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Park at Blain harbour.
(S/E) Walk up from the car park towards the bridge, keeping the canal on your left. When you reach the bridge, turn left to cross it.
(1) At the end of the bridge, carefully cross the road at the pedestrian crossing to take the narrow path running alongside the canal, which is on your right. Follow this path straight ahead. Pass under the old railway bridge and continue straight on. At one point, the canal splits into two branches, the right-hand one marked by a large black arrow. Continue along the path that runs alongside the left-hand branch until you reach the lock’s spillway.
(2) Turn left, ignoring the path on the right signposted ‘Route des carrières’. The path turns into a tarmac road, which you follow at a leisurely pace. Pass a group of houses, ignore a road coming from your right, and continue until you reach the Stop sign marking the junction with the N171.
(3) Cross the main road carefully(there is no pedestrian crossing), and continue along the path that opens up straight ahead of you. A lovely straight stretch lies ahead. A good hundred metres further on, take the path that branches off to your right, which then winds through several bends and crosses over a stream. When you reach a small signpost bearing, amongst other things, an arrow with leaves, carry on straight ahead. Further on, the path turns right and reaches a junction marked with a ‘No Entry’ sign.
(4) Turn left onto a narrow, poorly marked path, though it is signposted in yellow in places. It winds slightly before leading you to a wider path. Turn right onto this path, which climbs gently. Ignore an entrance on the right and pass a small post bearing the inscription “route des carrières, 3.01 km”. You’ll come to a signpost describing the old railway lines. Carry on until you reach a small road; cross it to take the path opposite, marked “route des sites”. After a long straight stretch, you’ll join the D15.
(5) Cross carefully to take the wide path directly opposite you, which continues straight ahead, rising slightly. Cross the small road leading to Champ Gérard. Continue straight on until you reach the junction with a small tarmac road.
(6) Turn left and follow this small road. After a right-hand bend that takes you over the Ruisseau de la Madeleine, the road climbs slightly.
(7) Take a wide path that opens up on the left. After a long but gentle climb, you’ll reach a wide path entrance on the right. It’s easy to spot, as it’s marked on the left by a post bearing the inscription ‘route des sites’.
(8) Turn right here and you’ll soon reach a road. Turn left, keeping to the left-hand side of this road. Once you’re opposite the path leading to the Chapelle Saint-Roch on your right, cross carefully to reach the car park for the chapel, which is situated opposite you, at the top of a hillock.
(9) To continue, head left across the car park to take the path at the far end, which runs alongside the road. When you reach a wide, stony path branching off to the right, turn right, then immediately left onto a grassy path. Carry on straight ahead until you come to a wide path coming from the right.
(10) Turn left, then immediately right to rejoin the roadside and follow it. Carry on until you find, on the right, the start of a path bordered on the left by wire fencing and, on the right, by a wall. Take this path; it leads out onto a tarmac road which you follow until you reach the Château de la Groulaie.
(11) All that remains is to carry on straight ahead until you reach the footbridge crossing the canal, and return to the starting point on the left (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
