Along the Odet at Stangala

Access: From Boulevard Président Allende (D783) on the western bypass of Quimper, at the Philippe Le Bon roundabout, take the D15 towards Coray. At the traffic lights, keep left, then take the first road on the left, signposted Stangala. Follow this road straight ahead, pass over the expressway and at the three-way junction, continue straight ahead towards the Squividan electrical substation. Shortly afterwards, at a three-way junction, turn left at the sign for Site du Stangala and follow the road, which is not always in good condition, to the car park.

GR® ®38 White and Red markings

(S/E) With your back to the car park and a map of the site, go through a gate and take a wide path towards two large eucalyptus trees. At the intersection (signpost), turn right onto the wide downhill path. Follow it, pass a first bend and arrive at a second signpost.

No markings

(1) Leave the^GR® and continue west on the wide path that descends steadily. Note the moss-covered rock formations on your left and the old trees with twisted trunks on either side of the path. Ignore all paths branching off to the right or left. Cross a poplar plantation, then two deforested areas, and reach the banks of the Odet (a salmon spawning ground).

(2) Facing the river, turn left, ignoring the signpost indicating the Tréouzon footbridge, walk along two deforested areas and follow the curve of the river (note that the purple^GR® route is incorrect on the IGN map as it passes along the opposite bank). The river flows slowly and the wide path is very easy to walk on. Ignore a yellow-marked trail on your left and continue to follow the river. Quite quickly, the river changes appearance, becoming a turbulent stream dotted with boulders. The path also becomes more difficult, with numerous stones, roots and mud in winter. You will arrive at the Meilh Poul footbridge. Before crossing it, note the beautiful stone trough on your right.

GR® ®38 White and Red markings

(3) At the end of the footbridge, turn right and start climbing up the river through the turbulent section. On this bank, the stony path with roots is easier than on the opposite bank. Continue to reach the calmer part of the river and ignore a path on the left after a wooden structure. Cross two more structures over streams. A little further on, in the bend of the river, the path climbs slightly and is secured by an old, badly damaged railing. Return to the riverbank, cross another structure over a stream and arrive at the Tréouzon footbridge.

(4) Cross this footbridge and turn left as indicated by the signpost. Continue up the river on the left bank until you reach a fork

(5) Leave the banks of the Odet by turning right uphill and arrive at a crossroads with signs. Turn left into the woods onto the path where a yellow marker has been added. Follow this path overlooking the river and running alongside stone embankments covered with a thick carpet of moss (potentially muddy in winter). Continue to an intersection where you rejoin the old^GR® route^.

(6) Turn right and begin a winding climb to rejoin the farm track you took on the way there.

(1) Turn left and, following the same route as on the way there, climb back up to the car park (S/E).

Option: At the signpost, before returning to the car park, you can go to the Griffonnés viewpoint, 300 m away (yellow markings). Please note that this is an unsecured area on the edge of a cliff. View of the gorges with the river flowing below, visible when the trees have lost their leaves.

The route can be tricky in winter.

Banks of the Odet at the Stangala gorges.
Carpets of wood anemones in places in spring.