Les Faillies Brières and Les Crolières de Gras

The Mès, a small coastal river in the north of the Guérande peninsula, flows through a low, wide valley consisting mainly of marshes, draining the water into the ocean.
The proposed route allows you to discover the upper part of these marshes and cross them via the Gras bridge, an ancient stone footbridge.
This route should only be attempted when the water level in the marshes allows the paths surrounding them to be used.

Details

2881587
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.59 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 10 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 10 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 17 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Brière
  • ⚐ District: Herbignac (44410)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.388945° / W 2.368539°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1022ET, 1022OT, 1023OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the pond in the village of L'Eguignac.

(S/E) Walk up towards the oldest houses in the village. Follow the road through the village until you reach the RD52, opposite the old mill.
Turn right, follow the departmental road with caution for about 400 metres and cross the Marche bridge over the Mes.

(1) Take the path that branches off to the left about 100 metres after the stream. It runs alongside the marsh, describing a wide curve. At the first crossroads, turn right to go up to Kertrait.

(2) Cross the RD52, continue straight ahead and then immediately turn right onto the path that leads to a horse farm. Pass the farm, taking the time to look down at the marshes below. Turn right and follow the path, which once again approaches the wetlands. It turns left when it reaches them, then follows the edge for about a kilometre. Climbing up the hillside, the path crosses some old quarries before coming out onto a small road.

(3) Turn right and follow the road to the village of Kerlo and its many thatched cottages. Cross the village and the next hamlet. A large building in the middle of the hamlet gave it its name: the Lion d'Or. As you might expect, it is a former hotel.

(4) When you reach the first houses of the village of Kermouraud, turn right onto the path that goes around a large property with a pond. Once you have passed the pond, turn right onto the path that first goes under the trees and then into the marsh. The path then turns into an alleyway of flat stones laid on vertical supports sunk into the marsh: this is the "Pont de Gras". Continue straight ahead for about 400 metres, then turn right.

(5) Amidst the reeds, you can barely make out the crossing over the stream, and you will find yourself back on dry land a few metres further on.
The path follows a hedge before opening onto a path lined with embankments that leads to the centre of the village of Gras.

(6) When you arrive, take a right-left turn towards a large agricultural shed. At the crossroads after this building, turn slightly right to reach the marshes.
When you reach the marshes, the path makes a 90° turn to the left. Follow it until you reach the confluence of the Crolières and Faillies Brières rivers.

(7) The bend next to the confluence marks the boundary between the brackish marshes (Les Crolières) and the freshwater marshes (Les Faillies Brières). You are now entering a small biological paradise, which you should visit with the utmost discretion. Several observation points allow you to see the animals that live there without disturbing them.
The route follows the edge of the marsh before veering off slightly towards cultivated land.

(8) When you reach a large farm track, turn right to go around the head of the marsh. Some sections can be tricky, especially if farm machinery has recently passed through.
When you reach the bottom of the thalweg, you will also find a carriageway that takes you back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 12 m - Village of L'Éguignac
  2. 1 : km 0.94 - alt. 5 m - Fork in the road after the Marche bridge - Mès (fleuve)
  3. 2 : km 2.04 - alt. 8 m - Kertrait
  4. 3 : km 4 - alt. 13 m - Kerlo quarries
  5. 4 : km 5.05 - alt. 7 m - Entrance to Kermoureau
  6. 5 : km 5.82 - alt. 4 m - The Pont de Gras - Mès (fleuve)
  7. 6 : km 6.32 - alt. 7 m - Centre of the village of Les Gras
  8. 7 : km 7.65 - alt. 2 m - Les Faillies Brières
  9. 8 : km 8.46 - alt. 9 m - Chemin des Nouettes
  10. S/E : km 9.59 - alt. 12 m - Village of L'Éguignac

Notes

This route can only be used when the water level in the marshes allows it. When you reach the starting point, take a look at the Pont de la Marche bridge to check the water level and assess whether it is possible to venture onto this route. Bear in mind that the Pont de Gras bridge is the key to completing the loop, and you can only be sure of this when you get there.

The Faillies Brières are a haven for wildlife. It would be a shame if this little paradise were disturbed by passing hikers. So please be discreet and keep your dog on a leash if you bring it with you.

Worth a visit

For the elders of the area, the Pont de Gras is the Roman bridge. While its age may be debated, it is nonetheless an unusual structure, given its length (nearly 70 metres) and its type of construction.

The villages around the marsh are made up of numerous thatched cottages. Although the thatch used today comes mainly from the Camargue, in the past each family owned a piece of marshland where they could cut the reeds needed for roofing or animal bedding. If you're curious, take a look at the land registry and its strip-shaped plots.

Nearby, don't miss a visit to the village of Kerhinet, the Brière Regional Nature Park's eco-museum, where a beautiful group of thatched cottages has been restored and offers a range of activities, including a restaurant, museum and exhibitions.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
philrandovilaine
philrandovilaine

Can Lefevre Kolopp clarify the problem? To my knowledge, while it may be a little difficult to find the hamlet of Eguignac, which is slightly off the beaten track, I cannot see how the paths could have disappeared, unless they were partially flooded. This does not seem to be the case, as one of the following reviews indicates that it was used yesterday. Perhaps a minor problem with reading the map?
PhilRV

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iojcg
iojcg

Hello,
Yesterday, there were heavy showers and we can assume that the weather was not always ideal for hiking in a marshy area where certain passages require caution, such as César's bridge. The only verifiable element of the criticism, without returning to the site, is the surprising comment that the "starting point is very uncertain". One need only consult the IGN map to see that there are roads and houses that allow you to locate yourself, even if the hike is not marked by a specific sign indicating a starting point.
In short, a review is just a review. It is important to look for concrete elements and perhaps ask how the description could be improved to avoid negative feelings.

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eltofes
eltofes

Sorry if the paths no longer exist
To avoid further disappointment and receiving this kind of feedback, I am minimising my participation, even though I find it a shame

Happy hiking to you all

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lefevre kolopp
lefevre kolopp

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very uncertain departure as the paths no longer exist

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iojcg
iojcg

Hello

A very beautiful hike, which I extended to 12 km, like Francky, to pass through Kerbourg with its mill and dolmen, and Kerhinet and Kercradet with their thatched cottages. The Gallo-Roman bridge at Gras, a 70-metre ford, is worth seeing. The entire route is excellent, set in unspoilt countryside; even the numerous straight sections are enjoyable and surprisingly wide.

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philrandovilaine
philrandovilaine

Thank you for the first observation, which has already been corrected.
As for the second observation regarding the reference to existing markings, I will leave it to the site administrators to respond. However, for my part, I only refer to markings on the ground when it is the only way to follow the right direction. And I mainly plot my routes on the 1:25,000 IGN map. In this respect, I fully agree with your opinion on the mindless and harmful use of GPS, and following a route on a map seems to me to be no less stimulating for the brain than blindly following markings.
Best regards
PhilRV

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DaDoRando14
DaDoRando14

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting hike: the Pont de Gras bridge is a curiosity; Small correction: at (4) (3rd line of the description) "...once you have passed this, turn RIGHT (not left!)..." the Pont de Gras bridge is very close by. Why not mention that, for most of this route, it is easy to follow the yellow markings (and often the GR 3) and that there are very clear directional signs along the way?
Hence this general comment: what is this dogma that forbids mentioning the markings (and the places where you should no longer follow them) on the pretext that it is a Visorando? This regrettable bias handicaps those who have chosen to hike with a map and compass in order to remain intellectually active and who therefore refuse to be guided solely by GPS, a tool that induces rather passive consumer behaviour!!! And I'm not talking about training such as survival courses...!

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motoveve
motoveve

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant little route to do in summer, as we did, under cloudy skies; we didn't suffer from the heat, but overall it was quite shady; the marshes are worth mentioning as a point of interest.

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francky76320
francky76320

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, which I extended to 12 km to pass through Kerbourg with its mill and dolmen, Kerhinet and Kercradet with their thatched cottages.
But what impressed me most was the Roman Gallos bridge at Gras, which is very well maintained in the middle of the marsh.

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ZENOP44
ZENOP44

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a wonderful green oasis.

Best done in summer due to ground moisture.

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BrunoNL
BrunoNL
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In Gras, the map is wrong. You come across a gate and private property.
We can change course, but that means taking a less pleasant route.
Another problem is that part of the route is overrun with noisy TT motorbikes, which dig ruts and make the path impassable (you have to go through the undergrowth, which is a pain).

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eltofes
eltofes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for sharing this route.
Surrounded by nature, the route is impeccable and very natural. There are a few muddy spots at this time of year, but it's definitely worth it.

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henri57
henri57 ★
• Edited:

Hello,

Thank you very much, your comment warms our hearts.

See you soon!

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randolionel
randolionel

These are walks that I know perfectly well
but it's good to see what other people are doing, as they may have different ideas or slight variations on the route.
I often visit your website to prepare for hikes in other regions, to fine-tune my preparations, check the elevation profiles, timings, etc., and read some of the comments, which can be useful.
I find your website well designed and informative.
Best regards
L L

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cyrcava
cyrcava

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk in the countryside!

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