Pontivy walks

A walk to explore Pontivy. It takes in the archaeological site, the castle and the Clisson district, as well as the old town, not forgetting the Nantes–Brest Canal.

To the north-east of Pontivy, the Nantes–Brest Canal, on the River Douric, is fed by a series of ‘ponds’ which are in fact man-made basins designed to maintain a stable water level during lock operations.This route takes you past this succession of locks and ‘ponds’, passing by the Chapelle du Roz.A short, peaceful and tranquil walk along the water’s edge.

Ce circuit en campagne vous conduira par des petites routes, des chemins d'exploitation et à travers bois à Quelven, troisième lieu de pèlerinage du Morbihan : imposante chapelle dont le clocher culmine à 70m.Prenez le temps de vous attarder dans ce petit bourg bien pittoresque sans oublier sa majestueuse fontaine.Retour paisible par le GR®® 341 entre bois et prés. Attention : en cours de modification

This easy route follows the meandering Blavet river along the towpath on the left bank. Along the way, enjoy views of the Castennec escarpments, the Saint-Gildas chapel-hermitage on the other bank and three locks.

The banks of the Blavet are rich in religious heritage.This circuit will take you to Saint-Nicolas des Eaux, its chapel and fountain, before continuing through the countryside to the imposing Saint-Nicodème Chapel and its four majestic fountains.Enjoy a peaceful return trip along the towpath.

Route on the right bank of the Blavet to follow the meander formed by this river at Saint-Nicolas des Eaux.

A cultural and nature trail where you can admire the Saint-Gildas Chapel, nestled beneath a rock formation, as well as the church and fountain at Bieuzy, both listed as Historic Monuments.

A signposted circular walk starting from the Promenade des Estivants in Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux. Through woodland and along the banks of the Blavet, discover the cultural and natural heritage of the area around the Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux meander, the Castennec hill and the Blavet.

This very pretty route revolves around the Blavet valley, starting from Saint-Nicolas des Eaux, and allows you to discover some very interesting natural sites (the banks of the Blavet, Lande du Crano) as well as some remarkable examples of Breton architectural heritage (the semi-troglodytic chapel of Saint-Gildas, the noble houses of Bieuzy, the chapel of Saint-Nicodème, the locks). This walk is fairly well signposted (yellowPR® markings).

This short route takes you along the paths, through the fields and past the ponds around the village of Pluméliau. A peaceful route for the whole family, ideal for a stroll in the countryside. The route is accessible to mountain bikes.

Hike on the south side of Lake Guerlédan, starting from the church of Saint-Aignan in the commune of the same name. A rather bucolic route dotted with a few farms. The route runs along the shores of the lake and through the forest surrounding it. The landscapes are therefore very varied. Numerous paths allow you to diversify the route.

Immerse yourself in history through Melrand’s heritage. This route will take you past manor houses, mills, wells and characterful houses. You’ll also pass by the Oratoire Saint-Laurent, the Chapelle de la Madeleine, the Kerstraquel lake and, of course, the Village de l’An Mil.

Explore the wooded Sarre Valley, a Natura 2000 site, and be amazed by the richness of the local wildlife, including otters and freshwater pearl mussels. This route takes you to the Notre-Dame du Guelhouit Chapel, its ‘scala’, and the Saint-Isidore Calvary, finely carved by the Cadeboche brothers.

Between the Côtes-d'Armor and Morbihan. Following the Guerlédan trail, you climb up to overlook the dam built around 1930 to supply the region with electricity, then through heathland and woods, you descend to the Nantes–Brest Canal. As you pass through the village of Saint-Aignan, you’ll come past an interesting little church and the electricity museum. Also worth seeing on the way out of the village is the small Saint-Aignan dam.

This walk is designed to help you discover Mûr-de-Bretagne and its famous hill climb featured in the Tour de France (with gradients of up to 13%), not to mention Sainte-Suzanne Church and many other sights to see as you stroll through the streets.

A walk that will take you through granite villages, sunken paths and mysterious fountains. You’ll follow largely the same route as the Circuit des Écureuils, passing by the Chapel of Saint-Adrien, the Guervaud Stream, the hamlet of Tréblavet and the Fountain of Saint-Fiacre, before returning to the starting point.

A pleasant little family route, ideal for a leisurely stroll. The route takes you through farmland, past a farm and a small hamlet, and, best of all, offers a lovely walk along the River Blavet. Things to see: a lock, a lock-keeper’s house and peaceful countryside. A route accessible from the stop on the tourist train, the Napoléon Express. Collect postcards along the way using the Bavar[t] app!

A straightforward route that weaves in and out of the narrow railway line, which is still used by a few goods trains carrying plant-based raw materials between Auray and Pontivy. A leisurely return via the towpath. Please note: the walk takes place in the commune of Saint-Barthélémy and not in Melrand, as indicated by the software.

A lovely hike that allows you to discover the shores of Lake Guerlédan. Start at Anse de Sordan and walk back up to Bon Repos Abbey.

This hike will take you to Porz Braz along the Anse de Landroanec, then the Bois de Caurel. You will pass the prehistoric camp of Castel Finans before going back up through the woods and returning to Porz Braz.

Starting from the Mileade centre, this hike will take you along Lake Guerlédan to the dam. On the way back, you can take a break at the leisure centre before crossing the Bois Cornec.

This hike will take you through the Rigole d'Hilvern on good paths. In the Middle Ages, according to legend, Saint-Caradec belonged to the Viscounty of Rohan. A smallpox epidemic occurred between 1865 and 1870, claiming 45 lives. Then, in 1902, a typhoid fever epidemic broke out in the region.

A superb hike, mostly through woodland, with magnificent views of the lake from the highest points. Some sections of the trail are quite steep – ideal for giving your thighs a good workout – but these are short stretches. Walking poles may be useful for those who find the going a bit tough. There are plenty of lodges and campsites available for an overnight stay. There are seven different starting points; check the lake’s website for details: http://www.lacdeguerledan.com/.The trail is very well signposted with ‘Sentier de Guerlédan’ signposts along the entire route and the red and white markings ofthe GR®® 341 andGR®® 37. A few paths branch off from the main trail to stay close to the lake or climb a little higher into the forest, but they always rejoin the main trail.Please note! The entire route around the lake is open from 1 March to 15 September. Outside this period, sections of the trail are closed for hunting.

First section of the tour around Lake Guerlédan, Brittany’s largest lake. Departure from Anse de Sordan towards Le Mané, passing by the Guerlédan dam. This route follows the eastern shore of the lake.

A beautiful route that initially follows the edge of Lake Guerlédan via theGR® 341, then climbs up to the Butte de Malvran, which overlooks the surrounding area.

As you explore the commune of Saint-Barthélémy, you’ll discover numerous streams, healing fountains and charming little villages built of granite. Among them are Saint-Guen and its chapel, rebuilt in the 18th century, the ruins of the Kercadio mill, and the fountain and washhouse at Saint-Fiacre. On arrival, the lake will offer you a well-deserved moment of relaxation.

The second part of the tour of Lake Guerlédan, the most physically demanding, particularly at the start. Departure from Le Manet towards Anse de Sordan, passing by the former Abbey of Notre-Dame de Bon Repos. Return route via the western side of the lake.

This hike was completed and written during the summer of 2015, an exceptional period when the lake was drained for dam maintenance.We invite hikers to do this walk in spring, when the colours and scents are at their best, with the clear waters of the lake as a backdrop. Since 2024, major work has been underway between points 3 and 4 with a view to building a free Himalayan footbridge for crossing the Blavet, which cuts the complete tour of the lake in two. This will still be possible for the most experienced walkers. (See note in "Practical information".

This walk starts from Notre-Dame de Bon Repos Abbey (which you can visit by booking in advance). After crossing the Nantes–Brest Canal, it will take you into the Bois de Fao to discover its biodiversity.

Take a short loop around Bon Repos Abbey by following the towpath of the Nantes-Brest canal to the Bellevue lock. The hike continues on theGR®34trail, which runs along the shores of Lake Guerlédan before venturing into the countryside and returning to the abbey.

A short circular walk to discover the covered alleys listed as Historic Monuments, then the Daoulas Gorges in a somewhat wild rocky environment. A complete change of scenery guaranteed. As a bonus, and for a short 1 km detour, I suggest you visit the ruins of Notre-Dame de Bon Repos Abbey.