Coglès walks

This circuit symbolically unites two regions by linking the Moulin de Champ Pinel (Brittany) to the Moulin de Roche Garé (Normandy), as this is where the Tronçon river marks the departmental and therefore regional boundary. You will pass through a variety of landscapes as you walk along a beautiful section of the Bois de Gâtines forest and alongside the Château du Rocher Portail, not forgetting to take the opportunity to discover the village of La-Selle-en-Coglès (the monastery of the North).

On the edge of the Coglais, a charming route combining a walk along a stream with paths through green hills and sunken lanes.

A Breton speciality: this route is dotted with several wayside crucifixes and granite crosses. It also offers magnificent views of the Coglais region, but above all, on a clear day, provides an exceptional vantage point looking north as far as the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and west over the hills of the Fougères hinterland.

This circuit allows you to discover the architectural side of the Coglais region. It offers breathtaking views of the manor houses and châteaux and their estates. It should be remembered that in the Middle Ages, the Seigneury of Saint-Brice was of exceptional importance in the barony of Fougères. Later, in 1794, it was here that the first Chouannerie began, as did the second in 1815.

Une rabine désignait autrefois un chemin large et bordé d'arbres. Le circuit en emprunte à plusieurs reprises. Il suit également un petit ruisseau et permet d'apercevoir plusieurs châteaux car il emprunte des sentiers communs à une autre randonnée décrite sur le site au départ de Saint-Brice-en-Coglès.

You have now arrived in one of the most beautiful settings in the Coglais district: first of all, you’ll discover the Ruisseau de la Piquellerais, then the Ruisseau du Vocadieu, as you cross the magnificent Minette Valley. This small river, 25 km long, is a tributary of the Couesnon, fed by a multitude of streams: the Piquellerais and the Vocadieu, but also the Frénouse, the Aunay, the Couard, and so on.

This easy and very pleasant route along the banks of the Beuvron was suggested by the Saint-James Children's Municipal Council. It also passes close to the American military cemetery, allowing for a short extension to the walk.

The legend of the Smoking Stone, also known as the Devil's Rock, says that when the Devil is hungry, he makes the stone smoke by baking his cake between the enormous blocks of rock that form a cave. This circular loop will take you from legendary places to sacred sites. It would be the devil's work if you didn't reach the gates of the Domaine de la Foltière, the kingdom of flowers in the Parc Floral de Haute-Bretagne.

Saint-Germain-en-Coglès, God and Satan regularly meet here as soon as granite appears in a field or water gushes from the stone. With Le Châtellier hidden behind the woods, the commune of Saint-Germain offers some of the most beautiful stories in the region, which this walk allows you to hear as you wander along the paths. But beware, these legends are drawn as much from local imagination as from historical truths.

Whilst Balzac perfectly described Les Couardes, one of the gems of this circular ‘Writers’ Loop’, the route will also take you on a journey to discover Chateaubriand and the early life of Jean Guéhenno.

A walk along the country lanes of La Fontenelle, which presents no significant difficulty. There is a beautiful view over the Couesnon valley and the charming village of La Roche. The architecture of some of its houses is remarkable, with decorative arched windows and double-roll-top doors...

Alternating between hedgerow landscapes, sunken lanes, granite boulders, woods, wetlands and walks through villages with distinctive architecture, this route weaves a link between the history of flax and hemp – once cultivated on these lands – and modern-day farming. Information panels are placed along the route.

The Chemin des Bogues winds through a landscape where working with granite has become second nature and part of the local culture. Granite has left an indelible mark on the landscape. Houses and manor houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries are a common sight in a region where the rock even features in the names of villages: Rocher-Guy, Rocher Gerré, Rocher Renard, Rochedien, … You may even come across rock carvings on the sides of certain quarries, former haunts of the Picaous (granite workers).

A picturesque walk in the Coglais region, presenting no difficulty. Peace and tranquillity are its main attractions.

To the north of Baillé, this walk will take us past the various streams that make up the protected watercourse network designed to supply the Breton capital with drinking water. We will, of course, follow the Minette, but also two of the streams that feed into it: the Frénouse stream and then the Panlivard stream.

Lulled by the calm waters of the Ritort and the Moulinet, Chauvigné invites you to discover its hidden treasures and offers you a glimpse into its history.

In the 1920s, Chauvigné had granite quarries next to the village of Le Fretay on the "Rochers des Renaisières" site. The quarrying operation, which remained small-scale, focused mainly on the creation of funerary monuments. Walkers will enjoy a stroll right in the heart of granite country: amongst meadows where the rock outcrops and traditional buildings.

A short, easy walk around the Sougeal Marshes. Designated both a Regional Nature Reserve and a ‘Remarkable Site of Brittany’, with over 175 hectares restored, the area safeguards the bay’s ecosystem. You can spot over 360 plant species, amongst the reed beds and hedgerows. As for wildlife, there are numerous migratory birds. Depending on the season, you’ll find over 60 species of waterbirds, including grey herons and white storks.

A circular route to the north of Le Tiercent with very little tarmac. Mainly wide avenues or sunken paths that allow you to enjoy a breath of fresh air far from pollution and noise.

The route runs along the edge of the marsh and its vast 175-hectare wet meadows. These are classified as an “Espace Remarquable de Bretagne” (Regional Nature Reserve). The marsh is home to waterfowl all year round, but you may also come across cows and horses grazing freely there. In winter, access to the marsh is often cut off by floodwaters. The suggested route allows you to go round the marsh. However, two observation points overlooking the marsh remain accessible. The route also offers a more idyllic stretch through the woods and countryside around Sougeal. All in all, a peaceful walk to be enjoyed all year round.

It comprises 175 hectares of extensive wet meadows and encompasses three main activities (see practical information). This route invites you to explore this environment, starting at the fish pass and then following the course of the Couesnon as closely as possible.In this regional nature reserve, only birdsong can be heard.

A small village in the Pays de Rennes; from the heights of Romazy, you can see part of the Couesnon valley. Visitors are struck by the relaxed way of life here and appreciate its unspoilt surroundings.

A very short walk in the Fougères National Forest, on the site of an ancient oppidum and to see a dolmen dating from the Neolithic period.

A return trip from Saint-Ouen-des-Alleux to Saint-Christophe-de-Vilains through a lush forest, offering views of an old stone bridge spanning the Minette.

4-hour hike (hence its medium difficulty). A little road and quite a few paths. You will cross the Couesnon and Minette valleys.

After walking along the Couesnon, which is calm and peaceful on this section, walkers are invited to discover a small stream that feeds it: the Vallées d'Hervé stream. Then, despite a few open sections, walkers will appreciate the peaceful shade of the undergrowth and sunken paths.

The Fougères State Forest is rich in Druidic sites: the Carrefour de la Serpe d’Or, the Cordon des Druides and the remains of the covered walkway at La Pierre Courcoulée. This route invites you to rediscover another aspect of the past, one closer to our own time: the Gate-sel and the Chemin Mélouin, a key route for smuggling in the Middle Ages between Brittany and the Kingdom of France.

An urban walk offering various panoramic views of Fougères Castle, the belfry, and the churches of Saint-Léonard and Saint-Sulpice.

An easy walk that combines the pleasures of the forest with the tranquillity of the riverbank. As well as the majestic “Jumeaux”, it offers the chance to discover various species of trees, with information provided along the arboretum path.

Although this route is mainly through suburban areas, it nevertheless offers some very interesting sections along sunken lanes or on a wooded hill, providing a magnificent view of the lower town of Fougères and the surrounding countryside.

Follow theGR®34through the countryside along sunken paths to reach the small village of Laignelet. Then, head into the Fougères Forest amongst the alders, firs and other tree species, following wide, natural paths to return to the starting point along the Ruisseau de Groslay via an educational trail showcasing the different tree species.

This walk takes you along the Couesnon between the dam and Anse de Moidrey, allowing you to see the polders on the Brittany side and also the fairly abundant wildlife, particularly birds.A bit of history: formerly known as Lerra Fluvius, the Couesnon rises in the commune of Saint-Pierre-des-Landes in Mayenne, at the Fontaine de Couesnette, 200 metres above sea level. The Couesnon was channelled in 1867, allowing boats to sail up the river as far as the port of Pontorson. The first dam, built in 1969, was intended to stop the tide from flowing back into the riverbed, which, during high tidal ranges, caused flooding. It was demolished in 2008 and replaced by the Couesnon Dam as part of the project to restore the maritime character of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Route from the bar "l'Autre Café" in Bardet, then return to the bar car park via the village of communal lodges "le Bel Orient".

All the special features of the town of Fougères unfold before you throughout this urban walk: of course, you will walk around the castle with its 11 towers, but you will also discover it from the panoramic view of the Rocher Coupé or the Jardin Public. Speaking of gardens, the Parc des Orières, the Val Nançon and the Voie Verte are also on the programme. Finally, the upper town with its belfry, theatre and museums will allow you to explore the city centre.