Pont Callec Forest and the Scorff Valley

Start at Pont Neuf, at the junction of the D110 and D204.

(S/E) Head up the road to the right towards Berné for about 200 m, then turn into the forest track branching off to the left. A steep climb will get you moving before you reach the forest plateau, where the path is then almost entirely flat. Follow the track winding up the slope until you reach a junction just before the bottom of a valley.

(1) Take the hairpin bend to the right and follow this new track for 200 m. Turn left at the first path you come to and follow it for 400 m until you reach a forest gate.

(2) Just before the gate, take the path on the left which descends into a small valley; after climbing up the opposite slope, turn right to reach a large open area where a forest track ends. At this clearing, take the path on the left to re-enter the woods, and almost immediately turn right to follow a track that descends through the woodland until it joins a forest track.

(3) Ignore the yellow markings heading off to the right and continue straight on along the track you have reached. It leads to a newly planted area which you must go round to the left. A clearly visible path takes you to a road 300 m further on.

(4) When you reach the road, turn left and follow it to the village of Kerihuel. Turn left towards the farm and continue to the houses at Namouhic, which you go round to the right. Carry on along the farm track until you reach a wooded area.

(5) At the three-way junction, ignore the yellow markings heading left and turn right instead, descending into the valley. After crossing the Ruisseau du Corronc, the path curves to the right before heading due north through farmland to reach the hamlet of Rohorven.

(6) Walk through the village and join the road leading to the Green Cross. At the crossroads, turn right, then left at the three-way junction at the Green Cross, 400 m further on. Follow the road as it winds in a wide left-hand bend until you reach another three-way junction. Turn right here, then left twice, to pass north of Kerhério.

(7) When you reach this crossroads, turn left and follow the Route de Kerbrest for about ten metres, then turn right onto the path that leads into the woods. It follows the road below it, before rejoining it at the end of the wooded area.

Then head back up onto the road and continue along it for about 700 m. The landscape you pass through is quite interesting, and it is a great pity that the land consolidation carried out here left no other route available!
After a wide bend that encircles an amphitheatre-shaped plot, follow a path on the right-hand side of the road leading to the Fontaine Sainte-Anne des Bois.

(8) Leave the fountain at the end of its cul-de-sac and head up the hillside along the path opposite, on the right. After a short climb, you reach a cross-path, which you take to the left. It soon leads back towards the road, which you follow until you can see the Sainte-Anne des Bois Chapel.

(9) If you are unable to pass through the castle grounds, set off from the chapel by following the road that runs alongside the wall of the Pont Callec estate towards the south and turn into the first path on the right after 50 metres. Immediately turn left onto the path that follows the road at the foot of the newly planted plot.

(10) As you approach the Saint-Thomas d'Aquin college, leave the plantation and return to the road on the left. Take the D110 on the right to pass in front of the main entrance to the Pont Callec estate and continue for a further 100 m before turning left onto the road leading down to the Pont Callec reservoir dam.

(11) Cross the dam, which no longer seems to hold much water, to reach the buildings of the old forges. Turn right after the dam and follow the road up to the first houses of Coët Cado.

(12) Immediately past the last house, a steep path branches off to the right, running alongside a fence and plunging down towards the river through a wooded area. At the bottom of the slope, you rejoin the original path, which is cut off by the property upstream. Turn left and follow the stream to where it joins the Scorff, at the Pont du Grayo.

(13) Turn your back on the footbridge you used to cross the stream and climb the path that winds its way up the hillside, slightly further upstream. Halfway up the slope, it branches off to the left, venturing into the trees on the hillside. Below, the river bubbles as it flows past a mill dam. Follow this path for about 700 m, before emerging onto a cleared and replanted plot.
The path becomes a track that has been levelled by a bulldozer. It curves sharply uphill before coming out onto another cross-track.

(14) Turn left and follow this track until you pass a clearly defined valley floor. Just as the track makes a hairpin bend, continue straight on along the path leading to the Notre-Dame des Forces fountain. It is no doubt this fountain that has given its strength to the majestic, albeit truncated, oak tree that towers above it.

(15) Walk up the path leading to the fountain, amidst trees each more imposing than the last. Cross the main forest track and continue straight on towards Saint-Albaud. On reaching the village, turn left and follow the path for about 300 m. Leave this path and turn right at the three-way junction onto a path that winds through a recently cleared and replanted plot. It soon descends to join the main track you have already encountered. On reaching it, turn left and look for the start of a path that branches off to the right 80 m further on.

(16) Follow this path as it descends into the valley, below an artificial pond (which you can also go round by staying on the main track). Climb up the opposite slope to rejoin the track and continue straight on to the Fontaine Saint-Pierre.

(17) The fountain draws water from a clear, abundant spring at the edge of the track. Just before reaching it, take the path that descends to the left. It branches off the main track and winds gently down the valley slope. After a few bends, it reaches the bottom of a valley where a path runs through. Turn left to follow it until you reach the road and the River Scorff.

(18) Cross the bridge, admiring the site of the mill whose large wheel is still driven by water, and head up the road to the first building. A steep path branches off to the right and climbs over the rocks alongside the stream. Further on, it crosses the stream and reaches an information board about the old irrigated meadows, the layout of which can still be made out below.
Continue along the path that runs alongside the Scorff, some distance from the bank, through a beautiful wooded landscape. Follow it to reach another footbridge.

(19) Cross it and, shortly afterwards, you’ll find a signposted path, which you should follow to the right. Another 800 m along a lovely path on the edge of the woods and the river will take you to the Pont Neuf. Head back up to the road to cross the bridge and return to the starting point (S/E).

This route is mainly through woodland and passes few inhabited areas and even fewer shops. Make sure you bring enough food and drink, including water.

The Sainte-Anne des Bois chapel, when open, can provide shelter for a break if you’re walking in wet weather.

The grounds of Pontcallec Castle are usually open to the public. This was not the case during our visit (due to coronavirus restrictions), but walking through the grounds between the chapel and the main entrance to the estate may be a better option than the route along the road, which is not particularly interesting.

In Kernascléden, two kilometres north-east of Pontcallec, don’t miss the village church, which is a marvel both inside and out (frescoes).