Tro Vras circuit in the Bois d'Avaugour and Bois Meur

Departure from a car park located near the junction between the D4 and D24 roads. Access to the car park is via the D4, about 50 metres south of the junction (on the right when coming from the junction, on the left when arriving at the junction).

(S/E) Head west and take the path that passes in front of a shelter. At the T-junction, turn left and continue downhill until you reach a junction (barrier on the left).

(1) Continue straight ahead and enter the forest (sign for Tro Vras). At the T-junction that appears shortly afterwards, follow the path on the right that winds between the trees. After a water hole marked with logs, the path climbs slightly and descends towards a small clearing. You will come out onto a perpendicular path.

(2) Follow it to the right, uphill, and you will quickly come to a crossroads (elevation 195). Then turn left onto a wide forest path.

(3) After passing through a forest gate, you will come to the D24. Cross it carefully and follow it to the left for about 150 m. Then take the first path on the right and descend.

(4) At the crossroads, turn left (sign for Tro Vras) onto a path not shown on the 1:25,000 map. Watch out for rocks and roots protruding from the ground. Climb slightly, then go around the hill (elevation 203) on the right. Further on, after a right-hand bend, descend into the moorland.

(5) You will come out onto a path. Follow it to the right and downhill. After about 100 metres, turn left onto a path (signposted Tro Vras). Go downhill steeply, then follow a stream on your right. Then go back up to a fork that is not shown on the IGN map.

(6) Then turn right (Tro Vras sign) and descend.

(7) Take the first path on the right (yellow signpost and chevrons). Go downhill, cross the small bridge over the Ruisseau d'Avangour and immediately join a wide path.

(8) Follow the path on the right (Tro Vras sign) on a slight incline with the stream on your right. After about 1 km, look for a path starting on the left.

(9) There are two options here:
- For a shorter version, continue straight ahead to reach a bridge over the stream on the right (21).
- As shown on the map, take the path on the left (signposted Tro Vras) and climb north-northwest. This will take you to a crossroads called l'Étoile (shelter).

(10) Take the first path on the left. Stay on this wide, stable path and, at the crossroads (elevation 161), continue straight ahead for another 500 metres or so.

(11) Then turn right (two yellow lines) onto a path with loose ground. Ignore a path on the right and continue to a crossroads.

(12) Turn right (Tro Vras sign) onto a gravel road that climbs uphill. At the crossroads (elevation 156), go straight ahead and continue to a fork.

(13) Then turn left onto a path (yellow chevrons).

(14) At the next junction, turn left (yellow chevrons) and descend to a three-way junction.

(15) Then turn right onto a path. Make a wide left turn, then a right turn, and you will come to an intersection that is not shown on the 1:25,000 map.

(16) Turn right and go uphill. Keep heading south-southeast, then south-southwest, until you reach a junction with a bush.

(17) Turn left, following the signs. Continue straight ahead, north-northeast, ignoring the paths on the right. After about 500 m, at the top of a slight hill, you will reach an intersection.

(18) Turn right onto a path (signposted Tro Vras). Continue straight ahead (south) until you reach a forest track.

(19) Follow it to the left (Tro Vras sign) for about 600 m.

(20) Turn right. Go downhill, ignore a path on the right and you will soon reach a bridge.

(21) Cross the bridge and climb up the other side.

(22) When the road turns sharply to the right, leave it and take a path that climbs up to the left. After a flat section and a short descent, you will come to a bump followed by a bridge (not shown on the map). Continue climbing and you will reach a crossroads that you passed at the start of the hike.

(4) Then turn left (signposted Tro Vras). Descend slightly and then climb back up. You will reach an intersection just before a small road.

(23) There are two options here:
- To avoid a potentially muddy section, continue to the road and follow it to the left until the next junction, passing right by the starting car park (26).
- As shown on the map, take a path on the left and continue for a few metres before reaching a small road.

(23) Follow the path on the left that runs alongside this road until you reach it.

(24) Cross the road and take the path opposite. Walk for about 1 km, heading east-south-east then east.

(25) Turn right at the edge of the field and climb uphill.

(26) Cross the D4 carefully and continue on the path opposite. Climb steadily. Further on, turn right at the hairpin bend and descend slightly. Follow a path that winds between trees and descend to a pond (former quarry).

(27) There are two options here:
- To end the hike quickly, follow a wide, stable path on the right. This will take you to the D4. Turn left and then right to return to the car park where you started (S/E).
- As shown on the map, turn left just before the paved path (sign for Tro Vras). You will soon reach this path; follow it to the left. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead on the paved path, which climbs slightly.

(28) At the crossroads, you have two options:
- To shorten the hike, turn right onto the Circuit de la Carrière. At the next intersection, continue straight ahead and rejoin the main route at the point (35).
- As shown on the map, continue on the paved path with the Circuit Tro Vras. Continue on the slight incline for about 1.5 km, ignoring all the paths on the right. Ignore another paved path on the right and you will soon come to another intersection.

(29) Take a path on the right (signposted) and descend slightly. Join a stabilised path and follow it to the left (south-south-east). Ignore a path on the left and, at the junction (elevation 229), go straight ahead until you reach a T-junction.

(30) Follow a gravel path to the right, which immediately turns left.

(31) At the next junction, ignore the sign and turn right. After about 400 m, turn right at an acute angle to the main path. After a few more bends, you will reach a junction.

(32) Then turn left. At the end of the road, turn right onto a pretty path between trees and embankments. This will take you to a gravel road.

(33) Follow it to the left. At the T-junction (elevation 242), go left. At the next T-junction, go right (a simple right turn on the IGN map). Immediately ignore a path on the left and go straight ahead to the next junction. Continue straight ahead (west) and rejoin the Tro Vras circuit.

(34) Turn left. After about 250 m, take a series of right-left-right turns. Then head west-northwest.

(35) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead. Ignore a path on the right (signs) and go through a gate to take a path between embankments.

(36) When you reach a solitary house, turn right onto the path (which may be muddy) and join the D4.

(37) Cross it carefully, continue on the path opposite and follow a field on your right. After a left-hand bend, cross a field with the path.

(38) You will come out onto a small road at a place called Le Bois Meur and follow it to the right. At the T-junction, turn left. Go through a gate and you will immediately come to the junction you took at the start of the walk.

(1) Turn right onto a stabilised path. Shortly before the D24 road, follow a path on the right that runs parallel to the road until you reach the car park (S/E).

Shelter is available at the car park at the start (access via a gravel track), at the forest house (Bois-Meur farm) and at the L'Étoile crossroads.

Toilets are available at the forest house (paved access with shelter, toilets, play areas, access for people with reduced mobility). Parking spaces (not signposted) are available for motorhomes.

After the beech forest and before hill 203, somewhere on the right of the path and below, you will find "Le petit Lourdes".

Well hidden from view, this pile of rocks resembling a miniature cave was once a place of prayer and pilgrimage, decorated with a statue that has since disappeared. (Map and leaflet for the Avaugour Bois-Meur departmental forest https://cotesdarmor.fr/sites/default/files/2021-04/Foret_d_Avaugour_0.pdf

After the point (14) (towards the point (15)), after 150 m and on the left of the path "Les places charbonnières".

The old charcoal kilns are recognisable by their circular shape. Millstones were erected there, made of stacked oak logs with a central chimney. After being lit, the whole structure was covered with foliage and then earth. This limited the air supply, allowing the wood to burn without catching fire, thus producing charcoal. During the three weeks of firing, the charcoal burner kept watch over the kiln day and night. (ibid)

From the point (15), 600 m to the left is "La croix d'Avaugour" (the Avaugour cross).

To the right of the Merovingian cross is an ancient monolithic granite holy water font, which was once used to receive offerings from the faithful. (ibid)

To the right of the point (23) are the remains of the mill. (ibid)

On the right of the point (31) "La carrière" (the quarry).

Operated until 1983, this quartzite quarry supplied materials for public works in the area. The forest paths in the Avaugour Bois-Meur forest were built using materials from the quarry. The quarry is now filled with water and has been turned into a pond. (ibid)

To the left of the point, 300 m away, is "The hunting lodge".

Located in the heart of Bois-Meur, this granite building was once a farmhouse that operated the neighbouring farms. It has been converted into a hunting lodge and now welcomes hunters in training. (ibid)