The countryside around Saint-Yvi via the Bois de Pleuven

Car park for the community hall and stadium behind the town hall.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, turn right onto Rue Christophe Le Meur towards the roundabout. Ignore the sign on the right for “Bois de Pleuven” (cycle path sign).
At the roundabout, take the right-hand pavement and follow this uphill road, signposted Ménez Tropic. Continue for about 700m.

VTT19 Bois de Pleuven signposting (signposts or signs at the various junctions).

(1) Just before a speed bump, turn left into a small street (Nos. 33-336-38-40). Please note, the MTB signpost is not very visible. The street continues as a grassy path before joining a small road.

(2) Head up to the right onto the small hill where an orientation table is located at a place called Là-Haut: view of part of the south coast (from the Glénan Archipelago to Pointe de Penmarc’h). Then turn right into the first, very shaded street, which continues as a grassy path downhill.
At the road (signpost), turn right and follow it for about 100m.

(3) Turn left towards Stang Maoguen (signpost and postbox), pass close to the house and continue along a narrow grassy path. At the road, opposite a small house, turn right and go downhill to the Stop sign. First turn right then left.

(4) Opposite the sign marking the end of the 50 km/h speed limit, turn left towards Corbidou. After passing under the high-voltage power line, turn right twice towards the large pigsties of the Kéreonnec farm. After the buildings, turn left then right towards Ménez Ruien. Pass the farm on your right and reach the bridge crossing the N165 – E60 expressway.

(5) Continue along this small road. At the edge of the woods, note a fallen menhir marked by a sign. Pass Stang ar Besk on your left and cross a road.

(6) Continue straight ahead along a wide stony path (signposted Keranpage). Pass the Kerlou Bihan farm (selling organic vegetables) and follow this path down towards the old Toulgoat mill.

(7) Go round the buildings on the left and continue along the path lined with hazelnut trees, which climbs back up towards the Bois de Pleuven road.

(8) At the road, turn right (mountain bike markings on the electricity pole are almost worn away) and follow this road which runs alongside the Naturalys SPA (beauty treatment centre) housed in a manor house. You will reach a roundabout.

(9) At the roundabout, take the cycle path and continue in the same direction along the edge of the woods.

Mountain bike route 19 Bourg (signposts or signs at the various junctions).

At the signpost, near a bench, leave the VTT19 “Bois de Pleuven” route, which heads off to the left, and continue instead on the “bourg” route (same numbering). Go over the dual carriageway, cross the next road and continue towards the hamlet of Ménez Riou Braz.

(10) At the sign, turn right and take this cycle path, which is shared with farmers for their agricultural work. View of the countryside and the Monts d’Arrée on the horizon. Reach a housing estate under construction (2017) at the hamlet of Kernévez Mésaven, go round it on the right, follow the sports ground and turn left to reach the car park (S/E).

Toilets at the start car park.
Several shelters provided for schoolchildren during school bus collection times.
A very shaded route along sunken lanes.

The section between points (8) and (10) may seem long and less pleasant as it runs alongside the road, even though the cycle path is well-maintained.
From point (10), the cycle path is shared with farmers for agricultural work (a sign clearly indicates this).

Orientation table at (2): view of the sea and the Glénan archipelago.
Beautiful views of the countryside.
Panoramic view of the Montagnes Noires and Monts d’Arrée.
Poems from Saint-Yvi State School on the theme of the fallen menhir