Ponds, countryside and greenway around Rosporden

Large Jean Moulin car park in front of the town hall.

No visible signposting

(S/E) With your back to the car park, head towards the church, passing in front of the war memorial. At the east end of the church, go down to the path that circles the first pond and reach the footbridge that passes under the railway line.

(1) Turn right and continue along the southern side of the second pond.

(2) Ignore the embankment on the left, which will be the return route, and continue straight ahead. Join the Route de Scaer (D782).

(3) Follow this road to the left and, at the first pedestrian crossing, cross it carefully to reach a safe path. Continue along the road until you reach a path starting on the right.

(4) Turn right, then left into a street until you reach a fork.

(5) Turn right towards Kerantou, continue for about 100 m and, after the last house, turn left onto a sunken path. Continue to the junction with the GRP® des Portes de Cornouailles.

Yellow and red markings

(6) Follow it to the right along a lovely path until you reach a road signposted Trémel and Bourdel.

Leave the GRP®

(7) Let the GRP® continue to the right and carry straight on along a sunken path that descends steadily. Pass under some power lines and finish with a short stretch of road to Pont Born (Croaz Pont Born on IGN). Indeed, there is a cross at this spot and a stone marker with an inscription that is difficult to read (see further details).

(8) Take the local track on the left, pass Keransquer Vihan; at the left-hand bend, ignore the road on the right (sign for Chapelle Sainte-Yvonne) and continue along the same track until you reach the sign for Chapelle de Locjean (the sign is not very visible from this direction).

(9) Turn right to climb up to the hamlet of Locjean where the chapel is located, a lovely spot for a break. Note an old, dead yew tree in which a sculpture of a korrigan was carved in 2007 but was unfortunately deliberately set alight in 2008. If you look closely, you can still see charred traces; not far away stands a majestic oak. Set off again with your back to the chapel and head for the old Locjean station at a place called Rubian (information boards).

(10) Turn left onto the greenway (the old Rosporden-Carhaix railway line) and follow it straight on for about three kilometres until you reach a sign for “camping”.

(11) Turn right and follow the path that circles a wetland area bordered on the right by the River Aven. Join the greenway again and, with a quick right-left turn, follow the other side of the second pond. You’ll reach a junction you passed on the way out.

(2) At the end of the dyke, turn right and, following the reverse route of the outward journey, return to the car park (S/E).

Toilets at the car park at the start.

A route with no difficulty whatsoever, relatively easy as there is little elevation gain.

(8) Granite milestone engraved with the inscription: ‘Borne Chemin de Kernével 1855’. It is said to have been engraved in the^19th century by the road builders; the road was known as the ‘unemployed road’ because it was built or repaired by people without work.

The ponds: you may spot ducks, swans, geese, seagulls... (several information boards).

Locjean Chapel.

Notre-Dame Church.