- gardens - trees and plants from five inzinzac cotinents. b. Circuit du talhouët, B walk a (7kms). starts from the tourist N ã Signage: awaiting new Green Way office/mairie. Green waymarks. ã2 3 signs. GR341 2 pontivy (56) to Riantec (56). D Route: u towpath of the canalised long-distance waymarked path. D

0 1km 1

4 ecomusée écluse 24 écluse 23 Kerrous River Blavet, always on the left bank. here it can serve as a

5 _ des Forges _Quelennec (no house) waymarked path into either X canal towpath - mostly P Surface: hennebont or Inzinzac-lochrist, tarmac, good - some older patches. or as a walking route from lochrist écluse 25 écluse 26 Difficulties: none hennebont to Pontivy not via écluse 27 Grand Barrage the Blavet. écluse 28 les Goreds M Refreshments : restaurant Polvern WHERE NEXT? 3 at Pont Augan; café/bar 2 D D 1

GR341 4 in log cabin by lock 19 Along the south coast, either westwards via lorient (sooner or later there will

5 Minazen (April to be a completely signed cycle route into lorient, whereas at present only a

R_ _ P D724 october); restaurant at middle section of it is signed) or south along the left bank of the Blavet to Port- X wc Pont neuf. Compagnie des Indes haras louis (Museum of the in the citadel) and then continue W national provisions : Baud (7kms eastwards via riantec and Plouhinec to erdeven to see the neolithic 3 from Pont Augan), b to alignments of Kerzerho (right beside the D781) and continue to Plouharnel, D languidic (5.5kms from 7 6 ----•------Hennebont Quiberon and Carnac. Further on from Carnac are even more megaliths 9 •SS Pont neuf or 5.2kms b M• P • Parc botanique from lock 22 trébihan) (locmariaquer and the island of Gavrinis in particular), the Gulf of Morbihan, B de Kerbihan ville GR341 close - 200 m the city of Vannes and the Presqu’île de rhuys. As time goes by, more of the Gradient Profile - V5 will be signed on quieter roads or cycle tracks, even the odd bit of Green 4 ã 100 m D72 B A Way. there will eventually be a link-up from rhuys to Questembert and the 1 I I I I I I I I I -I 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 kms 0m V3 northwards. 120 V8 River blavet V8 River blavet 121