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Park in the centre of Betton, in the town hall car park between the Ille and Rance Canal and the River Ille.
(S/E) Join the towpath along the canal on the right bank, then head left towards the north. Cross the footbridge over the Ille riverbed; a few metres further on, you’ll come to a path junction with a small footbridge (this will be your return route).
(1) Ignore the small footbridge on the left and continue along the canal bank. You will then pass the Brosses lock. Stay on the right bank of the canal until, after the KM 16 marker in a right-hand bend, you reach a small concrete footbridge which branches off to the left of the towpath to cross the stream.
(2) Do not take the small footbridge (shortcut – see below), but continue along the towpath which follows the bends of the canal.
One kilometre further on, at the exit of a sharp bend in the canal to the right; just before a long straight stretch begins and after kilometre marker KM 17; a path branches off to the left just after a row of three birch trees in a row along the towpath.
(3) Take the path on the left, which climbs steeply into a copse, before turning south after 50 metres, overlooking the canal. Follow the path as it climbs through the undergrowth. On emerging from the copse, you’ll reach a T-junction.
(4) At the T-junction, take the sunken path on the right, heading north-west. Climb the hillside, where the view then opens up. At the junction with the Route de Betton, continue straight on towards La Fricaussière.
In the hamlet of La Fricaussière, turn left at the stone wall, before the first house. Join the sunken path again; a little further on, it veers to the right to complete the climb up the hillside. At the top, you’ll reach a T-junction with a path running perpendicular to it.
(5) At the crossroads, turn left and head south. Follow the sunken path, which joins the road after 300 metres. Take the road on the left downhill and join the Betton–Chevaigné road.
Continue to the right towards Betton for 300m. You will then reach the start of a tarmac road which descends to the left towards Haut Finvert.
(6) Leave the road and turn right (120°) onto the dirt track which climbs slightly between two embankments. Further on, a sharp bend to the left directs the track southwards. Follow it along the ridge to the village of Champ Roussel.
(7) Turn 90° to the left onto the road to head downhill and reach La Planchette farm.
(8) At La Planchette farm, leave the road as it curves to the left. Then, just after the shed, turn right onto the path that descends between two fields and crosses the Ruisseau de Quincanpoix further down. Head back up towards Betton in a straight line. Pass the cemetery on your left.
(9) After the cemetery, head down the first street on the left, Rue du Clos Paisible, and reach the canal via the footbridge at thefirst junction you passed on the way out.
(1) Turn right and follow the same route as on the way there to return to the car park at Betton Town Hall (S/E).
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