Via the towpath and the highest point at Lothey

Start: the multi-purpose hall square, 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 via Route du Vieux-Bourg, heading north.

(1) At the junction signposted Kerével (signpost missing), turn left towards the large farm. Walk between the farm buildings, passing a mobile home on your left, then turn right at the end of the farm and follow a hare track. 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, follow the towpath of the channelled Aulne under a canopy of ash trees. Walk alongside a lovely meadow on your left and arrive beneath the N165 Quimper–Brest bridge. You’ll have been hearing the sound of traffic for some time now. Pass under the bridge, then, at the signpost, leave the towpath to the left and head up a small road.

(3) Follow this small road to the left – closed to vehicles over 5 tonnes – which passes under the bridge again and climbs gradually to a flight of steps on the left.

(4) Climb these steps, which cut across a long bend in the road, begin a steep 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). Rejoin the small road you left earlier. Turn left, passing the access to the Vallon de Pennod on your right. Continue towards Pennod and reach the hamlet of Pennavern (beautiful view). Pass the sign marking the entrance to Lothey, then a sign indicating the path 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 up 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 a new grassy path and arrive near the large sheds at the hamlet of Kerhuella (on the map).

(6) Turn left onto a small road and continue climbing towards the highest point in the commune, known as Le Ménez (meaning ‘mountain’ in Breton, 166 m). The water tower, or rather reservoir, is located 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, following the boundary of a meadow. Turn left onto a stony farm track that is fairly overgrown with grass. This descends steadily to a crossroads with paths leading to Tor ar Ménez on the left and Kervagarguet on the right (elevation 123 m).
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, pass in front of the "Bibliothey" and arrive at a second road, after a playground and a tennis court.

No signposting

Turn right and head towards the end of the housing estate, turn left and left again just before the road. Continue along a footpath running alongside a street, with Lothey State School on your right.
At the end of the footpath, turn right (signposted), follow the small road running alongside the school and arrive at the covered wash house and the Fontaine Saint-Fiacre.

(9) Retrace your steps back to the school junction.
Continue straight on to reach a square where an old fire engine cab, grandly named the “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 an old calvary. Walk along the edge of the cemetery and turn right to return to the town hall and the car park of the community hall (S/E).

Toilets at the car park at the start.
Trousers are recommended due to numerous grassy sections.
I have classified this hike as Moderate because after the steps at (4), the already relatively steep path 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.