Rochefort en Terre via the Grées de Pluherlin and the Étang du Moulin Neuf

Start from the car park at Étang du Moulin Neuf, on the edge of the D774 towards Limerzel.

(S/E) From the car park, head to the Étang du Moulin Neuf by following the route towards the restaurant. The path winds its way between buildings and the retaining wall of the main road, before emerging onto the embankment that holds back the water, just before the restaurant. Walk past the restaurant’s terrace and continue to the left until you reach the end of the lake.

(1) Climb up from the bank of the pond to the road via the steps provided, and cross the road to take the small road that climbs to the right through the woods. Follow this for about a hundred metres before turning left onto the path that climbs the wooded slope. After climbing the slope through the woods, this path leads onto a cross-country track. Take the track on the right to reach a small road, near the St-Fiacre manor house.

(2) At the road, turn left to pass the buildings and continue along it until you reach the hamlet of La Fuye.

(3) Walk past these beautiful heritage buildings and take the path branching off to the right. After a lovely walk beneath the canopy, during which you can see the buildings in the centre of Rochefort from the rear, you eventually cross the stream you have been following, near some old farm buildings situated alongside the D21.

(4) Turn left to cross the stream again, then climb the steep slope situated right on the ridge between the two branches of the three-way junction. A flight of steps leads to a wayside shrine, after which you simply follow the path up to St Michel’s Chapel. Walk past the building and its curious raised gallery, then head up the old fairground, where cars now outnumber the horned animals.

(5) On leaving the car park, head up the main street to the left. You will then find yourself walking through a picturesque setting until you reach Place du Puits and its houses, each more imposing than the last. Pass through this square, which can easily become impassable when crowded, continuing along the main street. Turn left into the Grande Venelle, then right to reach the church of Notre-Dame de la Tronchaye.

(6) Whilst the castle overlooks the town, the church is built below, just above the valley you walked through earlier. From the church, head up the narrow lane connecting Place de l’Église to Rue des Scourtets, then follow this street to the right until you find the entrance to the moat path, a little further on to the left. This small dead-end street, which runs at the foot of the old ramparts, leads to a dizzying flight of steps, which you must descend to reach the St-Nicolas district.

(7) Cross the quarter until you reach Rue St-Nicolas, which branches off to the left just before you come to the Ruisseau de Saint-Gentien again. Follow the path that extends from the street until you find the track climbing up the slope, a little further on to the right. A short climb through schist and gorse leads to the summit of Les Grées and the path that runs along it. At the junction, don’t miss the view of the castle, which until then you could only have guessed was there.

(8) Then head left, towards the west, along the ridge path that winds through heathland recently cleared following fires. Follow the path, keeping a fair distance from the road that bypasses Rochefort, and when you reach the woodland, take the paths that veer off to the left and down the hillside. You eventually come out onto a disused road, which you follow down to the left to reach the D77a.

(9) Walk down to the right along the road for about fifty metres, then turn left onto the forest track, which runs slightly above the valley floor. Follow it to Pont aux Roux

(10) As you approach the hamlet, turn right and walk up the road for about a hundred metres, before turning right onto the path that climbs the slope through the woods. When you reach the flat ground, you’ll find some farmland crossed by the path, which is lined with planted embankments.

(11) Cross the D777 and continue straight ahead. You will soon pass an industrial estate. Cross the road leading to it, and continue straight on to reach the woods again. The path descends in a wide bend, before reaching a tree-top adventure park and emerging onto the banks of the pond.

(12) At the opening, take the track to the left, then the path to the left again before the embankment holding back the water, to quickly reach the car park at the start (S/E).

Rochefort is primarily a tourist village. Don’t expect to find any local shops there. The village of Pluherlin, right next door, is better equipped.

The Grées of Pluherlin and Malansac (continuing on from the first) are former slate quarries. Following the ridge path, you can see traces of this quarrying activity, either in the piles of spoil dotting the route or the few pits that may be visible through the vegetation. On the Malansac side, the old pits (the Trous Bleus) have become the setting for the Parc de la Préhistoire.

The Grées, a local term, are areas generally situated at higher elevations, varying in size, but devoid of tree cover. Cultivated or mown into bare heathland, some were once planted with pine trees, causing them to lose their distinctive character. The fires that swept through those in Pluherlin have, to some extent, helped restore this original appearance.

At several points along the route, you will be able to follow rows of slate slabs set continuously into the ground. These palisades are old fences that were used to keep animals in. The holes visible in the upper part of the slabs were used to thread ropes through, to attach split chestnut poles on either side, linking the slabs together. These ensured the entire fence remained secure against the animals’ pressure. Whilst the woods have disappeared, the stones will remain here for years to come.