Circular routes via Pont Allain and Le Perray from Étang de Beaufort

Start from the Étang de Beaufort car park

(S/E) Head down towards the edge of the pond and take the path on the left running alongside it. Go down to pass on the right at the foot of the dam.

(1) At the crossroads, take the small road on the left. Stay on the road as it bends right then left.

(2) Reach the junction and turn left to reach the hamlet known as "La Touche", crossing the bridge over the Biez Jean.

(3) Shortly after the bridge, take the road on the right towards Bel Hêtre. Then take the first left. Keep left on the small winding road which leads to a junction after about 600 metres. Cross over to the opposite side to take a narrow street. The street veers to the right, heading west.

(4) At the small crossroads, take the road on the left then immediately turn right to reach a junction.

(5) Take the road on the right, then the one on the left, before turning right at the second junction. After 300 m, turn left onto the gravel track. It turns into a dirt track and leads onto the D75.

(6) Cross it, continue straight ahead, keeping slightly to the right, along a narrow dirt track. It is bordered on the right by a fence and on the left by a hedge. After 300 metres, turn left to reach a road.

(7) Follow it to the right. At the next junction, head towards Les Trois Cornières on the left. After about 250 metres, head towards Le Perray on the right.

(8) In the hamlet, take the dead-end road on the left which turns into a dirt track. Head down into the valley, cross the Meleuc stream, climb slightly to follow the path on the left through the woods which leads to a road.

(9) Turn left onto it. Before the fork, take the path on the right which runs alongside the Meleuc. The path may be slightly muddy; it climbs as it moves away from the stream below. It leads onto a track; take this to the left, climbing gently, until you reach the crossroads at a place called "Rohéard".

(10) Keep right twice and pass by the nursery. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead, staying on the road. After 150 metres, at a place called “Launette”, take the road on the right and continue for 300 metres to reach the D75. Cross it and continue along the stony path towards Clos Mahé. After about 150 metres, leave the path by turning left.

(11) At the crossroads, turn right and continue to the junction you passed on the way there.

(5) Head right for about 180 metres, then turn left at the place known as "Le Chauchix". Continue along the road; the pond is on your right below. Reach the car park by turning right (S/E).

Please note: hunting is permitted on Tuesdays and Saturdays from late September to late February in the Mesnil Forest. See the ONF website.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are days on which mushroom picking is prohibited all year round in all state-owned forests in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine.

Between (5) and (6), after passing Meleuc, the path is sometimes hard to make out, but you just need to keep heading in the original direction to find your way. After the climb, it was dotted with badger setts.

A short distance from the route lies the Abbey of Notre-Dame du Tronchet.
The Abbey of Notre-Dame du Tronchet dates back to^{the 12th} century. It has its origins in the Cistercian movement, a branch of the Benedictine order founded in 1098, which advocated simplicity, contemplation and an austere monastic life. Read more by clicking here.

Nearby is the monastery of Beaufort.
The monastery is a former Breton manor house, situated in the middle of the woods and on the edge of a pond.
The Beaufort site has been home to no fewer than three different castles: the first, a motte-and-bailey castle, built in the^12th century; the second, a stone castle, erected in the^17th century; and finally, a manor house built later and converted, which is today’s Beaufort Castle.

Menhir known as La Pierre du Domaine, private property.
Near Pont Allain, listed in 1889.
Two armies clashed on the site and the fighting was so fierce that by the end of the day only two opposing combatants remained. The stone rose up between them and prevented them from killing one another. Suspecting a divine sign, the two combatants questioned one another and discovered that they were brothers.