The Couesnon Valley

This route of the Couesnon can be divided into two parts: a circular route to the west and another to the east, the latter of which can be shortened.
The Couesnon has a very winding course as it crosses the granite massif. Its limestone-free water was used for a long time in paper mills in the 17th century. With this industry now gone, the Couesnon is a delight for salmonids and kayakers alike.

Details

1160432
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.76 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 186 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 181 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 86 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 36 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the Château de la Ville Olivier.
Red and whiteGR® markings

(S/E) Cross the D102 and then the Ruisseau de la Motte. Turn left. Cross the road leading to La Fressionnière and continue straight ahead on the path on the left.

(1) When you reach the Couesnon, turn right, ignoring the footbridge over the stream and then the one over the Couesnon. Continue along this path alongside the Couesnon.
The path ends at a road, which you should follow to the left until you reach the Moulin de Mézières.

(2) Before the first house of the mill, turn right onto a path.
When the path widens before reaching the buildings, take a path on the left and follow it all the way.
It ends at a wide gravel path.

YellowPR® markings

Leave theGR® trail on the right and follow thePR® trail on the left.

(3) Turn left onto a path and head towards the banks of the Couesnon.
Cross the footbridge over the Couesnon and reach a gravel road to follow on the left.
Continue left at the junction onto the tarmac road

(4) Shortly after passing the Ruisseau d'Éverre, take the path on the left which leads back to the banks of the Couesnon, but on the other side.
Before reaching a footbridge, take the zigzag stairs on the right and continue along the path.

(5) Leave the path by turning right, cross the road and continue straight ahead towards La Roche. The road continues along a path that runs alongside the Couesnon.

(6) Please note, contrary to the directions on the maps, leave the yellow markings (which send you to the right) and turn left to continue along the Couesnon.

(7) Possible shortcut, see below.
Ignore the footbridge on the left and continue straight ahead.
After 2 km, the trail leads to a farm track that descends towards the Moulin de Guyon.

(8) Turn left and walk to the mill.
Take the small path on the right, running alongside a rocky face, and continue to the left.

Red and whiteGR® markings

A few metres further on, rejoin theGR®39(end of thePR® markings) by turning left before crossing the Couesnon.

(9) Just after the bridge, turn left, then after 150 metres of road and path on the left, take theGR® trail that climbs into the woods.
At Les Plansonnais, descend by turning left.

(10) Continue to the right.

No more markings

(11) Leave theGR® trail on the right and follow an unmarked alternative route, continuing straight ahead.
This is the "Chemin des Comtesses", which runs alongside a drinking water supply station for the city of Rennes on the left and ends at the D102.

(12) Just before reaching the road, take the path on the right and continue on the left, running alongside and overlooking the departmental road.
Continue straight ahead. You will see the Ville Olivier property.
Continue along the main road; the car park is on the right. (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 56 m - Parking at the Château de la Ville Olivier
  2. 1 : km 0.64 - alt. 43 m - Riverbank, on the right - Couesnon (fleuve)
  3. 2 : km 2.1 - alt. 45 m - Moulin de Mézières - on the right
  4. 3 : km 3.78 - alt. 58 m - Path on the left
  5. 4 : km 5.24 - alt. 62 m - Path on the left
  6. 5 : km 6.93 - alt. 49 m - On the right
  7. 6 : km 8.53 - alt. 44 m - Path on the left
  8. 7 : km 8.74 - alt. 40 m - Straight ahead - Shortcut to the left
  9. 8 : km 9.9 - alt. 56 m - Road on the left
  10. 9 : km 10.54 - alt. 36 m - Path on the left
  11. 10 : km 12.37 - alt. 40 m - Arrival on the left of the shortcut - On the right
  12. 11 : km 12.65 - alt. 50 m - Straight ahead - the GR turns right
  13. 12 : km 14.11 - alt. 45 m - Path on the right
  14. S/E : km 14.76 - alt. 56 m - Parking at the Château de la Ville Olivier

Notes

This route can be split into two, with the second part offering a shortcut:
- the eastern section: from (S/E) to (5) - Instead of turning right, continue along the path, reach (1) after crossing the Couesnon, either continue along the same path as on the way there, or take the footbridge over the stream, cross the road and join (12) to complete the route. 7.5 km, or 2 hours' walking.
- the western section can be shortened by approximately 3.5 km. At (7), turn left to cross the footbridge and reach (10). Continue straight ahead following the route described.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
domivasseur2935
domivasseur2935

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Quite a few runners and mountain bikers on certain sections, but the route is magnificent, one of the most beautiful in the region with shade throughout and virtually no tarmac roads. Quite a few elevation changes on the final section. The bridge at point 9 is reported to be closed, but in fact you can cross it if you take care. Be careful to keep your bearings in sections 9 to 10: there are quite a few different markings, which can be confusing.
There isn't a single picnic table along the route, which is a shame.
There is a crêperie-bar in the car park at the starting point.

Machine-translated

AJP
AJP

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

sunday 27 April, good weather:

During the morning, there were about 60 joggers and 40 mountain bikers. And almost every time, you have to make an effort to let them pass on the narrow paths. It's annoying. And it wasn't a special event.

Incidentally, the footbridge at point 9 is officially closed, i.e. there is a poster with indigestible legalese and there is red and white tape on both sides, which is broken. The ramp is indeed broken on one side. So perhaps don't go via point 9 with a crowd of small children.

Machine-translated

Trecy
Trecy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk through the woods, passing through hamlets and villages without any real difficulty.

Machine-translated

jchbdn44
jchbdn44

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I did it in winter a long time ago, and I really enjoyed it. At that time of year, the leaves prevent you from appreciating the Couesnon. It's still a very beautiful walk.

Machine-translated

EtienneBar
EtienneBar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, admittedly a little challenging, with beautiful scenery, very little tarmac, and plenty of shade (which is appreciated in very sunny weather).

Machine-translated

jroger35
jroger35

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, beautiful scenery, amazing vegetation, good elevation gain

Machine-translated

Agapouack
Agapouack

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant and varied.
Easy and dry for most of the route, with a few steep sections to add a bit of fun at times.
A few hikers, but not many considering it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon

Machine-translated

cyrilledu35
cyrilledu35

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Machine-translated

derivou
derivou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

simple, pleasant and adaptable...

Machine-translated

Patricia Mainguy
Patricia Mainguy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

beautiful hike in the Couesnon Valley

Machine-translated

Laurence44810
Laurence44810

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful, steep and fairly physically demanding route. Best done in spring, and again in autumn

Machine-translated

LMC
LMC

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely walk in a fairly well-preserved environment. We saw lots of animals: deer, birds...

Machine-translated

COMMODORE52
COMMODORE52

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very interesting hike, because in reality there are eight possible routes along the bridges and footbridges. And, of course, it depends on your fitness, enthusiasm, mood, fellow hikers and the weather.
4.5 km to the west,
4.5 km to the east,
7.5 km to the west,
7.5 km to the east,
9 km either west or east
12 km west,
12 km east,
and the total 15 km either west or east.
The signposting is average and not always in good condition, but with a little logic, you just need to follow the course of the Couesnon river.
And for the start or finish, head to the car park of the Château de la Ville Olivier, a very pleasant spot called "Le Chat Gourmand": bar-brasserie, crêperie-restaurant.

Machine-translated

pagila3
pagila3

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Good description of routes and changes of direction

Very interesting because it can be done in two parts
:

Machine-translated

yannicky
yannicky

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

on the circular 7 km loop, at the end of the footbridge, you come to a road and the PR markings are not clear enough to know that you have to take the road towards St Ouen, then take the path 300 m to the left

otherwise, it's a very good route

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.