Route from Chaos de Mardoul to Loqueffret

During this hike, you will discover the Chaos de Mardoul while following in the footsteps of the pilhaouerien, itinerant traders who travelled from farm to farm, laden with earthenware (bowls, plates, dishes) which they exchanged for rags.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.92 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 103 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 98 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 265 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 212 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From the village of Loqueffret, park in the Town Hall car park, where you can visit the Church of Sainte-
Geneviève, patron saint of the commune, as well as the Pilhaouerien (itinerant ragpickers) and Recteur Museums.

(S/E) Climb the stairs surrounding the fountain. Cross over and take the small road opposite. About fifty metres further on, turn right onto the path that leads up to the old Loqueffret station. Turn left onto the local road.

(1) Look for the path on the right that you will take on the way back and continue towards Margily, leaving the Manoir de Kerguéven on your left and turning towards Kerguéven.

(2) Turn right after this hamlet to take the old Plouescat-Rosporden railway line, nicknamed the "Train Patate" (Potato Train), to the D36.

(3) Turn left to follow it carefully, then cross and follow the road to Couzanet on the right. Drive straight through the village and continue to Kermarc.

(4) At the exit of the hamlet, on the left, a sign indicates the direction of Chaos de Mardoul. Below, you will discover the Ellez, its ford, its chaos, its small whirlpools. It is a charming site that exudes tranquillity. Cross the footbridge.

(5) Immediately afterwards, turn right and follow a path from where you can see two stone flax troughs submerged in the water.

(6) Cross the river via a bridge, turn right and follow the water's edge to return to the first footbridge. Head left back up towards the hamlet.

(4) Once on the road, cross it and continue straight ahead towards the Rest.

(7) After this place, turn right to pass at the foot of Ménez Du.

(8) At the end of the path, cross the D36 carefully and follow the abandoned road to the left. Turn right onto a path, then left.

(1) Once on the local road, turn left to reach the crossroads at the old Loqueffret railway station. Take the small tarmac path that descends slightly to the right to return to the village centre (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 228 m - Town hall car park - Église Sainte-Geneviève (Loqueffret)
  2. 1 : km 1.08 - alt. 260 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 3.45 - alt. 220 m - Old Plouescat-Rosporden railway line
  4. 3 : km 4.78 - alt. 244 m - D36 crossroads
  5. 4 : km 6.2 - alt. 229 m - Village of Kermarc
  6. 5 : km 6.46 - alt. 214 m - Footbridge - Fork in the road
  7. 6 : km 6.8 - alt. 212 m - Small bridge over the - Ellez (rivière) - Affluent de l'Aulne
  8. 7 : km 7.71 - alt. 247 m - Intersection
  9. 8 : km 9.46 - alt. 255 m - D36 intersection
  10. S/E : km 10.92 - alt. 228 m - Town hall car park - Église Sainte-Geneviève (Loqueffret)

Notes

Departmental roads: caution when crossing and walking

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
3.7 / 5
fcreach
fcreach

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I enjoyed the scenery and being surrounded by nature. It's a shame, however, that 80% of this hike involves walking on tarmac.

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pemoch
pemoch

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The main attraction of this route is the arrival at the small chaos of Mardoul, which is not very long. There is a bit of a small road, but it can be covered quickly. If you follow the marked loop, be careful not to take the return route at Loqueffret station, but stay on the departmental road. It can be easily followed in the opposite direction.

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r.ammeux
r.ammeux

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

The charm of the Chaos de Mardoul site does not justify having to follow the route from points 1 to 4 almost exclusively on a road, which is small and quiet but of no interest.
Instead of a circular route, it would be better to do a return trip only on the second part (points 7 to 8).

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Catherine Vigneron
Catherine Vigneron

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Final access to Chaos impossible due to river flooding...

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Pierre isa
Pierre isa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike in a very peaceful location.
Problem at Chaos de Mardoul.
The path was flooded, so we turned back.
And to top it all off, a heavy downpour, but still a
very good day despite that.
On a sunny day, it must be superb.

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pitchoun
pitchoun

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a shame there isn't a way to avoid that stretch of road after departure, even though it's not very wide and not very busy.
We parked in the car park of the community council building.
We tried to return via another route marked on the IGN map, but it was blocked and taken over by the neighbouring field.
This would have allowed us to reach the car park from the other side, avoiding the return trip via the same route and the village.
I don't know who to contact in the event of blocked roads.

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FATHIGAHU
FATHIGAHU

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy route. The first half of the route allows you to warm up, mainly on tarmac roads. The section from the chaos (a beautiful site with picnic facilities) to the return to the starting point is very varied (shady paths + hillside path with views of Mont St Michel de Braspart, Lake Brennillis, Roc Trédudon, etc.). I particularly recommend the second part. Do not do it in reverse.

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