In the woods to the west of Herbignac

Set off from the car park at the sports ground, Route d’Assérac (next to the building site for the future swimming pool).

(S/E) Leaving the sports grounds on your right, turn left into the Kergestin housing estate via Rue Simone de Beauvoir. Follow this street to the end and, when it bends to the right, carry on straight ahead along the footpath which leads onto Chemin de Kergestin.

(1) At the path, turn left and follow it uphill alongside the first patches of woodland. Turn left at the first path you come to after a sharp bend to the right. This path, which cuts through the Bois de Kerdavy-la Cour aux Loups, leads directly to the Croix de Landieul, which you’ll see on your right as you emerge from the woods.

(2) At the cross, take the path on the right, which has been cleared right at its base. It follows the edge of the Bois de l’Épine before emerging onto an old track that has been more or less encroached upon by neighbouring plots.
After joining the Chemin de Kergoche, it becomes a proper forest track, with the inconveniences that come with recent logging activity. But at least it smells lovely, like pine!

(3) When this track joins the Route de Kerfélice (here, pronounced ‘Kerflisse’), turn right and follow the road to the next bend. When the road veers off to the right, carry straight on along the main track opposite. You probably won’t realise it, but you’re on the regional border. In less than 300 metres, you’ll be in administrative Brittany.

(4) Further on, you’ll come to a three-way junction. Take the right-hand path to head up towards Trégrain. After a series of bends, the woods open out before the path crosses a stream. In the village of Trégrain, turn right to pass in front of the old farmhouses, then go round the last one to reach the entrance to a large house visible in the background.

(5) At the track, turn your back on this building and turn right onto another tree-lined path. As you emerge from the woods, you’ll find, coming from the left, the greenway leading from Férel to Herbignac. Carry on straight ahead – please note that this route is shared with cyclists.
At the first path on the right, follow the cycle route, which leads a little further on to Route de Kerfélice, which you have already crossed.

(6) At the road, follow the greenway behind the hedgerow, then cross the road to the right and head towards Ker Sénéchal. A quiet road lined with hedges leads there.

(7) When you reach the first houses in the village of Herbignac, carry on until you reach Rue de Kerdebleu. At the junction, turn right and go down this street until you reach Rue de Kergestin.

(8) At the crossroads, take the path opposite that runs under the trees. Pass just below the Halte-Garderie du Malin Mulot, an elegant building made of wood and set amongst the undergrowth. This Chemin du Douanier Rousseau is very picturesque but is set to become urbanised, as it crosses a natural area destined to become a new neighbourhood in Herbignac. Let’s make the most of it whilst we still can and head to the sports ground car park (S/E).

(2) The route passes close to the pottery village of Landieul. Although there is no longer any pottery production there, you can still take the time to visit the two recently restored pottery kilns which stand at the foot of this village with its many thatched-roof houses. However, a detour on foot is not recommended, as the route consists solely of roads and long, straight farm tracks.