Via the towpath and the highest point at Lothey

Starting point: the square by the community hall, 50 m past Lothey Church.

Yellow signposts (at junctions)

(S/E) Leave the car park on the right and head out of the village of Lothey along the Route du Vieux-Bourg heading north.

(1) At the first junction, turn left towards the large livestock farm, go round it on the left and follow a hare trail. Continue along a widened sunken path that descends towards the towpath. You will soon hear the sound of water, a sign that you are approaching the Penn ar Pont lock.

Blue signposts at the junctions (in the opposite direction to the route)

(2) Turn left and follow the towpath of the channelled River Aulne beneath a canopy of ash trees. Walk alongside a lovely meadow on your left until you reach the bridge over the N165 Quimper–Brest road. You’ll have been hearing the sound of traffic for some time now. Pass under the bridge and then, at the signpost, leave the towpath to the left and head up onto a small road.

(3) Follow this small road to the left – which is closed to vehicles over 5 t – as it passes under the bridge again and climbs gradually until you reach a flight of steps on the left.

(4) Climb these steps, which cut across a long bend in the road, begin a lovely climb through a wooded area and reach a junction where you turn left. This section has been badly damaged by forestry work (see notes in the practical information). You’ll rejoin the small road you left earlier. Turn left, passing the turn-off to the Vallon de Pennod on your right. Continue towards Pennod until you reach the hamlet of Pennavern (beautiful view). Pass the sign marking the entrance to Lothey, then a sign indicating a footpath for walkers.

(5) Turn right at the end of the road, turn left at the corner by the ruins and continue due south, climbing steadily along a grassy path. Cross a road by first turning right then left, then continue along a short stretch of road leading to some houses. Carry on along another grassy path and arrive near the large sheds at the hamlet of Kerhuella (shown on the map).

(6) Turn left onto a small road and continue climbing towards the highest point in the commune, known as the Ménez (meaning ‘mountain’ in Breton, 166 m). The water tower – or rather, the reservoir – is situated there.
There is a sweeping panorama of the Monts d’Arrée to the north and the Montagnes Noires to the east. Now begin a steady descent towards the D41.

(7) As you approach the ‘Give Way 100 m’ sign, look out for a marker post on your right. Turn left onto a single track through the grass, running alongside a meadow fence. Turn left onto a stony farm track that is quite overgrown with grass. This descends steadily to a crossroads where paths lead to Tor ar Ménez on the left and Kervagarguet on the right (elevation 123).
The path becomes a narrow, grassy track again and continues to descend until it joins a road, which you follow further downhill. Pass the sign marking the entrance to Lothey and arrive at the hamlet of Croaz Hent (meaning ‘crossroads’ in Breton). Note the small wayside cross opposite.

(8) Turn right, ignore the first road leading into a housing estate, walk past the “Bibliothey” and reach a second road, past a playground and a tennis court.

No signposting

Turn right and head towards the end of the housing estate, turn left and then left again just before the road. Continue along a footpath running alongside a road, with Lothey State School on your right.
At the end of the footpath, turn right (signposted), follow the small road that runs alongside the school and you’ll reach the covered washhouse and the Saint-Fiacre Fountain.

(9) Retrace your steps back to the crossroads by the school.
Carry on straight ahead to reach a square where an old fire engine cab, grandly named ‘Lothey Fire Station’, stands. Head towards the entrance to the church, which is relatively recent (1890), with its war memorial. Note, in the cemetery on the left, a Pietà from a former calvary. Walk alongside the cemetery and turn right to return to the town hall and the car park of the community hall (S/E).

Toilets are available at the car park at the start.
Trousers are recommended due to the numerous grassy sections.
I have classified this walk as ‘Moderate’ because, after the steps at (4), the path – which is already quite steep – has been completely churned up by tree felling, making this section tricky.
To avoid this, you can skip the steps and continue along the road, which forms a circular route. This adds about 800 m to the route.

Saint-Fiacre wash house and fountain.

The wayside cross at Croaz Hent: the work of sculptor Yan Larc’hantec, this five-metre-high wayside cross was created in 1899.

Saint-Fiacre Church.

The church’s Pietà: created around the 16th century, this 93 cm tall statue probably comes from an old calvary. It now stands in the fenced area of land surrounding the church.

The towpath along the Aulne and sweeping views of the Mont d’Arrée and the Montagnes Noires.