The former Kerrous quarry and the banks of the Odet at Stangala

Access: From Boulevard Président Allende (D783) – Quimper’s western bypass – at the Philippe Le Bon roundabout, take the D15 towards Coray. At the traffic lights, keep left, then take the first road on the left, signposted ‘Stangala site’. Follow this road straight on, go over the expressway and, at the roundabout, turn left towards Kerrous. Park in the car park of this former quarry.

(S/E) From the car park, head left to reach the banks of the Odet and walk alongside the river. After two ponds on the left, first turn right then left onto the wide path leading up to the former quarry, which has been converted into a water reservoir. After the small viewpoint, continue straight on, turn left onto the footpath and, at the bottom, turn right to reach a new footbridge over the Odet, opened in November 2021.

Signposting:^GR® ®38 (white and red) and^PR® (yellow)

(1) After the footbridge, turn right onto the wide path which initially overlooks the river before drawing closer to it as it becomes more stony. Continue until you reach a signpost.

^GR® ®38 signposting (white and red)

(2) Leave the yellow-marked path which climbs to the left and continue to follow the riverbank. Cross a wooden walkway and carry on along the path which moves away from the river slightly before rejoining it further on. This stony section may be muddy. Reach the old Meilh Poul footbridge (Meil Poul on the map).

Unmarked

(3) Cross the footbridge and turn right (there is an old sign reading ‘Grifonnès 40 min’, but this section is no longer signposted). Begin a steep, winding ascent (80 m elevation gain). This is the most difficult part of the route. Pass a small fountain built into the low wall on the right, then further up, a beautiful stone trough, and arrive at another small fountain, also built into the wall. Continue the climb through the woodland, dominated by holly, and reach the plateau near a signpost indicating “Grifonnès viewpoint 100 m”

^GR® ®38 white and red markings

(4) Turn right and rejoin the^GR® near two large eucalyptus trees. Turn right, cross the car park (benches), continue along the track leading to this car park and carry on until you reach a tarmac area where you let the^GR® carry on straight ahead.

No signposting

(5) Turn right under the high-voltage power lines and reach a road. Follow this road straight downhill, running parallel to the power lines, until you reach the Squividan substation.

(6) Walk through the hamlet of the same name (signposted) and continue along the wide pavement on the left, ignoring all the streets to the right and left, which are often dead ends. You’ll reach the ‘Keramus’ bus shelter.

(7) Leave the road and turn right onto a grassy strip running parallel to it, then follow this to the nearby roundabout.

(8) Turn right into Rue Albert Einstein and continue along the pavement on the left, past the Kervouvois 2 industrial estate, until you reach a barrier (with a transformer on the right). Turn left and follow the wide path that circles the entire industrial estate until it joins the road.

(9) Take the sharp right-hand bend and follow the footpath down towards a roundabout.

(10) Go round the roundabout on the right and take the path along the side of the road towards Kerrous. Pass the old entrance gate to the quarry and return to the car park (S/E.).

The section through the Stangala site is classified as a medium-difficulty walk.
Muddy section in winter along the Odet.
Between points (5) and (8), then after (9), the route follows a stretch of quiet country lanes.
Picnic tables at the start car park.

The former Kerrous quarry.

The hamlet of Squividan.

The banks of the Odet at the Stangala Gorges.
View towards the north of Quimper.