The Monts d'Arrée

Mountains in Brittany? It's possible.
Despite their low altitude, the Monts d'Arrée offer a real mountain setting with rocks emerging from the moorland.
This route along the mountain ridges will immerse you in a landscape of heather, gorse and rocky ridges similar to those found in Ireland or Wales.

Please note: Since the fires of summer 2022, a municipal decree prohibits passage through the peat bog before the point (10). The circular is currently impossible.

Details

27089
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 36.17 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 10 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 576 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 575 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 383 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 172 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the town hall square in Plounéour-Menez.
(S/E) Take the Roc'h en Roc'h route.
Leave from the town hall square, cross the D111 and head towards the villages of Nesnay and Baillaou. After the village of Kersimonet, turn right at the three-way junction, then left before the village of Baillaou. Reach the D786.

(1) Cross the tunnel, then turn right onto the path that goes uphill. Cross the D36, take the path opposite, then at the crossroads turn right towards the Roc'h Trédudon transmitter.

(2) At the transmitter, descend towards the D764, cross it and take the path that runs alongside it, then turn left towards the D785.

(3) Cross it and take the path opposite to Roc'h Trevezel.
Leave the Roc'h en Roc'h route and continue on the path that runs alongside the D785.

(4) Continue straight ahead, then cross the dirt track to reach the D11.

(5) Cross it and go to a crossroads at elevation 327. Turn left onto the path leading down to the D785. Cross the Elorn stream and go to the edge of the D785.

(6) Take the path that climbs back up towards the ridges in the direction of Tuchenn Kador, which is theGR®380marked in red and white.
After Tuchenn Kador, descend along the ridge towards the large antennas. Join the D42.

(7) Turn right, staying on the GR®. Cross the D42 and climb up towards Ménez Mikel. At the car park, turn left to the chapel. Descend slightly and join a three-way junction.

(8) Leave theGR® here and take the yellow-markedPR® opposite, quickly rejoining theGR®37at the crossroads.

(9) Take thisGR® trail on the left towards the peat bogs. At the Ty Blaise farm, turn left onto a dirt track that leads to the peat bogs. At the first crossroads, go straight ahead and then left towards a wooden footbridge over a ditch. Then turn right and descend into the middle of the peat bogs.

(10) After crossing the Ellez, turn right and then take the road on the left at the T-junction. Cross the village of Kernévez. Join theGR®380and then the D42 at the hamlet of Penn ar Valy.

(11) Turn right onto theGR®, cross Botmeur and reach the Creisquer district.

(12) Leave theGR® and turn left onto Roc'h Trévézel.
At the D785, turn right and follow it to the dirt track on the other side. Take the path that runs alongside the D785, then rejoin the Roc'h en Roc'h path at Roc'h Trévézel.

(4) Descend towards the D764, cross it and take the path opposite to the road. Turn left, then at the bottom of the descent, take the path on the right that climbs back up to the road. Turn left and you will reach the village of Keradalan.

(13) At the village exit, take the path on the left.

(14) Before the village of Kermazé, turn right onto the path that leads back to the road, then left onto the road.

(15) At the village of Quilliou Dour, take a path on the left which quickly leads back to the road. At the next crossroads, take the road on the left towards the village of Roz Coat, then the road on the left again, then the road on the right which goes downhill. On the descent, take the path on the left, then at the village of Goasmelcun continue straight on until you reach the D111. Turn right to return to the Plounéour Menez car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 247 m - Town hall square in Plounéour-Ménez
  2. 1 : km 1.78 - alt. 250 m - D786
  3. 2 : km 3.82 - alt. 367 m - Roc'h Trédudon
  4. 3 : km 5.92 - alt. 348 m - D785
  5. 4 : km 7.54 - alt. 347 m - Crossroads of the circular
  6. 5 : km 10.53 - alt. 322 m - D11
  7. 6 : km 13.22 - alt. 299 m - D785. Close to the source of the - Elorn (fleuve)
  8. 7 : km 16.53 - alt. 301 m - D42. Close to the source of the - Ellez (rivière) - Affluent de l'Aulne
  9. 8 : km 18.56 - alt. 319 m - Three-way junction
  10. 9 : km 19.08 - alt. 291 m - GR37
  11. 10 : km 22 - alt. 228 m - Carrefour tourbières
  12. 11 : km 24.89 - alt. 256 m - Penn ar Valy
  13. 12 : km 25.9 - alt. 262 m - Creisquer
  14. 13 : km 31.69 - alt. 202 m - Keradalan
  15. 14 : km 32.94 - alt. 179 m - On the right. Near the - Penzé (fleuve)
  16. 15 : km 33.4 - alt. 189 m - Quilliou
  17. S/E : km 36.17 - alt. 247 m - Town hall square in Plounéour-Ménez

Notes

This hike is rated Very Difficult due to its length. It may be advisable to split it into two parts.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 8236543

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Two-day hike (overnight stay at the Botmeur communal stopover lodge: very good, with a community grocery store right across the street, nice). 5 and 6 August 2025. I hiked almost entirely alone, except at the summit of Tuchenn Kador and Menez Mikel and on the boardwalks around the lake. A very beautiful hike, where you can see the "mountainous" side of the Monts d'Arrée. Geology is everywhere (recently designated a UNESCO geopark). It's very beautiful. And as soon as you cross the Elorn, the geology changes: from schist to sandstone in practically a single step. Impressive. And some of the sunken paths are splendid. On the descent from Menez Mikel, take a look at the "la noce de pierres" (the stone wedding) alignments. One wonders about their location at the foot of the mountain...
On the way back, descending from Roc'h Trévezel towards Plounéour Menez, the path is splendid: beautiful beech trees and sunken paths where you can dream a little...

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Evealalune
Evealalune

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

August 2024: access blocked by the fire has been reopened, the circular can be closed again!

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Docserta
Docserta
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I loved this hike with its stunning scenery and unspoilt nature.
I did it over two days, stopping overnight in Saint Rivoal.
It is 4 km from point 8 of the hike. The direction is indicated on signs.
A small, lively village with two grocery shops, a communal lodge, an eco-museum and an inn.
The grocery stores give pride of place to local producers.
The inn offers an original menu based on products available within a 50 km radius. (Except wine, of course.)
Everything you need for a pleasant evening after your hike.

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Ennaé
Ennaé

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very good hike! We split the route in two: at point 6, we continued on to Botmeur to spend the night at the stopover lodge. The next day, we returned to point 6 to resume the hike.
Special mention for a small path that was almost impassable, but which was great fun to walk along!

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Char0n
Char0n

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike that takes you through austere but beautiful landscapes.
I only did the first part (1 to 9), which overlooks the Saint-Michel Reservoir.
Be sure to check the weather forecast for the previous days: if it has rained heavily, the entire route will (understandably) be soggy and much more difficult to walk!

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Kerwann29
Kerwann29

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A route that lived up to my expectations. A few doubts before Menez Kador about following the GPS route, but nothing serious. Magical and magnificent landscapes. A hike to be done in two days. You can stay overnight in Botmeur, at the communal lodge (€12 and open all year round) or at the municipal campsite.
If you have 10 minutes, come along and I'll take you there. I made a short video of this hike:
https://youtu.be/LsEH6pZ7Fe8

Enjoy your hike!

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Géraud de BOISSET
Géraud de BOISSET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed over two beautiful days at the end of summer.
It is an exceptional route due to the quality of the landscapes it crosses (moors, heaths, gorse and a whole range of bog flora), the extent of the panoramic views covering a large part of the Breton peninsula, and the visual impact of the sharp ridges of schist rock. It is a unique and fabulous hiking experience.
As the hike follows a figure-of-eight route, we have divided it into two separate circular loops: a southern circular loop (Tuchenn Kador ridges, Saint Michel chapel and reservoir) and a northern circular loop (Roch Trévezel ridges).
We have set our starting point for the two days at the Botmeur municipal lodge: (12-bed lodge with two dormitories with three double beds. Showers, equipped kitchen - bookings through Botmeur Town Hall (02 98 26 10 22). This lodge is located between POIs 11 & 12.
Thank you for this proposal, which allows us to explore the legendary Monts d'Arrée over two beautiful days of walking.
.

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Bulitus
Bulitus

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful route, best enjoyed on a misty day to fully appreciate the mystical side of the Monts d'Arrée.

It's a shame about the 4-5 kilometres of tarmac road between Kernevez and Roc'h Trévézel on the way back (especially as, with a few hours and 25 kilometres already under your belt, the tarmac is even more unpleasant). However, I understand why this is the case as there isn't really any immediate alternative.

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coupanne
coupanne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It is best to check before setting off on this hike that fog is not forecast. Fog tends to linger all day in this region, even when the sun is shining a few kilometres away, which spoils the fun. That's what happened to us. We will return in spring, as the route is very pleasant and the vegetation will be resplendent.
Ideal for a day and a half. The route can be split into two parts as it forms a figure of 8. There is plenty of accommodation in Huelgoat.

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cerebus
cerebus

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike completed by two people over two days with (too) heavy rucksacks.

day 1: very late start (11 a.m.) under the blazing sun for 22 km (points 1 to 10), then a well-deserved bivouac at the edge of a field.
In fact, we ended up walking further because we took the wrong path at point 3 and had to make a detour to reach point 4.

day 2: a change of atmosphere with rain and strong winds on Roch Trévezel... but we arrived around midday in the village of Plounéour Ménez.

Conclusion: we'll definitely do it again because this hike is magical... but we'll try to pace ourselves a little better and lighten our rucksacks this time!
Thank you for the itinerary.

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bibi
bibi ★

Thank you for your feedback. How should we incorporate your comments into the description to improve it?
As far as tagging is concerned, there is nothing we can do...
Kind regards

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corre nedelec
corre nedelec

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,

An interesting route for touring the Monts d'Arrée is Plounéour Menez - Commana - Saint Cadou.
However, two points are not "functional":

- On the sections of the route from Plounéour-Menez to Commana, there is no signposted link to Commana at the Restancaroff mill.

- On the section from Commana to Saint Cadou south of Lake Drennec, there is no signposted route from Cros Melar, Kerfornedic, to join the GR 380.

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ClausGrenoble
ClausGrenoble

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We did the southern half of this beautiful hike in a single autumn day under bright sunshine. We set off from Botmeur and returned there after a lovely break at the Kroas Torret restaurant on the D785, taking small paths through the hamlet of Botcador. A beautiful day's hike, with varied landscapes ranging from peat bogs to mountains. The chapel on Roc'h ar Goaliner is a lovely spot to stop for a bite to eat, surrounded by splendid views. Two kilometres further on, on Tuchenn Kador, you can even see the sea.

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isaelle
isaelle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb two-day hike (with tent) through heathland and bocage, rocks and peat bogs. Out of season (when campsites are closed), ask for permission before setting up camp for the night. People are very friendly if you are respectful.

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