Le Moulin de la Charbonnière

Park at Place de la Cale, in the centre of Betton opposite the town hall, where parking is available. The square hosts a large Sunday market until 2pm. If necessary, park opposite the town hall or in the nearby streets.

(S/E) Leave Place de la Cale heading south and away from Betton Town Hall. Follow the towpath along the right bank of the canal to the footbridge.

(1) Cross the canal at the footbridge and continue south on the towpath on the left bank.

(2) Immediately after the Haut Chalet lock, turn left onto the small metal footbridge over the stream that runs alongside the canal. Return to Rue du Halage and follow it to the roundabout on the Rennes road (D175). Cross it and head opposite towards the SNCF level crossing, which you cross. After the railway line, take the road on the right (30°) towards Vau Robion and follow the signs for "Village La Forme". In the hamlet of Vau Robion, a footpath branches off to the right (90°) after the first houses.

(3) Take the paved footpath (signposted "Village La Forme"). Follow it to the Pluvignon shopping area.

(4) Go around the main roundabout of the shopping area on your right and take the footpath opposite, which runs alongside the main access road on your right (signposted: Rennes - cyclos, randos). Go down the path, which soon crosses the Pluvignon stream.

(5) Keep to the left and head towards the underpass beneath the access road, which is notable for its street art decorations. Go under this bridge and continue along the paved footpath until you reach the road at the hamlet of La Lice. Continue along this road, cross over the D29 departmental road until you reach the next junction with the D3029 at the hamlet of La Louvrais.

(6) At the La Louvrais crossroads, turn right towards the west. This road is a dead end and therefore very quiet. Pass La Grande Louvrais and continue to Maison Blanche.

(7) At the Maison Blanche railway crossing, cross the district road and cross the railway line on the right. Then follow the Betton road for 100 metres until you reach the junction with the Moulin de la Charbonnière road on the left.

(8) Turn left onto Route du Moulin de la Charbonnière. Further on, before the lake and the wash house, turn right and head downhill to join the canal.

(9) Take the towpath on the right and head north towards Betton, staying on the left bank. You will pass the Écluse du Gacet lock and the La Reinais stone bridge before reaching the Écluse du Haut Chalet lock.

(2) Continue towards Betton.

(1) Cross the footbridge, turn right and follow the canal on your right to reach Place de la Cale (S/E).

Alternative: you can shorten the walk by 2 km by starting/finishing at the Haut Chalet lock. To reach the lock by car from the centre of Betton, take the Betton - Rennes road towards Rennes. A roundabout marks the exit from Betton, notable for a large plane tree in its centre. At this roundabout, turn right onto Rue du Halage, which leads to the lock. Parking available.

You can extend the walk to its starting/finishing point: the walk around the lake at the edge of Place de la Cale takes about 30 minutes.

Betton: all shops, bus. SNCF train station (starting point 400 metres from the station).

At the southern end of Place de la Cale: drinking water, toilets, playground.

Restaurant in the Pluvignon shopping area.

Betton: large market every Sunday morning on Place de la Cale.

The locks on the Ille and Rance Canal operate from June to October.

Nearby: the neo-Romanesque Saint-Martin church.