Cirque de Consolation, the Roche du Prêtre and the cave

A walk around the Cirque de Consolation with a thrilling variety of views and valleys. Beautiful panoramic views and bodies of water on way.

Technical sheet

65804
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 440 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 438 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 842 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 498 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the Consolation site car park (S).
Exit the car park in the direction of the site, past the water mill and take the road to begin your ascent (1).
When climbing up, there is a sign on the right pointing out the Roche du Prêtre at the edge of a path, take this (2).
Having arrived at the top by the road, go ahead to the right of the restaurant to find a path with a Roche du Prêtre signboard (3).
Take this and, once you reach the top, go past the statue of the Virgin Mary and take the path left towards the zipline. Here, goover the bridge to the right and follow the path along the cliff (4). At the intersection with another path, turn left into an area with housing called la Scie above.
Here, take the path on the left, along the pasture to get to a path crossed by a wooden fence (5).
Head straight on taking the path following the signs for Roche du Prêtre, to reach the top the Roche du Prêtre and its viewpoint (6).
Then head back onto the road and, at the junction, take right heading downhill make your way back to the aforementioned wooden fence (7).
There, turn right at the sign for Consolation, ignoring the sign advising the wearing of a helmet. Follow the path along the cliff until you come to some metal stairs.
Follow the path to find a further set of metal stairs.
At the bottom, turn right on the road to get to the Consolation site, always following the directions indicated by the signs, namely towards Consolation. Head through the park to then return to the car park (F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 498 m - Car park at the Consolation site. Cross the - Dessoubre (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.16 - alt. 506 m - Take the road on the right to go up
  3. 2 : km 0.42 - alt. 528 m - Taking the route
  4. 3 : km 0.64 - alt. 589 m - Take the path towards Roche du Prêtre
  5. 4 : km 0.8 - alt. 639 m - Follow the path along the cliff
  6. 5 : km 1.63 - alt. 671 m - Take the path on the left
  7. 6 : km 2.85 - alt. 832 m - Wooden barrier. Go straight ahead
  8. 7 : km 3.03 - alt. 842 m - Roche du Prêtre
  9. S/E : km 6.19 - alt. 498 m - Consolation car park

Practical information

- Equipment is required, especially good walking shoes, and a helmet is recommended.
- Various shops in the park.
- Not suitable for children due to the two difficult sections on metal stairs, nor should it be attempted in the rain.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 78 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 1881101

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike with cliffside trails not recommended for those who are afraid of heights or families with children, but secured in appropriate places with ropes and cables.

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User 1881101

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Circuit with steep slopes, not recommended for families with children or people prone to vertigo, narrow path along a cliff edge but with ropes and cables for safety.

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Alamaya
Alamaya

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike to discover, very shaded route, moderate difficulty
For the return trip via the waterfall and cave, not recommended for those who are afraid of heights, narrow ledge trail (ropes and cables in place for safety)
Descent via metal stairs and duckboards
Hiking poles recommended

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jpmado1962
jpmado1962

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The route was followed as suggested. Please take care as indicated. Otherwise, a very beautiful hike.

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vental42
vental42

I'd like to take a group with me in May but I won't have time to do the reconnaissance beforehand. I read in the reviews that it would be better to do it in reverse. Please let me know what you think.

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Caem
Caem
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk.
The site is magnificent.
We hiked there after a few days of heavy rain. Despite everything, the trails were accessible, with a few muddy areas where you had to be careful, especially on the descent after marker 6 (thanks to the trees, which gave us something to lean on).
Good hiking boots and helmet recommended. Possible with a 10-year-old child who is used to walking.

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bernie71
bernie71

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The signposting is no longer in line with the description given and the return between 6 and 7 is very dangerous on the descent despite a rope handrail. It's better to return via the longer forest path, especially if the ground is damp.

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chouchou_des_bois
chouchou_des_bois

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Nice accessible walk. Point 3 is a wooden bridge, so don't trust the photo of the stone bridge . Be careful, some areas are slippery when wet. At the top of the stairs, the walk is sublime, but be careful if you have the vireux .
Bonne Ballade à vous

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Papalink
Papalink

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We began the walk at the bottom of Notre-Dame de Consolation, starting with the aerial ascent of the stairs and finishing with the descent.

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furstoss
furstoss

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice hike, to be done in the direction of the proposed itinerary. Too bad no water in the cascade.

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Feuilloman
Feuilloman

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This application has completely changed the way we hike.
We're much calmer thanks to the tracking system and the information provided.
The hike enabled us to discover all the remarkable sites in just 1 track.

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munisai68
munisai68

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The hike is still closed.
Tip: it's much better to do it in the opposite direction to the description.
There are hardly any signs, so use the app to find your way around the paths.

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Brilu78
Brilu78

In fact, the route to the Roche du Prêtre has been closed by municipal decree due to severe damage caused by storms.

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claude49maguy54
claude49maguy54
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

parish specific to Brittany but to be done the other way round
the route suggested by Visorando
the route is quite technical and very slippery in places
VERY IMPORTANT: this route is forbidden from the first of November to the end of April.
to the end of April by the municipality (because too many risks)

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Madz
Madz

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A hike with some very beautiful points of interest: the Priest's Rock, the large cave and the surrounding cliffs.
Well worth the effort!
However, we had trouble finding the route around points 4 and 5.

At the entrance to the site, it is recommended that you only take the stairs in the upward direction, so ideally you should take the route in the opposite direction.

You really need to watch out for falling rocks on the cliffs. We saw some stones fall just after we passed...

Possible detours for the Lançot waterfall and the source of the Dessoubre, which don't add much distance but do add a lot of interest to the walk.

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