Kercaradec route from Kermoysan in Quimper

Parking: Kermoysan shopping centre car park.
Accessible by bus.

(S/E) From the car park, go around the shopping centre via the pharmacy on the corner and take the metal footbridge over Boulevard de France. Go down to the right and pass between the buildings to reach Rue de Kergestin (Kerjestin). Go down to the left along the nursery and primary school. At the first fork, leave the school on your right and continue straight on until you reach a glass recycling bin.

Yellow^PR®

(1) Enter the Bois de Kerjestin and take the wide path that branches off to the left (the purple IGN route is no longer valid). Follow this path, which turns right, overlooks old quarries protected by a wooden fence, and then opens out on the right into a large grassy clearing that was well ploughed by wild boars in January 2021.
At the signpost, turn left, leaving the wide path to begin a beautiful descent into the woods and emerge onto a carriage road, the Chemin de la Cascade.

GR ^®34-^GR® 38 link +^PR® Yellow

(2) Follow this wide, double-marked path to the left, bordered by a stream which, further on, is channelled under the path to reach a property's lake. Then walk along a plantation of fir trees on your right and arrive at a signpost marked VTT.

(3) Continue straight ahead, leaving the narrow sunken path on your right, which will be the return route. Cross the Keriner stream, which marks the boundary between Quimper and Pluguffan (beautiful meadow on your right), and you will arrive at a small road.

Yellow^PR®

(4) Follow this road, bordered on the right by a stream, and leave the^GR® on your left. Shortly after the house on the left, a dull noise intrigues walkers; it comes from a small waterfall. Continue to the entrance of a farm where dogs clearly signal that access is prohibited.

(5) Go around the farm on the path on the right, still bordered by the stream. On the right, you can see the wooded hill of Kercaradec, once occupied by important Gallic fortifications (archaeological remains on the map, site inaccessible today). Pass under the bridge of the old Quimper-Pluguffan railway line, which is set to become a greenway. Ford a small stream and then cross the Kervastal Mill, which operated until 1960 (two waterfalls indicate the location of the water wheel). A pretty park has now been created around this site. Continue to the next crossroads.

(6) Turn right, pass an information sign about the campsite in Quimper and follow this road, which climbs steadily. This is the only part of the cross-country route where there may be some traffic (stay alert). Pass Chemin de Ty Pin (Ti Pin on the map) and arrive at the dead-end road marked Chemin du Camp de Kergaradec.

(7) Turn right and follow this sunken road lined with tree-covered embankments. Drive through the hamlet.

No markings

(8) At the last houses, look for the entrance to house No. 33 on the right (yellow cross on a telephone pole), which leads to a pretty path at the edge of the woods that descends towards the railway line, which is due to be converted into a greenway in the near future.
Retrace your steps (allow 1.2km there and back).

Yellow^PR®

(8) Turn right and you will come to a barrier at the entrance to a sunken lane, designed to stop mountain bikes. Go down this well-worn lane and pass another barrier before reaching the tarmac road. On the right is an old stone wash house that deserves a better fate. Continue along this small road uphill.

Mountain bike markings 4 and 5

(9) Turn right onto the dead-end road, Chemin de Kervichard, leaving the yellow markings, and cross the bridge over the old railway line you encountered earlier (view of the bell tower of Penhars, of which Kermoysan is a part). Cross this hamlet with its beautiful properties. On the left, at the entrance to one of them, note two beautiful twin oak trees. Continue along a very rutted path downhill and arrive at Chemin de la Cascade, marked by a signpost.

GR ^®34-^GR® 38 link

(3) Turn left and follow this carriage road in the opposite direction.

(2) Continue straight ahead along the Bois de Kerjestin, which you crossed on the way there. You are now on the old road that linked Penhars to Plonéour-Lanvern. Go around the nursery and primary school to return the way you came, i.e. climb the footbridge to reach the shopping centre car park (S/E).

Route alternating between small roads, often dead ends, and beautiful sunken lanes.
Some sections may be muddy in winter.

Peaceful countryside just a stone's throw from the city.
Several streams adorn this route (best time to visit: spring).
Old Kervastal Mill.