Roho moors and marshes

The village of Saint-Dolay overlooks the plateau that borders the south bank of the Vilaine. This flat landscape is cut by a valley with sometimes steep slopes, where the Moulin Neuf stream flows. While moors cover the slopes and heights of the valley, marshes and peat bogs cover the bottom. Add to this variety of vegetation a remarkable geological diversity, and you will have many reasons to explore this route.

Details

1804856
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 123 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 125 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 49 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park behind the town hall in St-Dolay.

(S/E) Head to Rue du Calvaire, turn right, then left at the three-way junction, near a beautiful large stone house. Follow the small road downhill until you pass a new housing development, then continue along the path that leads towards the woods.
At the first trees, ignore the first path on the left and continue to the stream.

(1) Cross the stream on the stone footbridge, then turn left. The path follows the stream for about a hundred metres before leading to a forest track that climbs straight up the slope. Turn right to start climbing, but very quickly turn left to take the path that has been laid out at the bottom of the slope. It overlooks the marsh by a few metres, right at the foot of the pine forest.

When it starts to climb the slope, leave the marked trail and go straight up, taking the forest path on the right that climbs the slope. Further on, it rejoins the forest lane encountered earlier. Cut across it and go past the barrier blocking the path opposite. Follow this path until it bends to the left.

(2) Leave the main path to your left and enter the forest path opposite. Follow it for a few dozen metres, then turn left onto the track that winds between the pine trees. After about 200 metres parallel to the forest track, it rejoins it as it turns right. After a few more metres, you will come to a logging track that runs along the edge of the forest. Turn left. After an S-bend, the track reaches a small road in the middle of a bend. Take the steep track that immediately branches off to the left. A few hundred metres further on, it rejoins this road and follows it to the bridge over the Moulin de Roho stream

(3). Cross the bridge and turn left to immediately take the path that climbs up the left bank. This very steep section leads to the viewpoint overlooking the old Roho pond and its mill. Continue through the pine forest.
Further on, turn left at the first path you come to, then cross a small road.

On the other side of this road, the path has been cut through the gorse, which is trimmed very regularly. This gives this section of the route the appearance of a well-tended garden, which is unexpected in this very wild setting. The path then follows the edge of a cultivated field before joining a farm track.

(4) At the edge of the woods, ignore the path that branches off to the left (it is a dead end that only leads to a field) and continue to the next embankment. Turn left onto the old right-of-way, clearly marked by two large embankments, and start the descent.
At the bottom of the slope, the route reaches a crossroads and then crosses the Ruisseau du Moulin de Sainte-Anne stream, going up the road.

(5) After passing a cross, the path turns right and follows the edge of the woods. Join the Bois Riveau road and turn left.

(6) Take the path on the right, just after a materials depot, go around a pond, and follow the trail through the woods. After a beautiful hilly stretch, it joins the RD34 near the bridge that crosses the Moulin Neuf stream.

(7) At the road, do not cross or follow it, but head towards the left bank of the stream and follow it closely at first, then from the top of the hill afterwards. The path makes an almost complete circular loop, but before closing it, turn right to go back up towards the road.

(8) Turn right to reach a crossroads with a beautiful cross and ignore the road on the left.

(9) Turn left onto the gravel path that goes up towards the water treatment plant (here, reeds are used to purify wastewater), follow it, turn right twice before reaching the village of Temple. On the way, you can't miss the huge hollow oak tree overlooking the path.

(10) In the village, turn left to walk up the row of houses.
Once you have passed the village, the path curves to the right and climbs gently towards the village of Saint-Dolay. Join Rue Jeanne d'Arc, turn left, and you will find yourself back in the village centre and at your starting point, the car park at Saint-Dolay town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 47 m - Parking available at Saint-Dolay Town Hall
  2. 1 : km 1.05 - alt. 14 m - Footbridge over the Crédan stream
  3. 2 : km 2.1 - alt. 40 m - Landes de la Corodais
  4. 3 : km 3.56 - alt. 6 m - Pont du Moulin du Roho
  5. 4 : km 4.36 - alt. 49 m - Red Sand Path
  6. 5 : km 5.11 - alt. 10 m - Cross under Bois Riveau
  7. 6 : km 6.1 - alt. 20 m - Entrance to the Moulin Neuf circular
  8. 7 : km 7.13 - alt. 10 m - Route St Dolay-la Roche-Bernard
  9. 8 : km 8.35 - alt. 18 m - Exit from the Moulin Neuf circular
  10. 9 : km 8.64 - alt. 11 m - Path to the water treatment plant
  11. 10 : km 9.48 - alt. 22 m - The Temple
  12. S/E : km 10.22 - alt. 47 m - Parking available at Saint-Dolay Town Hall

Notes

Between (6) and (8) You can shorten the route by 1.3 km by cutting between these two points.
Refreshments available in Saint-Dolay, before or after the walk.

Worth a visit

(3) The Roho mill has been converted into a dwelling, but still retains its functional appearance, below the dyke of the old pond that fed the wheel. Created in the Middle Ages, this pond is currently being filled in and is a biotope of regional interest, which has led to the classification of the marshes and peat bogs, as well as part of the neighbouring moors, as a ZNIEFF (natural area of ecological, floristic and faunistic interest).

Between (3) and (4), outcrops of slate mark this heathland planted with maritime pines. In early spring, asphodels carpet the undergrowth with their elegant flower stems. Several beautiful viewpoints offer a glimpse of the mill's façade and the remains of the wheel that drove it.

Between (4) and (5) The appearance of the site quickly raises questions, because although it has the characteristics of an old path, it is very uneven and could not have been used by vehicles. On closer inspection, you can see that the ground is made up of reddish sand, which comes from the sandstone below (a few blocks are visible further down). It is highly likely that the uneven terrain is the result of the extraction of this sand.

Between (5) and (6) You may be lucky enough to see a deer running across the field, as we did one day during a hunt. The animal owed its survival to its agility, which enabled it to cross the open space before the dogs tracking it arrived.

Between (7) and (8) In winter, the water in the marshes glistens through the trees, giving the landscape a silvery hue.

(10) Note the rubble wall of the ruin at the entrance to the path. Slate and white schist, granite, sandstone: the stack of materials is a microcosm of the local geology.

In addition to its ecological and geological interest, this route connects several stone crosses, some of which are unusual in that they have no base. They seem to emerge from stone slabs laid directly on the ground.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
philrandovilaine
philrandovilaine

The solution may be to abandon the application, which is clearly not foolproof, in favour of the map, which can always be relied upon.
Best regards
PhilRV

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User 9988801
• Edited:

Hello, we tried to follow the route as suggested on the app. The start was fine, but after the first two kilometres, once we reached the dense forest, the route took us off the path and into thick vegetation. We therefore decided to follow the visible paths while trying to stay as close as possible to the route on the app. We managed to do this for a while. However, a little over halfway along the route, near the stream, the route led us straight into very dense vegetation, with no path, to the point where we were forced to turn back. The result: we were able to finish by taking a busy road with heavy goods vehicles (not great in terms of safety) before we could find the route again (in fact, the alert on the app warned us that we were up to 476 m off course). Otherwise, this hike, with a route that does not take you into "the jungle", remains a pleasant hike with beautiful views for the parts that are normally accessible and marked.

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pascal44400
pascal44400

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb circular in the woods with very little paved road. Some elevation changes and a few slippery spots on the granite rocks.
Accessible to everyone, we were a group of retirees aged 63 to 78.

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randodo
randodo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

What can I say except that I loved this hike. I didn't know the area and it was a wonderful discovery. There aren't many roads, which was perfect for my dog because I didn't have to keep her on a lead much. I'll definitely be back very soon

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plump
plump

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike! A few comments:
- At point 1, it is better to stay on the marked trail that winds through the pine forest rather than following the forest road
- At point 6, the materials depot no longer seems to be there, which makes it a little tricky to decide whether to take the path on the right, which is not marked, but it is marked at point 8, so no problem. The very interesting circular in the woods can also be done from point 8.

There are few roads, or at least very few that are used on a Sunday morning. In short, it's a very beautiful walk.

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vero44130
vero44130

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I love this walk, which I've already done twice. Be careful if you have dogs, as it can be tricky. You'll probably have to carry them down some rocks after the Roho mill, between points 3 and 4. I should point out that we have old dogs and it was difficult.
please note
point 5: there is no cross, but turn right onto the small path, marked with yellow markings
point 6: I never found the material depot, but turn right at the edge of the woods on the left and the fields on the right.
between points 6 and 8, the GPX route is completely wrong unless you cross through the woods. Follow the yellow markings, which will take you on a lovely little tour through the woods, with ascents and descents, perfect.
at point 8, the GPX track is correct again

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Pierre2703
Pierre2703

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful walk, GPX tracks not very accurate but path very well marked with several possible variations.

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Magalio
Magalio

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

pleasant stroll

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MARIRAD
MARIRAD

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent autumn walk under pine trees and other colourful trees. A slight error in the route at the edge of the woods (confusion with the mountain bike trail), with the distance between two signposts a little too far. I recommend this outing in all seasons; the vegetation provides protection from the sun, but listening to the sound of the wind in the branches also recharges your batteries.

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philrandovilaine
philrandovilaine

I am very pleased that you apparently enjoyed this circular as much as I enjoyed suggesting it to you.
Best regards
PhilRV

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eltofes
eltofes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done today with a few variations, we continued to La Vilaine to find the trail further on (18 km)
Very good route, very well marked. I'm surprised by the negative comments about this hike!
It's easier to criticise than to share tracks

Many thanks for sharing this, a great route with undergrowth that provided us with some shade today and very beautiful paths
Really delighted with this hike

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Magali HLF
Magali HLF

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The start was a bit tricky, as we couldn't see the marker and the instructions weren't very clear. After that, we had a few doubts at certain junctions, but we managed it in the end.
On the other hand, the landscapes are varied and really pleasant, we had a truly wonderful time.
thank you

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Jacky Peji
Jacky Peji

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant, well-marked and well-maintained route

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philrandovilaine
philrandovilaine

Sorry, but Visorando's speciality is offering walks that are off the beaten track and therefore not necessarily signposted, even if they may overlap with routes that are.
Have a good evening.
Phil RV

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tinmarbzh
tinmarbzh

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Proper signposting would be useful.
We cut our walk short because we didn't know which path to take..
However, it is very pleasant to stroll through the woods

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