Countryside around Lababan in Pouldreuzic

Car park near the church in Lababan, a former parish attached to Pouldreuzic.

No markings

(S/E) Leave the car park on the left and follow the wide, carriage-accessible path that runs between the cemetery and the church. Enter the churchyard and admire the various statues, including a beautiful Pietà. Exit to the right and turn right twice onto the path that goes round the cemetery. Continue south-east through a wooded area.

(1) At^{the first} path leading uphill on the left, turn left and head up to a small road, which you follow to the left to reach the village of Lababan.

Yellow^PR® markings (brand new, spring 2017)

(S/E) Walk past the car park, go up Rue de Croas Vao to the junction of the same name (small wayside cross), turn right and go down the small road to the village of Keruguel.

(2) Turn left to cross the village, ignore the wide path leading straight ahead and take the dirt track on the right which climbs slightly. Pass three electricity pylons standing almost side by side (the end of a power line) then walk alongside a coniferous woodland on your left. Continue downhill to reach the entrance to a wooded area marked by a signpost.

(3) Descend into the woods along a narrow, steep path to reach a wide track corresponding to the old Audierne–Pont-l’Abbé railway line known as the “Train Carottes”. Ignore the markings and continue to the left.

Former route of^{the PR®} (remnants of yellow markings)

Turn right. The sign indicating the Fontaine de Pistigou 500m is incorrect; it is actually about 100 metres away. Look out for a path on the right, a few steps away, which descends from the railway embankment. Note a small tunnel on the left passing under the railway line and climb up to the right to the fountain (small sign). Retrace your steps and continue along the wide path to the right. You will reach a small road leading down towards the D2, which you must cross at the bend (take extreme care).

(4) Continue straight ahead along the small road (wooden sign for a bread oven), pass the turn-off for the hamlet of Loganou and take the small road on the right which climbs steadily towards the hamlet of Lanvao.
Just before reaching the D143, turn left onto a grassy track at a signpost. Here, you will find the new signposting you left earlier, but in the opposite direction.

Old^PR® route (remnants of yellow markings) +
Yellow^PR® markings (very recent, from spring 2017, but in the opposite direction)

(5) Follow this path running alongside the road, then turn left onto the track leading down into the Moulin de Crémenec valley. You will see a large poplar plantation ahead of you. Continue down the slope, keeping the valley on your right.

At the mill, head left up the path through the woods that goes round the mill to reach the bread oven. Cross a footbridge over the Virgule stream and climb the old wooden steps to reach a road.

(6) Follow this road to the right as it climbs steadily until you reach the access road to the hamlet of Ty Houyen. Turn left and follow this small road, closed to motor vehicles, for about 300m.

(7) Turn right, go round two houses on the left and continue along this path. It becomes narrower and lined with thorny hedges as it descends to the Pont de la Jument. A sign indicates that horses were once led here in the hope of a cure. To the right of the bridge, look out for a megalithic boulder that once marked the boundary between three parishes.

(8) Turn left to follow the old railway line of the “Carrot Train”. You will come across another yellow sign for the “Route de Saint-Demet”. Continue, passing a granite quarry on your right and skirting a wetland area until you reach the junction with the D2.

(9) Turn right and follow the road (take care), using the grass verge and then the disused road verge. After about 200m, at the bridge, cross over (take care) and follow the wide path opposite which climbs diagonally to the right. At the top, look out for two old signposts on the left.

Yellow^PR® markings (“Route de Saint-Demet”)

(10) Turn right, leaving the^PR® "Route des Moulins", and head down into a very dense coniferous wood. At the bottom, ignore a path leading straight ahead and turn left to follow a wide, ascending path. Continue and head back down to a junction of grassy paths.
Head back up towards the village of Lesneut.

Unmarked

At the entrance to the village, leave the^PR® on your right, cross this hamlet (with its beautiful buildings and fine restoration work) and reach the truncated wayside cross at Lesneut.

(11) Turn left onto the road and follow it to the next junction encountered on the way out (Croas Vao wayside cross)
Turn right and continue straight on to descend to Lababan via the reverse route of the outward journey to the car park (S/E).

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At the start, near the church, there are toilets and a large grassy area with picnic tables.
The route and markings for this walk have been changed (Route des Moulins).
At the start, I followed the new route, which is the same as the old one, then I turned off onto the old route where traces of the markings, though somewhat faded, still remain. At one point, you come across the new markings again, but in the opposite direction. The route also includes a section with no markings.

Lababan Church
The building is open every day in July and August from 2 pm to 6 pm.

Pistigou Fountain

CréménecBread Oven

The truncated Calvary of Lesneut: The date 1306, engraved in Roman numerals on the base of the Pietà, makes this Calvary the oldest in the department, and perhaps even in Brittany.

Croas Vao Calvary: this 4.5-metre-high St Matthew’s Cross dates from the 16th century. It was rebuilt on a cubic base and features a twin crucifix.