Country:
City:
Start at Place de l’Eglise.
Take Rue de l'Abbaye and then Rue des Douves and the road to the left. Take the right path (1) along the football field, follow it straight ahead crossing four roads.
Take a wooded path to the left, and turn left at the end (2). At a right turn (3) look out for the menhirs in the fields on the left (three including one laying down).
Cross the D221, take the road 200 m ahead, take the left path (4) up to the D287, follow it right and cross the canal bridge (5) and turn left.
Follow the canal on the GR37 to explore the site of the 11 locks as far as La Magdalene (6) (canal house museum). Switch to the other side along the canal in the other direction. At the height of the Péchetiére lock (7) turn right along the GR37 crossing three roads.
Continue beneath the cemetery below the town. Cross the small bridge on the left (notice the fountain on the left).
Climb towards the village. Take the Rue de la Barrière for 50 m then turn right down a lane to reach the ruins of a castle (8) and admire the view before reaching the church.
The 11 locks and 7 mills of Hédé
Circuit exploring the 11 locks of the Canal d’Ille-et-Rance.
Details
-
Activity: Walking -
Distance: 11.56 km -
Average duration: 3h 30 -
Difficulty: Easy -
-
Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 63 m -
Descent: - 67 m -
-
Highest point: 108 m -
Lowest point: 49 m
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 96 m - Place de l'église
- 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 96 m - Path on the right towards Stade de Foot
- 2 : km 3.16 - alt. 105 m - Left towards Menhirs
- 3 : km 4.22 - alt. 105 m - Menhirs
- 4 : km 4.81 - alt. 87 m - Left path to canal
- 5 : km 5.77 - alt. 70 m - Bridge over the - Canal d'Ille-et-Rance
- 6 : km 7.62 - alt. 50 m - La Magdeleine
- 7 : km 8.85 - alt. 65 m - La Péchetière lock
- 8 : km 10.69 - alt. 85 m - Rue de la Barrière
- 9 : km 11.04 - alt. 79 m - Ruined castle
- S/E : km 11.56 - alt. 96 m - Place de l'église
Notes
The Magdalene museum on the Canal d’Ille-et-Rance. Bar/Restaurant.
Hédé ruins of the castle church.
The canal house.
Worth a visit
Les Iffs its 15th 17th century church
Castle Montmuran 12th-18th century
Tinteniac church, old houses, museum of tools and crafts
Quebriac zoo and leisure park
Reviews and comments
4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5
4.4 / 5
Overall rating : 3.7 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No
Not bad, but the signage could be improved, especially at the start.
The markup could do with a refresh
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
A beautiful hike along country lanes and towpaths. We did this hike at the end of the day and had the pleasure of encountering a few coypu at the end of the hike in the Hédé stream. I recommend it and will happily do it again.
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Mar 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Nice, fairly flat route. Two wet spots that are easy to avoid.
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No
Varied route, little tarmac, beautiful scenery...
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
I do the hikes without reading the descriptions, I orientate myself just with the track, so for me there's nothing to report on this point.
Otherwise, it's a very nice walk, starting out with very few people but which allows you time to unwind, you find yourself in the middle of nature before arriving at the locks where there are a few more people, this site is very pretty, well maintained and soothing with places where you can rest for a picnic or other break.
Depending on the time of year, often in the summer, there may be an exhibition in addition to the various reading tables that are there all year round on the fauna, flora and even art that you will find throughout this hike.
Take the short detour to visit the ruins of the castle and also to stroll through the streets, as this is a pretty little village, very typical of Brittany.
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Very nice walk. The first part is in the fields without the mills but where you can discover the menhirs. The second part is very pleasant along the canal. Very well maintained, full of flowers and great for a picnic.
On a negative note, we had trouble finding the starting point by the church.
I'd recommend this walk to anyone - it's very easy.
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
A lovely, easy walk that's accessible to everyone. There is plenty of shade and plenty of places to picnic. The locks are beautifully flowered.
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 3.5 / 5
Date of your route : May 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No
hello, I hadn't taken the map of the hike, which is a shame, I think it would have made my job easier.
explanations not always understandable, even for seasoned hikers - the distance between two points,
the distance between two points, especially, is not "palpable" - otherwise, a very pleasant, varied walk, we'll do it again in the other direction because finishing on a hill is
sometimes you play at treasure hunting, but you still manage and it's in your interest to rely only on yourself because
rely on yourself because you won't meet many people !!!!!!!!!!
thank you, and see you next time - hike on 27 April 2022
monique
p.s.- I won't mention the signposting, but when it's there it's reassuring ...
I read some of the comments and can confirm that the explanations for finding the "green path" at the start are a bit vague.
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : Jun 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
A very pleasant and varied route. A very nice walk.
We could do with a better description of the route through the town, but overall it's easy to follow.
I'll do it again in another season.
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jun 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
At the start, take note of shift35's commentary; otherwise, there's no mill in sight: that's another walk!
The beauty of the lock site, well maintained, remarkable and... artistic.
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : Jun 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No
A lovely, easy walk that takes in the locks of the Ille et Rance canal.
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Sep 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
:very pleasant with artistic exhibitions
Machine-translated
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Hello
A very interesting walk, which doesn't just follow the canal and locks, which ends up being boring and very busy. It's easy to get to and allows you to see the menhirs and the ruined castle, which are usually overlooked.
The description is very accurate. However, here are a few corrections (take it or leave it):
- Take Rue de l'Abbaye then Rue des Douves and the road on the left. --> The road on the left is Rue du Chemin Horain.
- (1) Then take the track on the right which runs alongside the football pitch --> Do not follow the sign "7 moulins" but take the track on the right which runs alongside the Ehpad, the CDIS and then the football pitch.
- (2) After going along --> After going along
Machine-translated
Other walks in the area
The Giants' Walk in the Bazouges Basin
Visorando Member 
5.62 km
+4 m
-4 m
1h 35
Easy
Departure from Hédé (Ille-et-Vilaine)
Hédé and its locks
Visorando Member 
11.60 km
+52 m
-59 m
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Hédé (Ille-et-Vilaine)
Étang des Noës in Québriac
Visorando Member 
13.15 km
+66 m
-62 m
3h 55
Moderate
Departure from Québriac (Ille-et-Vilaine)
The Rigole de Boulet and La Motte aux Anglais, starting from La Plousière
Visorando Member 
9.65 km
+10 m
-10 m
2h 45
Easy
Departure from Guipel (Ille-et-Vilaine)
Around Saint-Médard-sur-Ille
Association / Club / Walk leader 
12.07 km
+98 m
-98 m
3h 45
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Médard-sur-Ille (Ille-et-Vilaine)
Tour of Bécherel
Visorando Member 
5.59 km
+118 m
-116 m
1h 55
Moderate
Departure from Bécherel (Ille-et-Vilaine)
Tour of Saint-Judoce
Visorando Member 
12.93 km
+19 m
-22 m
3h 45
Moderate
Departure from Trévérien (Ille-et-Vilaine)
The hillsides of the Ille around Chevaigné via Le Breil
Visorando Member 
7.74 km
+41 m
-37 m
2h 20
Easy
Departure from Chevaigné (Ille-et-Vilaine)
For more walks, use our search engine .
The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.
