Route du Champ Dolent to Saint-M’Hervé

Red and white markings for^{the GR®} 34
Yellow^PR® markings and green arrow no. 43

(S/E) Head south, passing in front of the church forecourt, and take the path between the buildings to follow Rue de la Mairie. After a left-hand bend, take the path on the right and continue southwards. Follow Allée des Vergers to the left to leave the village.

(1) Just before the ‘end of built-up area’ sign, turn right onto the footpath. It takes a sharp right-hand bend before widening into a broad stony track. This too heads due south.

(2) At a right-hand bend, continue along the path on the left. Turn right at a right angle to walk between two fields. When you reach a road, follow it to the right and then veer left to take the path that runs alongside the road, high up on the right-hand side.
The track veers to the left and continues between two fields.

No further^GR® markings

(3) Leave the^GR®, head right and continue to the left to reach the shores of the lake. Turn left to cross the Leisure Park using the path which has several flights of steps. Continue along the lake.

(4) Turn right to cross between the two lakes and then continue to the right, heading south. The path becomes a small track suitable for vehicles after the barrier. You’ll reach a T-junction.

(5) Carry on to the right and follow the shore of the lake. The path veers away from the shore, heading up into a woodland and joining a road. Follow it to the right to head back down.

(6) Turn right before reaching the houses and go through the barrier. You’ll reach the shores of the lake again. Pass the footbridge on your right, which links up with other routes. From the middle of the bridge, there’s a stunning view of both parts of the lake. Continue along the path heading north, then north-east.

(7) Follow the path as it bends to the left up a short slope, then continue to the right to descend gently alongside the lake. Carry on alongside the lake, ignoring the sign for the alternative route to the left. Continue along the path that runs alongside the lake until you reach the D24 road.

(8) Be sure to follow the signposting and the instructions below:
At the road, turn left before crossing and continue to the right behind the safety barriers.
Cross the embankment, taking shelter behind the barriers, and turn left towards the rest area. Walk along the other bank of the lake, heading north and then west. Look out for the wooden hut: a freely accessible observation point from which to view the lake’s wildlife (please follow the instructions for use carefully).

(9) Cross the road and continue straight ahead. The path leads back onto a road.
Take it to the left, skirting the buildings at Le Plessis. After the farm, the road becomes a track again until you reach Pont Troton.

(10) Turn left and cross the Vilaine. Ignore the houses at La Piverdière on your left and continue along the road for a few hundred metres.

(11) Turn left onto the footpath heading south-west. The footpath leads onto a road. Turn right and stay on this road all the way to Saint-M’Hervé, ignoring any turn-offs to the right or left.
At the end of this road, take the protected pavement on the left-hand side of the D777 to reach the church car park (S/E).

The description above and the attached notes were written by “Le Randonneur Breton”.

The entire route is signposted with signs featuring a Green Triangle bearing the number 43.
Please note that this route intersects with others that have the same markings but different numbers.

The Haute Vilaine Reservoir: created in 1982, the reservoir is a vast freshwater body covering 155 hectares, containing 8 million cubic metres of water (6 km long, 0.3 km wide and with a maximum depth of 13 m). The pond’s purpose is to maintain the low-water level of the Vilaine and to provide flood control for Vitré and Rennes, which lie downstream.