Walk via the Étang de Kerbernez, one bank of the Odet and the Anse de Kerdour

From the D20 between Quimper and Plomelin, known as the ‘Routes des Châteaux’, take the road towards Penker-Polhoat and continue to the end of this road: Lenn Kerbernez.

(S/E) From the car park, head down to the left towards the houses, go round them on the left and head towards Kerbernez Golf Club. Pass the path on your right leading to Kerbernez Manor – now the golf clubhouse – go round a pond and you’ll find yourself facing the golf course.

(1) Turn left, walk alongside the golf course, which is lined with a beautiful row of deciduous trees, and you’ll come to a gate. Carry on to the left along a wide path, ignoring a path on the right leading to the Odet, pass an old, more or less derelict house and arrive at the Trois Tourtes site. Cross the footbridge to reach this headland, which offers a fine view of the Odet (see the description in the ‘Places to See’ section).

(2) Retrace your steps; after the footbridge, continue to the right along the lovely wooded path until you reach the area above the Étang de Kerbernez. Follow this wide path overlooking the pond, where a large colony of mallards lives, moving from one bank to the other as walkers pass by. You’ll come to a wooden walkway at the far end of the pond.

(3) Cross it and turn right to follow the opposite bank of the pond as closely as possible until you reach the dyke, without walking along it.

(4) Go through the metal gate marking the boundary of the area closed from 1 October to 31 March, pass a wooden chicane, climb slightly and continue along the fence on your left. Follow this tree-lined path, which offers lovely views of the Odet. Ignore the path on the right leading down to a small cove by the river and note the beautiful manor-style house on the hill above. Reach the second metal gate that closes off this area. Continue along the wide path beside Kerdour Cove (with a view of Kerdour Castle on the other side of the cove). At a signpost, ignore a path leading uphill to the left towards the houses on the hill and carry on to a gate.

(5) Take a short detour to the right to catch a glimpse of Anse de Kerdour, then retrace your steps and head down a lovely sunken path that climbs up to a road. Follow this road downhill, ignoring the various streets on both the right and left. At a fork in the road, leave the street marked ‘no entry’ on your left and continue along the 30 km/h zone road to the car park at the terminus (S/E).

Please note the opening dates for the path along the Odet from point (4).

Kerdour Castle.

Kerbernez Pond and its mallards.

(2) Legend of the Rocher des Trois Tourtes: A gamekeeper’s wife was carrying three pies home in a boat when Saint Cadou asked her for alms. The miserly woman refused. Saint Cadou found himself on dry land, the boat sank, the woman drowned and the three pies were turned to stone. Two of these stones can still be seen at the tip of the headland, and on certain nights, you can hear the poor woman’s soul wailing!