In the countryside between Saint-Albin and Quéménéven

A route through the countryside with rolling hills offering wide open views. The route mainly follows quiet country lanes. Discover picturesque views, including Ménez Hom (330m), which marks the western end of the Montagnes Noires range.

Details

199079
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 174 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 171 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 168 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 69 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Plogonnec (29180)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.078364° / W 4.123087°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0518OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Access:
- From Plogonnec, head towards Landrévarzec then, after about 3.5 km, turn right towards Saint-Albin (road sign).
- From Quimper, take the D39. At the Ty Pont Kerroué roundabout, head straight on along the Roman road for about 3.5 km and turn left, following signs for Pont Quéau – Saint-Albin (road sign).
Park in the car park at the front of the bar-tobacconist’s

(S/E) Leave the car park by going round the bar-tobacconist’s on the right and take the first road on the right (sign for “Cave de Saint-Albin 1.7km”), go past the first junction and, at a place called Le Poulley, make a short detour to the left to see a small cross resting on a two-tiered plinth (1863).

(1). Continue and, at “Caves de Saint-Albin”, look for the lintel of a house window bearing an inscription in stone with the owners’ names. Proceed to the next crossroads and follow the sign for Cosquer Goff, marked as a dead end. Go round the old farmhouse on the left and begin the descent into the Steïr valley (view of the old Kerrefren mill).

(2) Turn left onto the ascending stony path (the one on the right leads down to the railway line and the river).

(3) After about 200m, turn right and continue along this path, which keeps climbing (view of the Stéïr valley). Turn left and reach the Keroriou ar Gorré farm. Cross it and join the road.

(4) Turn right, cross a larger road and continue straight ahead. Follow this road for about 2 km, ignoring the other roads on both the right and left. You will arrive at the entrance to Quéménéven.

(5) Turn left into Rue du Château d'eau, pass the water tower and go round the Kerimanton farm on the right.

(6) At the three-way junction, take the stony path that climbs to the right. Follow it until you reach a road near a small coniferous wood (view of Menez Hom and the Dinéault ridge line, recognisable by its row of wind turbines).

(7) Turn left and follow this ascending road for about 1 km. At the three-way junction, it turns right to join another small road.

(8) Turn left, follow this tree-lined road and you will come to a larger road. Follow it to the left for about 200m.

(9) At the sign for “sawmill, crate factory, pallets”, turn right. Follow this road for about 1 km.

(10) Just before entering Saint-Albin, turn left onto a street serving a few houses. At the stop sign, continue straight ahead along the main street, using the footpath. Pass the road you took at the start and you will find the car park on the right (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 115 m - Saint-Albin car park
  2. 1 : km 1.74 - alt. 136 m - Old cross
  3. 2 : km 2.85 - alt. 69 m - To the left, a stony path
  4. 3 : km 3.02 - alt. 84 m - Path on the right
  5. 4 : km 3.72 - alt. 122 m - Turn right onto the road
  6. 5 : km 5.96 - alt. 108 m - On the left, Rue du Château d'eau
  7. 6 : km 6.56 - alt. 98 m - Gravel path on the right.
  8. 7 : km 7.03 - alt. 125 m - Uphill route heading south-west
  9. 8 : km 8.36 - alt. 168 m - Turn left
  10. 9 : km 9.43 - alt. 168 m - Turn right at the sign
  11. 10 : km 10.47 - alt. 144 m - Turn left before entering Saint-Albin
  12. S/E : km 11.23 - alt. 115 m - Saint-Albin car park

Notes

Unmarked route mainly following quiet country lanes.
Recommended for winter: no muddy sections.
Suitable route for mountain biking.

Worth a visit

Panoramic view of the rolling countryside.
Views of the Montagnes Noires: Ménez Hom to the north-west and various ridges to the east.
- Saint-Albin Chapel

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your feedback
I have corrected point 5
At the moment, it’s not easy to choose a route between the fallen trees and the muddy paths.
There are still the small country lanes.
Indeed, nature has suffered.
Best regards.

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bihen29
bihen29

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello. We went on this hike about two weeks after Storm Ciaran and noticed just how badly the vegetation had been damaged. The roads and paths are, however, very passable and the views are as beautiful as ever.
Just a small correction to point 5 in the description: it refers to Rue du Château d’Eau.
Kind regards

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bihen29
bihen29

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the countryside. The route takes less than three hours and is easily manageable in winter.
Do watch out, however, for dogs running free (farm dogs or dogs from partially fenced-in properties). It’s always
a pleasure to go on these walks.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Hello,

Thank you for this information.
Yet another section of the trail that is no longer passable.
Fortunately, we can go round the farm.

I will amend my route and description to take this issue into account.
Kind regards

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yvonnelegall
yvonnelegall

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk along the country lanes, but we
encountered a problem: it is no longer possible to cross the farm at
. We carried on to Quéménéven, passing close to the water tower
and rejoined the route by following the paths marked on the map.
The route is therefore a little longer but still enjoyable.

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oriane2g
oriane2g

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We went for a walk in glorious weather, which really brought out the best in the beautiful and unexpected scenery around St-Albin. The narrow country lanes are incredibly peaceful and mean you can enjoy the walk in any weather and at any time of year without the risk of getting too bogged down. A real treat.

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