Évran walks

A lovely walk starting and ending in Évran (22), taking in the landscapes of romantic Brittany with its valleys, winding canal and locks.

Discover romantic Brittany, between the two departments of Ille-et-Vilaine and Côtes d’Armor, as you travel along part of the Ille and Rance Canal!

This easy route takes you on a journey of discovery through the Pays des Faluns, combining the Greenway, local heritage and landscapes shaped by the ancient Faluns Sea. The route offers a pleasant and accessible walk, ideal for a family outing.

A long hike for experienced walkers, from Lehon (Côtes-d'Armor), starting at the old Saint-Magloire Abbey (founded in the 9th century) to Saint-Pern (Ille-et-Vilaine), the mother house of the Little Sisters of the Poor. A page of history and religious life waiting to be discovered.

Saint-Pierre-de-Plesguen borders the Mesnil forest to the south-east. The route is very wooded and lined with a few picturesque hamlets where you can see some old stone houses weathered by time, in varying states of repair. A magnificent bread oven can be seen just off the route at a place called La Planche, at the first house on the right.

The route takes you through the old town of Dinan and past several points of interest, then down into the Rance valley. It passes through Léhon, a picturesque little village, and ends along the Rance and the port of Dinan. For the tour of the walls, see the map on the Dinan Agglo website (see practical information). The journey time does not include breaks and stops for visits or sightseeing!

First, enjoy a breathtaking view of the Dinan viaduct with two passages under the arches, then stroll along the canalised Rance to reach the village of Tressaint and its woods. This route offers peace and serenity, even though it is very close to a popular tourist destination.

A town of art and history, Dinan is a place of great beauty. Its historic centre takes us back to the Middle Ages and from the top of its ramparts, visitors can look out over the Rance valley and the road viaduct which, with its 10 arches and 50-metre height, spans the Rance. To this, we must add a stroll through the magnificent town centre of Léhon and finally a romantic walk along the Rance.

Loop around Dinan between Rance and Pays du Poudouvre via the Écluse du Châtelier to La Moinerie in the commune of Plouër-sur-Rance.

Wind your way along the banks of the Rance, stopping off at the Abbaye Sainte-Magloire-de-Léhon to visit the fortified heights and historic heart of Dinan.

In Rophemel, the Rance flows through a valley of great beauty. Built in the 1930s, the hydroelectric dam submerged nine fulling and wheat mills. The dam and valley have been a "listed and protected site" since 1945. In addition to producing electricity, the reservoir also supplies drinking water to the city of Rennes. The reservoir was drained in early 2018 to carry out work on the dam. Another drainage operation is underway (2024) to carry out further work on the dam (see my hike: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-6431... )

Stroll through and around Bécherel. A few tricky ascents and descents, but a very pleasant route for exploring this charming town! Enjoy the walk, everyone!

The highlight of this walk is exploring the remains of the feudal motte and Coëtquen Castle, built in the 15th century (private property). The route takes in small roads and beautiful forest paths. The name Coëtquen can be translated as ‘white forest’. The Coëtquens were lords who became part of a branch of the Dinan family.

Quite a few quiet roads and sunken lanes (best used in dry weather). Lovely views of the surrounding countryside. Signposting (blue square on a yellow background) is a bit dated, and there are a few signs still indicating the route. I have also included various possible alternatives in the description to avoid unmaintained sunken lanes.

This route will take you through wooded and hedgerow landscapes. Mostly in the undergrowth, it will take you through the Mesnil State Forest (600 ha), formerly owned by the privateer Surcouf, as well as a very small part of the Coëtquen Forest (557 ha). Due to land consolidation policies, many hedgerows have disappeared over the last 50 years. However, hedges and embankments play an important role in the diversity of fauna and flora. They shelter livestock from the wind, limit water runoff and slow down the wind. Birds, insects and small mammals find shelter and food in these areas. Hedgerows are also a source of renewable energy and carbon sinks. For the past twenty years or so, local authorities have been encouraging the restoration of hedgerows and copses.