Couesnon Valley

The Couesnon river meanders through a deep valley, home to ancient mills.

Technical sheet

n°2145

Creation:
12 Jan 2012

Last update:
29 May 2023

Last review:
11 Mar 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 8.63 km
Average duration: 2h 55
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 146 m
Vertical drop: - 152 m
Highest point: 92 m
Lowest point: 37 m

Country: France
District: Mézières-sur-Couesnon (35140)
Start/End: N 48.307386° / W 1.433983°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1217SB, 1317SB
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Description of the walk

(S/E) Departure from the "Château de la Ville Olivier" castle car park.

Cross the D102 road and follow the path down to the river.

(1) Cross the small wooden bridge, walk for 100m, then cross the road to the left, and head opposite towards the kayak landing car park. Follow the Couesnon river to the road leading to a place called l'Ambaudière, then turn left to reach the mill "Moulin de Guyon".

(2) Leave the road by the track on the right and turn left at the fork. Cross the Couesnon river (passage called "Passage des Intrépides"), turn left and walk upstream along the GR^®39, stay on the path at the top of the valley to enjoy a beautiful view of the Couesnon and its valley.

(3) Arrived at "La Roche" village, there's a building where you can see the water plant that supplies the Rennes conurbation.

Follow the path back to the car park (S/E)

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 61 m - Château de la Ville Olivier
1 : km 0.69 - alt. 43 m - Wooden bridge - Couesnon (fleuve)
2 : km 4.23 - alt. 39 m - Le Moulin de Guyon
3 : km 7.59 - alt. 76 m - La Roche
S/E : km 8.63 - alt. 61 m - Château de la Ville Olivier

In the nearby area

Village "Meziere sur Couesnon".
Caslte "Château Ville Olivier" (crepe restaurant).
Old mills.
Climbing site.
Village "Saint Aubin du Cormier".
13th-century castle ruins.
Village Gahard.
11th-century church.
Wash-house.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

grand large

Mar 11, 2024 at 06:24 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Just the right window for this hike

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Franck saulais

May 29, 2023 at 13:28 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice hike to do, with quite a few changes in altitude to avoid, I think, after rain,

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dorovitré

Jul 03, 2020 at 10:42 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very fine walk in the foothills of the valley. Rather hilly for the region. Small forest track. Possibility of splitting the route in 2 by crossing the Couesnon at Plansonnais on the IGN map.

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4francoise4

Jun 22, 2020 at 03:08 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk.

At first it was a bit difficult to find the start near the canoe parking area.
The right bank is extremely pleasant under the trees.
On the other hand, the return journey along the left bank is very hilly.

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stef35bzh

May 31, 2020 at 16:42 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk, mainly in the shade, which is very welcome in hot weather ...
1st part rather quiet then 2nd part more hilly ...
However, the height difference given in the description is incorrect, as measured with my Garmin Fenix 5 watch (altimeter).
which indicates about 250m of positive difference in altitude (and therefore as much negative).

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Marc Wallays

Sep 09, 2019 at 16:45 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

When you have to leave the right bank of the Couesnon to go to the left bank, it's not easy to know where to leave the path as there are footpath markings on both banks (old and new markings). I got caught out and extended the distance I walked a lot.
But it's a lovely walk.

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pierre capelle

Aug 19, 2019 at 03:31 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely, relaxing route in the middle of Brittany, which leads to a small valley with plenty of undergrowth. An ideal walk for the whole family.

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Domi2935

Aug 11, 2019 at 05:52 EDT

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A nice little walk, but a bit monotonous, along the Couesnon. On the right bank (the outward journey), you have no access to the water (fenced meadow) and on the other, you are high up. Sometimes difficult to get your bearings. Shady. We made several mistakes (contradictory instructions). Uneven terrain.

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marithemorin

Jun 10, 2019 at 08:35 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This walk took place on 14 April: magnificent! It's lovely to walk along the Couesnon. Worth repeating.

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NolVP

Jun 10, 2019 at 07:57 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a very pretty walk that's suitable for families (youngest child 5 years old), but beware of the gradient, which can be quite steep in places. The unexpected side-effect was that the day after a storm we had to climb a large tree (a poor old oak) because it was blocking the path.
The view over the Couesnon is magnificent and we really enjoyed the alternating moorland, meadow and undergrowth.

Definitely worth doing again!

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marithemorin

Apr 08, 2019 at 04:38 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very nice ride, mostly on beautiful paths.
Thank you very much.

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jeanpaulauffray

Feb 25, 2019 at 04:19 EST

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very beautiful valley, great walk in very good weather at this time of year, nice path along the bottom of the valley, but the return journey is a bit more sporty as there are several ascents and descents from the bottom of the valley towards the heights of the bocage, so it's better to warn hikers. Thank you

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chaouine

Sep 24, 2018 at 06:10 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 07, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Pleasant walk along the couesnon and through the fairly physical forest

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Guillac

Aug 27, 2018 at 07:22 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant in the shade
To be redone

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Francisauff

May 07, 2018 at 05:23 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Virtually no roads. Route along the banks of the couesnon, shady, perfect if it's sunny. Quite physical.
Very good parish specific to Brittany.

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