Around the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Bon-Repos

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Take a short loop around Bon Repos Abbey by following the towpath of the Nantes-Brest canal to the Bellevue lock. The hike continues on theGR®34trail, which runs along the shores of Lake Guerlédan before venturing into the countryside and returning to the abbey.

Details

n°333036
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 150 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 143 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 203 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 124 m
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Photos

Difficult passage due to rockfalls on the rock face
View of Lake Guerlédan.
Bon Repos Abbey located on the banks of the Nantes-Brest canal - Starting point for the hike.
Return to the abbey

Description of the walk

(S/E) Bon Repos Abbey car park. Head south on the D44 until you reach the bridge.

(1) Before the bridge, turn left onto the towpath and follow it to the Bellevue lock.

(2) Turn right onto theGR®34trail (red and white markings). Be careful on the section leading to Trégnanton, as some passages are quite difficult due to rockfalls. Continue to the junction with the D95.

(3) At the end of the trail and at the end of the paved road, turn left onto the D95. After the bend, continue on the road until you reach the junction with the road leading to Ar Goajou.

(4) Turn left, follow the forest trail sign and continue on the paved road. This road is a dead end and the forest trail is at the end on your left. A sign will indicate the direction to take.

(5) At the end of the path, turn left and then left again towards Kerouillé.

(6) In a large bend, take the path on the right that leads into a field, cross it and rejoin the trail at the end of the field at a place called Bellevue.

(7) Continue right on the paved road, leaving the quarry on your left. Join the road.

(8) Turn left and follow the signs to the greenway.

(9) Take it on the left. Be careful when crossing the D2164. Continue to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 126 m - Parking - Abbaye de Bonrepos
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 128 m - Take the towpath. Confluence of the Blavet and - Daoulas (rivière) - Affluent du Blavet
  3. 2 : km 2.38 - alt. 127 m - Follow the GR34. Bellevue lock - Canal de Nantes à Brest
  4. 3 : km 5.98 - alt. 143 m - Turn left and follow the D95. - Blavet (fleuve)
  5. 4 : km 6.42 - alt. 159 m - Turn left and follow the sign for the forest trail.
  6. 5 : km 7.27 - alt. 158 m - Turn left and then left again.
  7. 6 : km 7.65 - alt. 180 m - Take the path on the right.
  8. 7 : km 8.4 - alt. 193 m - Turn right and continue along the road.
  9. 8 : km 8.71 - alt. 182 m - Turn left and join the greenway.
  10. 9 : km 10.19 - alt. 149 m - Greenway
  11. S/E : km 11.13 - alt. 126 m - Abbey car park.

Notes

On the Abbey site, you will find shops and places to rest and eat. For your information, from Easter to All Saints' Day, there is a traditional market every Sunday morning with local producers.

Worth a visit

Bon Repos Abbey with its shops.
The Stream-Brest Canal.
The Bellevue lock and the lock keeper's house.
Along theGR®34trail, there are beautiful views of Lake Guerlédan.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 27 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
kerand29
kerand29

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike. The markings are somewhat vague on the cliff overlooking the canal. Fortunately, the Visorando app helps you find your way.

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justaud
justaud

hiking error
this answer corresponds to the Daoulas Gorges

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huito
huito

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice route, with some challenging sections along the lake, but the return trip was pleasant on quiet roads and the greenway. We followed the route using the Visorando app and didn't pay much attention to the route description.
Visit to the abbey on the way back.

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mamoutan
mamoutan

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route, quite challenging in places. It starts along the banks of the Nantes-Brest canal (most of which is in the shade in the morning) and then passes through a wooded area with some scree in places. Make sure you wear good shoes. The panoramic views from the top are well worth the effort. The end of the route is in the shade on the cycle path. Do not walk in wet weather as it can be slippery.

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Aldodekerpuns
Aldodekerpuns

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

-Superb hike, beautiful landscapes and a wide variety of terrain (towpath, dirt track with tree roots, rocks, a few paved roads, greenway) very challenging at points 2 and 3, with a good little climb at points 3 and 4. Be careful not to end up in the water.
Very enjoyable, worth repeating

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lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★
• Edited:

Hello MarrecLoïc
The author is notified of all comments regarding their hike.
There is a good chance that he will respond to you.

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MarrecLoïc
MarrecLoïc

Hello, I would like to contact the person who created the route around the Abbaye du Bon Repos (11.3 km). I am organising a short hike starting from the abbey. It should not exceed 5 km, and the group includes both experienced and moderate walkers. My question is: between points 2 and 8, is the path accessible to vehicles?
Thank you for your reply.
Kind regards, Loïc Marrec

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Philippe Barbot
Philippe Barbot

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk from the Abbaye du Bon Repos, along the canal, beside Lake Guerlédan and then up into the hills.
It's easy at first, then becomes more challenging once you reach the lake.
Much of the walk is in the forest, so you're sheltered if it rains and cooler if it's hot.

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Nest
Nest
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A delightful, very peaceful walk with beautiful scenery along the river.
Be careful at point 4, at the end of the cul-de-sac, there is a forest path, but a few metres further on there are three paths. There is no sign to indicate which one to follow, but it is the one that continues straight ahead. This path was very muddy yesterday (mid-February), so we climbed up the embankment to follow the same direction on harder ground.

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miclobo
miclobo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty area: central Brittany is magnificent! Ideal for recharging your batteries!

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Bellve
Bellve

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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Pierre isa
Pierre isa

We headed off in a different direction from the start
but it was still very pleasant despite our mistake

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éclaircie
éclaircie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

doing it in autumn has the advantage of fewer visitors, magnificent colours and possible views of the lake
picking chestnuts and mushrooms can extend the estimated time

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mariedaniel
mariedaniel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

-This route, which we completed in glorious sunshine, is very pleasant. In my opinion, only the section between points 2 and 3 (lakeside) requires good footwear as the path is steep. It is sometimes very rocky and the density of the roots means that caution is required when walking.

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cosqué
cosqué

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk, in line with the difficulty level. Beginners beware, there are two difficult sections:
1: the climb up from the lake to the road is challenging for beginners
2: the unmaintained section of the path (between points 4 and 5)

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