Coëtquen Castle and its forest

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The highlight of this walk is exploring the remains of the feudal motte and Coëtquen Castle, built in the 15th century (private property). The route takes in small roads and beautiful forest paths.
The name Coëtquen can be translated as ‘white forest’. The Coëtquens were lords who became part of a branch of the Dinan family.

Details

n°20306055
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.72 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 50 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 60 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 73 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 31 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Saint-Hélen (22100)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.471819° / W 1.958873°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1116ET
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Photos

Castle ramparts
Coëtquen Castle

Description of the walk

Park on Place de l'Église in Saint-Hélen.

(S/E) Cross the car park, go to the left of the church and head towards the junction of Rue des Quintaines and Coëtquen.

(1) Cross the road, head towards Bas Bourg and continue to a junction.

(2) Turn right, pass by a pond and head towards the junction at the sewage treatment plant.

(3) Turn left, walk alongside the sewage treatment plant, pass the hamlet of Les Touches and arrive at a crossroads (marked by a cross).

(4) Turn right towards the hamlet and Coëtquen Castle.

(5) Walk along part of the castle walls and retrace your steps. At the crossroads, head towards La Noë Davy and, at the hamlet, continue along the road on the right.

(6) Turn right onto the path that passes in front of the Motte Féodale. Continue straight on through the Coëtquen State Forest – Côtes d’Armor and cross a road.

(7) Shortly afterwards, take the sharp right-hand bend towards La Ville Hamon and rejoin the road you crossed earlier.

(8) First turn right then left to cross this road and continue towards the hamlet of Ville Hamon, which you leave on your right. Continue to the next road where you will find a wayside cross.

(9) Pass the wayside shrine on your right and continue along the road on the left leading to Saint-Hélen. At the entrance, turn left towards the church to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 72 m - Place de l'Église
  2. 1 : km 0.24 - alt. 63 m - Route des Quintaines
  3. 2 : km 1.12 - alt. 49 m - Junction
  4. 3 : km 1.68 - alt. 47 m - Crossroads – Wastewater treatment plant
  5. 4 : km 2.66 - alt. 37 m - Entrance to the hamlet of Coëtquen
  6. 5 : km 2.96 - alt. 33 m - Coëtquen Castle
  7. 6 : km 4.05 - alt. 42 m - Car park
  8. 7 : km 5.97 - alt. 61 m - Junction
  9. 8 : km 6.5 - alt. 52 m - Crossing the road
  10. 9 : km 7.73 - alt. 50 m - Route du Plessis Gestil
  11. S/E : km 8.72 - alt. 71 m - Place de l'Église

Notes

Place de l'Église: there are toilets and picnic tables.
Route de Coëtquen, checkpoint (3), car park and pond.
At the crossing point (6), there is a car park.

Worth a visit

During the walk, explore the exterior of Coëtquen Castle and the remains of the Motte Féodale.
A few kilometres away: Dinan, with its castle, ramparts and old town, awaits you.
In La Vicomté-sur-Rance, visit the Prat tide mill (ask at the town hall for details of the tour) and the banks of the Rance.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.5 / 5
User 12888285

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

This route is not interesting. The castle ruins are barely visible, there is too much tarmac and nothing remarkable to see.
I do not recommend this route.

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Preda
Preda

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route that takes you through charming hamlets with a rich heritage.
There are a few roads, but very little traffic.

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coco68@
coco68@

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Thank you for the walk, but for our liking there were too many kilometres on tarmac roads.

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f@nch
f@nch

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A countryside route that follows a lot (too many) small tarmac roads. The only long stretch on a path is the section through the Coëtquen Forest between points 6 and 8. No particular difficulties; the walk took just under two hours in overcast but pleasant weather.

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trio35
trio35

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and very picturesque walk. There’s a bit of tarmac, but on quiet roads, which gives you a chance to see some lovely houses. The famous mound isn’t highlighted at all by the local council, which is a shame; we walked right past it without noticing it...
The route description lacks precision (from stage 1 onwards, you have to cross the whole of Bas Bourg and then take a fairly long dirt track on the right before finally reaching the famous crossroads. Stage 7 is tricky to find too), but the route on the map is accurate and the walk is well signposted by the local council (signs with a small drawing of a walker).

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pampoine
pampoine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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