In the Guengat countryside

Following the former Quimper-Douarnenez railway line at times, take a detour to discover the Saint-Thégonnec Chapel and its fountain inside. Return to the village of Guengat via small country roads.

Details

94605
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.27 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 58 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 58 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 127 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 72 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at Place des Bruyères, on the right after the church, when arriving via the main street (Rue de Bretagne). Parking is also available around the church.

(S/E) Leaving the car park, turn right onto Rue des Genêts and follow it to the first fork

(1) Continue along Route de Kerloch, veering slightly to the right. Follow this road, which leads to the old railway line that has been converted into a cycle path.

(2) Turn left and continue along the old naval air base, which has been converted into various warehouses. At the first intersection, turn right, then left and right again to reach Route du Moulin de Guengat.

(3) Follow this small road, ignoring the farm access roads. Pass an old converted mill.

(4) Turn onto a path that climbs into a small wood. This path meets a road, which you should follow to the right for about 100 metres.

(5) Turn right towards the Saint-Thégonnec Chapel and pass the farm. The chapel is located in a very pleasant valley, ideal for a break.

(6) Retrace your steps. Turn left at the road and take the first road on the right. Follow it. It continues along a path that leads to a road just before the hamlet of La Boissière.

(7) Turn left, cross Route de Plogonnec and reach the fork near the renovated mill.

(4) Retrace your steps along the outward route to the greenway.

(3) Head towards the former naval air base, now converted into warehouses, and take a passage on the right that goes around the buildings, passes between houses and leads to Allée Jean Marie Le Bris. (This is the trickiest part of the route and not very easy to find).

(8) Continue along this area on the left, then take the gravel path opposite that goes uphill.

(9) Follow this path, which passes close to Merdy, a pleasant area with rural lodges.

(1) Continue along the same route as on the way out to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 115 m - Place des Bruyères, on the right after the church.
  2. 1 : km 0.37 - alt. 112 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.05 - alt. 74 m - Former Quimper-Douarnenez railway line.
  4. 3 : km 2.2 - alt. 81 m - Guengat mill road
  5. 4 : km 3.03 - alt. 90 m - Path through the woods.
  6. 5 : km 3.61 - alt. 103 m - Access to the chapel via the farm.
  7. 6 : km 4.14 - alt. 96 m - Saint-Thégonnec Chapel
  8. 7 : km 5.15 - alt. 105 m - Fork in the road before the hamlet of La Boissière.
  9. 8 : km 6.94 - alt. 91 m - Allée Jean Marie Le Bris
  10. 9 : km 7.18 - alt. 88 m - Gravel path on the return journey.
  11. S/E : km 8.27 - alt. 115 m - Place des Bruyères, on the right after the church.

Notes

An easy route along small roads and a long stretch on the old railway line.

Watch out for cyclists on the greenway.

Worth a visit

Guengat Church, known for its magnificent carved sand pits and [calvary|https://www.lavieb-aile.com/2022/01/le-calvaire-de-l-eglise-de-guengat.html].
Saint-Thégonnec Chapel (https://www.jplours.fr/plogonnec_saint_thegonnec.htm): the chapel is usually open in summer. You can ask at the neighbouring farm to have it opened.
Greenway: former Quimper-Douarnenez railway line, used for passenger transport until 1972 and freight transport until 1988.
Hilly countryside.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Cat29
Cat29

Hello,
Storm Ciaran has certainly changed our countryside and woodlands...
Thank you for all the routes you have made available, we enjoy them very often.
I try to leave a comment when we encounter difficulties, but also more often after discovering beautiful places by the sea or in the countryside thanks to your routes!

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Hello,
You really are out of luck.
Yet another old route that is no longer passable in its original form.
I'll see how I can reorganise it so that visitors can still discover the Saint-Thégonnec chapel.

Thank you again for your cooperation, which is very helpful in keeping track of changes to the routes.
Kind regards.

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Cat29
Cat29

Overall rating : 2.5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This route would have been very nice if the path along the stream (between points 6 and 7) still existed.
It is impassable due to all the fallen tree trunks, and there is no longer a path once you turn left to follow the stream. You have to fight your way through the brambles that surround your ankles and constantly step over tree trunks for at least 1 km. It is impossible to find an alternative, except to turn back.
It's a shame because it's a lovely walk, but it's no longer suitable to be offered.

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Steph29510
Steph29510
• Edited:

Hello,

I did this hike today.
Between points 7 and 8, it is very difficult to find the path through the brambles because it is not used regularly.
And to get to the church in St Thégonnec, there is a sign warning of a dangerous dog, and I can confirm that I was almost bitten by a huge German shepherd that came up to the farm, but luckily I had my walking sticks to push it away.
Apart from that, it's a great walk and a lovely way to discover the greenway.

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laurentlepage29
laurentlepage29

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route description creates confusion between the yellow markings and the mountain bike markings. I got lost the first time, straying onto the mountain bike route. In fact, the yellow markings are correct, you just have to follow them, despite some discontinuities.
One section, which is probably not very busy, remains cluttered with trees since the storm on 02/11/23. These obstacles can be crossed or bypassed, but not always easily.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your encouraging feedback.
You mention a problem at (6). My route is old, there may have been a change, which is happening more and more often.
I will try to clarify this.
Kind regards

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cmadec29
cmadec29

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route through the Guengat countryside. Not wanting to walk 14 km, we continued along the road towards La Boissière at point 4, but my app showed 13.6 km at the finish, so I thought we would be cutting the route short. At point 6 near the mill, the path was blocked by a wire, then a tree trunk blocked the path near the entrance to the field. We passed underneath it all, but other trees that were easy to get around had been placed across the path. At the start of the route, we regretted that there was so much road, but we were delighted with the return to the railway line. On this track, it is possible to exit at Kermoal to see the Chapel of St. Brigitte. If the bikes used their stamp, it would be perfect!
Two small details: we couldn't find Place des Bruyères because your description only applies to those coming from Quimper, and we arrived via Plogonnec. We parked near the church. Another detail: point 11 would be better positioned to the left of the route to clear the slightly tricky crossroads at that point (I never found Allée J-M Le Bris).
Thank you for your very interesting routes.

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sandrinealbrecht
sandrinealbrecht

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice hike, but the few private paths pose a problem.

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lsrbigouden
lsrbigouden

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We shortened the hike by starting from the north car park at the base.

The tree has been cut down.

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le goff brigitte
le goff brigitte

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello

I have just redone this route, which I did at least four years ago
I did it again using only the map
Problem: a tree lying across the path in the woods leading to "route de la tour" next to the old mill.
The new thing for me was the chapel on the Plogonnec road.
At this time of year, the paths are very muddy, except for the old railway line and the road.
People were very happy with the route.

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bibi
bibi ★

Thank you

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MoonMoon
MoonMoon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2017
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I used part of the route, but as it's a greenway, I didn't need a map. I really like your website. Well done.

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Monique C3.
Monique C3.

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

beautiful walk in the countryside of Guengat

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nestaphe
nestaphe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk in beautiful sunshine. No major difficulties. Many thanks to Mr Floch for all his hard work.

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