Between the Vilaine and the Étang du Pont de Fer

Park in the square by Camoël church.

(S/E) Opposite Camoël church, take Rue de la Chapelle, which lies slightly to your left as you stand with your back to the church. This small, sloping street winds its way between the village houses, passes in front of the beautiful building of the former vicarage—now converted into a lodge—and heads towards the Chapel of Notre-Dame de la Salette.

(1) Before reaching the chapel and its fountain, turn right onto the path that winds its way through the vegetation. After about three hundred metres, turn right and continue along the path until you reach a built-up property.

(2) Turn right just before the property and head down a small sunken path until you reach the edge of the marsh. Turn left to head back up towards the village of La Grée and left again at the next junction.
Turn right when you reach the path that runs round the back of the village houses. When you reach the road that cuts through the village, turn right onto the Chemin du Petit Palud. Walk past the houses and carry on until you reach the banks of the Vilaine.

(3) Just as the path branches off to the right, leave it to follow the track running along the riverbank. It winds through a wooded area before crossing a damp valley floor. Stone steps make the crossing easier when it is too wet, but watch out for slippery patches.
On the other side of the wetland, you’ll come to a slope. Turn left and follow the foot of the slope, then climb it when you reach the edge of the woodland. A path has been cleared at the boundary of the farmland. Follow the path and then a hedge bordering a large stretch of farmland, which offers lovely views of the estuary.
After going round the hedge on the left, you’ll come out onto a track leading to the village of Camoëlin.

(4) Turn right after passing the first houses and before reaching a road. The path runs between the marshes and a campsite before coming out onto the road.

(5) At the road, turn left to reach the next junction. Take the path that has been cleared at the junction of the two tracks coming from the right and left. This leads onto a wide, recently cleared track that climbs towards Kermadet. Further on, it skirts a farm field, separated from which by a fence, before coming out onto a cross-path. Turn left when you reach the Kerizel road and head up to the departmental road. When you reach the RD 34, turn right and follow the disused road that runs alongside it until you reach a small road leading to the opposite bank.

(6) Cross the departmental road with care to head towards the old Kerjacob farm. Walk past the buildings and continue along the track that runs alongside the road. The hollow visible at the bottom of the farmland to the right of the track is home to the Étang du Pont de Fer. Continue along the track until you reach the woodland. After a sharp left-hand bend in the path, you’ll reach the far end of the pond – the only place from which you can see the water, provided the vegetation isn’t too dense. An information board explains the importance of the nature reserve.

(7) Turn your back on this sign and take the path that follows the valley floor and the stream that feeds the pond. Follow it for about 700 metres, before heading up to the right to rejoin the Route du Guern. Cross the road and continue along the path opposite until you reach the hamlet known as Le Pontrel. As you pass, you can see the tall tower of the Saint-Louis mill, which has been perfectly preserved.

(8) Cross the RD139 and continue along the path opposite. Turn left at the first junction to return to the banks of the stream. When you reach it, turn right, then left as you cross it, about 200 metres further on, and head up towards Ville Neuve.
Pass the farmhouse on your right and follow the road uphill until you reach its highest point.

(9) At the crossroads there, turn left onto the track leading towards the Grée de Marizain. A farm track crosses this open countryside until it reaches the first houses of the village of Camoël.
Pass a path on the right and one on the left, then turn right onto the next one. You’ll reach the RD34 via Rue Commune.
Cross the departmental road with care and head back towards the church, following Rue de l’Église (S/E).

A bakery and toilets are available in the village of Camoël.

The Pont de Fer pond belongs to the Conservatoire du Littoral. This site, which is of great ecological value, is not open to visitors.
The Arzal dam is situated upstream of Camoël. As a result, the estuary is always subject to the maritime regime and the influence of the tides. The riverside marshes may therefore change in appearance depending on the time of day and the tidal coefficients.
Two sites to further your understanding of how the estuary works: the Maison de la Mytiliculture in Tréhiguier, Pénestin, and the fish pass at the Arzal dam.