Passing by La Roche du Feu

The route passes by the Roche du Feu (Karreg an Tan), the highest point of the Montagnes Noires (281m).

Details

57585
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.03 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 673 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 659 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 899 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 361 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Gouézec (29190)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.147097° / W 4.010502°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0618OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Starting point: Chapelle des Trois Fontaines on the D785 leading to Pleyben.

(Out and back) Take the small road, leaving the chapel and its damaged wayside cross on your left.

(1) At the three-way junction (cross), follow the road that climbs to the right towards Kernevez, Kerlann and Ty Ridou. Continue along this road, passing Kerzerrien and Pennaguer. On your left, you will see the summit of Karreg an Tan.

(2) After Kerarmet, when you reach the road coming from Edern, turn left. At a cross, turn left to reach the car park, the starting point of the climb.

(3) Begin the ascent along the well-marked path. The climb is relatively short. There are steps just before the summit. At the top, there is a sweeping panorama over the Châteaulin basin and the Monts d’Arrée to the north.

(4) The descent follows a narrow path marked in places by yellow and orange cairns. The route is not always obvious as there are numerous alternative paths used by mountain bikers. Stick to the path that heads to the left and goes round a coniferous woodland.

(5) Turn left at a 90° angle, pass between two coniferous woods and turn right to head straight down a small road.

(6) Turn left and follow this road, which leads back to the starting point via Ménez Crenn and Baradozic. You’ll pass the junction again that you came across on the way out.

(1) Head to the nearby chapel (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 361 ft - Chapel of the Three Fountains
  2. 1 : mi 0.29 - alt. 479 ft - Three-Way Junction
  3. 2 : mi 2.53 - alt. 679 ft - Turn left
  4. 3 : mi 2.87 - alt. 682 ft - Path leading up to the Roche du Feu
  5. 4 : mi 3.2 - alt. 899 ft - Summit
  6. 5 : mi 3.68 - alt. 659 ft - Turn left at a 90° angle between two coniferous woods
  7. 6 : mi 4.02 - alt. 554 ft - Turn left to return via the small road
  8. S/E : mi 6.03 - alt. 361 ft - Chapel of the Three Fountains

Notes

NB: This route mainly follows small roads offering views of the Châteaulin Basin.
In winter, both the final climb and the descent can be slippery.

Worth a visit

  • The Three Votive Fountains:

- One fountain is dedicated to Saint John, Sant Yann. This is the largest.
- Another is dedicated to Our Lady. The fountain dedicated to the Virgin Mary is
a structure with a deep vault, housing in a niche a statue of
the Virgin Mary carved from polychrome stone.
- The last is dedicated to the Three Marys: the Mother of Jesus,
Mary Magdalene and Mary Salome. It sits at ground level and is surrounded
around its perimeter.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
3.4 / 5
Hirondelle19
Hirondelle19

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a lovely little 6-kilometre hike. Climbing up to the highest point, we discovered
a superb view over several towns. The weather was cold but the sky was clear.
We'll be back every season!
Thank you for your beautiful walks.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for this comment.
I have corrected the omission of (5) in my description.
Sometimes things slip through despite the moderators' vigilance.
Kind regards

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bihen29
bihen29

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We did this hike in very dry weather; even though the route mainly follows small roads, it was a very pleasant walk. The beautiful weather at the Roche du Feu site, which we had to "conquer", allowed us to discover a magnificent panorama.
At the start, there are only two or three parking spaces, which means that this hike is not suitable for large groups of hikers.
Note that (5) does not appear in the description. The paragraph that begins with "turn left at a 90° angle..." – we missed it, but no matter, we got plenty of fresh air.
Thank you.

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marietibihan
marietibihan

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

There are many roads, admittedly country roads, but still before arriving at the site itself.
The Roche du Feu site is really interesting, with a magnificent 360° view.

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Carat
Carat

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Beautiful view upon arriving at Roche du Feu. The starting point is also very pretty, as you can see La Chapelle. However, between these two points, there is almost nothing but road, which is completely uninteresting. I do not recommend this hike. I recommend doing the 6 km Roche du Feu route, which is much more enjoyable.

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MADOLEON29
MADOLEON29

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very good route, small mountain with a beautiful view from the summit.

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Roger Flao
Roger Flao

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful route, even if a few changes had to be made to the route, particularly due to Storm Zeus. Otherwise, just follow the itinerary.
Thanks to the author.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your opinion.
It's true that this route includes a lot of small roads.
Unfortunately, it's the only option I've found that combines the Chapelle des Trois Fontaines and the Roche au Feu site in the same hike.
There are no footpaths.

Best wishes for your future on Visorando.

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philippe02310
philippe02310

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Too much walking for this hike, which is a shame because the Chapelle des 3 Fontaines chapel and the area around La Roche au Feu are interesting and worth the trip.
Thank you.

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Yann PLAIS
Yann PLAIS

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Too much tarmac for my liking. The off-road section was very enjoyable, especially the descent. Interesting architectural structures along the route.
Thank you.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Hello,

I have just reread my description and noticed that the comments are already included in the description:
- The route is mainly on small roads.
- In winter, the final climb and descent can be slippery.
- The descent follows a small path marked in places by yellow and orange markers. The route is not always obvious as there are many variations used by mountain bikers.

I have added a few details, mainly by placing WPTs.

FLOCH

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oriane2g
oriane2g

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Most of the hike takes place on roads. Only the area around the Rocher de Feu is on unpaved paths. These are small country roads with little traffic, so they are moderately dangerous. However, the route lacks variety. Most of the walk is easy to complete. It does get a little more complicated around the Rocher de Feu, where the path climbs and is slippery in winter.
The route can be a bit unclear, both in terms of signposting and GPS, on the way down from the fire rock until you reach the road again.
Overall, despite the genuine interest of the Roche de Feu, the route does not offer any particular appeal. It is better suited for getting some fresh air than for exploring.

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