The Vilaine river, right bank and left bank at La Roche-Bernard

Parking is available at the entrance to the suspension bridge, on the La Roche-Bernard side.

(S/E) Take the stairs down to the right of the bridge and turn right to reach the roundabout below. Cross the road when you get there and step over the safety barrier to access the small path that disappears into the vegetation. After passing close to a property overlooking the Vilaine, it climbs up to the right to rejoin the newly created greenway. Turn left, then continue straight ahead when it turns right. Further on, the path branches off to the right to reach the village of Ville Izac.

(1) Leave the village on your right and turn left into the valley. After a beautiful descent, the path curves to the right. Follow it uphill until you reach a cross-country track, which you follow to the right until you leave the woods. Turn right at the first crossroads, then left at the second, before reaching the RD 176 at Croix Neuve. Descend to the left, following the departmental road via the greenway to the bridge over the expressway.

(2) Immediately after crossing the expressway, turn left onto a path that runs alongside the Nivillac wastewater treatment plant basins. This path continues below the motorway until it reaches the stream at the bottom of the valley. Then turn sharply right and follow a path that winds between majestic trees. When you reach a field entrance, once marked by two magnificent oak trees that were uprooted by a storm, follow the path coming from the left. Before reaching an old farm, turn left and follow the beautiful tree-lined path that leads to Ville Aubin.

(3) At the end of this path, turn right and follow the farm track until you reach the Ville Aubin road. Turn left and follow this road to the bottom of the valley, leaving the farm on your left. Turn left before crossing the stream, then continue along the path that extends the road leading to the Ville Aubin estate, leaving it to your left. You will reach the banks of the Vilaine after a few hundred metres. The view of the valley and the series of bridges is breathtaking.

(4) The port of Ville Aubin is not the largest it could be. Walk along the jetty to reach the footbridge that has been built a little further upstream. Cross it, then return to the other bank until you reach a beautiful carriage road that leads to a gate that seems rather incongruous in this location. Turn left, then right after the first bend, to tackle the wooded slope. A fairly steep path begins with a staircase and continues along the edge of an embankment until it joins another farm track overlooking the motorway. Turn right, then right again as soon as you reach the hillside. A steep path leads directly to the foot of the bridge.

(5) To cross the Morbihan bridge, you can choose either of the two staircases that span the lower arch. A word of advice: check which way the wind is blowing so you can walk in the shelter.
On the other side of the river, turn right and follow the riverbank. Ignore the path that goes up towards Marzan and continue straight ahead. Gradually, the path moves away from the water and climbs upwards. It goes around the houses of La Motte and returns to the path that connects this hamlet to Rosquéran. Turn right when you reach it. When you arrive at the village, the path becomes a small road that winds its way around a wide bend before leading to the central crossroads.

(6) Take the path that climbs up opposite, towards an old quarry, which you go around on the right. At this point, the view stretches across the entire surrounding region, but the Vilaine valley, although very close, is almost invisible. After passing the quarry, turn left and follow the path to a road.

(7) Walk along this road on the right for a few metres, then turn left to enter the village of Penhap. Walk down to the bottom of the village and follow the road as it turns right. Eighty metres further on, take a path on the left that leads to the old railway line. When you reach it, turn left and follow the path to return to Kerjulien.

(8) Return to the district road and pass under the motorway bridge, then continue straight ahead until you find a path on the left, in a wooded valley. Follow this path along a stream until you reach the banks of the Vilaine. You are now at the narrowest and steepest point of the gorge formed by the river, if that term can be used!

(9) Climb up the slope on the right-hand side of the cove where you have arrived, then follow the path that zigzags over the steepest parts of the slope. Further on, it passes under the arch of the old ruined bridge, then under the metal deck of the cable-stayed bridge. The path descends once again to the water's edge to find, further on, the path that will take you back up to the plateau. This section is particularly steep and the wooden steps that have been installed there can be slippery. Therefore, caution is advised in this area.
When you reach the road that passes under the bridge, turn left and, after the bend, you will find the path that leads back up to the cable-stayed bridge. Go around the field below the panoramic restaurant, then rejoin the road via the rough staircase that leads to the end of the bridge. All you have to do now is cross the bridge and enjoy the magnificent view it offers of the town and the harbour below (S/E).

La Roche-Bernard is a small town offering all the shops and services you need for a stopover.

Some sections of the route are particularly steep, especially on the slopes bordering the river. At times, it can feel like mountain walking, but without the elevation gain. Do not attempt this route if you are not comfortable walking on difficult terrain.

On the way back, it would be a shame not to stop off at La Roche-Bernard. Whether at the port or in the old town, a little higher up on the rock, there are plenty of terraces where you can recharge your batteries. And a visit to the town and port is a must.