The estuaries from Lorient to Locmiquélic

Parking is available at Quai des Indes

(S) From the water bus stop, walk along the quays on the left towards Pointe du Péristyle. After going around the buildings, turn left towards the lime kiln ramp and, at the second crossroads, go up to the mills on the right.

(1) Walk past the Tour de la Découverte and continue straight ahead. At the ramp, turn right and then left to walk past the Hôtel Gabriel. At the gate, turn right twice and walk down Rue de l'Enclos du Port until it ends at Rue Jean Baptiste Colbert.

(2) Turn right, then left to find the pedestrian street in front of the hospital on your right. Follow it to reach the banks of the Scorff. Follow the footpath to the Pont des Indes bridge. Cross to the right, towards Lanester and Avenue Gabriel Peri.

(3) Turn right and continue along the path which runs straight ahead alongside the Naval Group buildings. Turn left at the crossroads, then immediately right until you reach the roundabout.

(4) Continue straight ahead on Rue de la République. Then keep going straight until you reach the next roundabout.

(5) Turn left onto Rue Jules Guesde, then right into the Parc du Plessis car park. Turn left after passing through the gate and go around the lake on the left, staying as close to it as possible. Stay on the main path and turn right after the pond. You will come to a fork.

(6) Take the path on the left. Then take the second path on your left, in front of the fitness trail, and cross the footbridge over the stream. Turn immediately left to leave the park and arrive at Rue Jean Le Coutaller.

(7) Cross the street to reach the path opposite, slightly offset to the left. Continue straight ahead until you reach Avenue du Président Salvador Allende.

(8) Cross again to follow the path that leads to the banks of the Plessis, keeping to the right until you reach the bridge.

(9) At Pont du Bouc, turn right twice to reach the other bank and follow the path along the Plessis. You will come to a street.

(10) Cross Rue de Pen Mané to rejoin the path that runs alongside the water. Follow it to the left. Then stay on the bank until you reach Saint-Guénaël.

(11) At the intersection of the paths, continue straight ahead and join the road. Turn right onto Rue de Saint-Guénaël. Go down this street before turning left onto Rue du Bol d'Air. Take the first path on the right, then turn right again. In the centre, take the coastal path on the left. Stay on the bank until you reach the bridge.

(12) Go up the path on the left to reach the road. Cross the bridge on the cycle/pedestrian path. At the end of the bridge, turn right, then continue straight ahead on the path that joins Rue Korn Talhouet. Pass the hamlet and you will come to a fork.

(13) Turn right onto the path and you will find yourself back at the edge of the Blavet. Turn left, then right at the crossroads in the hamlet of La Poterie, and right again into the woods at the chicane to reach a fork.

(14) Continue straight ahead on the path along the water's edge and turn right at the intersection. In the village of Kergatamignan, stay as close as possible to the water on the right and rejoin the coastal path at the exit of the hamlet.

(15) Stay on this path until you reach the Sterbouest road.

(16) Turn left, then right to rejoin the coastal path and return to the road.

(17) Turn right twice to reach Kervern via Rue du Park Bras.

(18) Turn right twice to leave the village and join the Pen Mané marsh path. At the end of the cul-de-sac, take the largest path on the right to go around the marsh. Ignore the paths on your right and take the dyke path between the marsh and the Blavet. You will come to a fork.

(19) Continue straight ahead and turn right at the shipyard. Take the steps and keep to the right to walk along the fort. At the end, go down the steps to reach the Pen Mané pier (E).

A water bus will take you back to your starting point in Lorient in 8 minutes. Remember to check the water bus timetable in advance. All the information you need is available at www.izilo.bzh

This circuit is offered by Lorient Agglomération. It is listed in the Morbihan Departmental Plan for Walking and Hiking Routes and certified by the French Hiking Federation. Follow the yellow and red markings.

You will be hiking through natural and private sites. Stay on the marked paths, respect nature, facilities and cultivated land. For your comfort and safety, make sure you have the appropriate hiking equipment.

• Port enclosure: developed by the Compagnie des Indes in^{the 17th} and^18th centuries: quays and warehouses, military site (^19th-20th centuries), Maison de l'Agglomération (2014); Maison de l'Imprimeur, water reservoir, Tour de la Découverte and mills, Hôtel Gabriel.
• The Scorff: 75 km of river, 12 km of estuary; railway bridge (1862); Pont des Indes (2007).
• The arsenal: shipbuilding on the left and right banks of the Scorff since the^17th century; Grande forme de l’Arsenal (1913-1919); Naval Group (defence shipbuilding).
• Le Parc du Plessis (15 ha): former seigneury of Le Plessis (^15th-century manor house, 1663 pleasure palace, destroyed in 1943); remains of the dovecote.
• Le Marais de la Goden (22 ha):sensitive natural area in the Morbihan department; wetlands and brackish waters.
• Chapel and Fountain of Saint-Guénaël (^15th century)
• Ponts du Bonhomme bridges (1904 and 1974):replaced the ferry (1681); bridge rebuilt next to it after the war.
• Sterbouest tide mill (^15th century): pond fed by the tide, dyke and two-stage mill (wheat and millet); converted to oyster farming and brickworks (^20th century).
• Pen Mané marsh (65 hectares)
• Fort de Pen Mané (1761): defensive fort for the harbour (1761) and port of Lorient; wireless telephone station (1908); demagnetisation centre (1942-1945); municipal property since 1987.