Saint-Gelven walks

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.

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.

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.

A superb hike taking place largely through woodland, with magnificent views of the lake from the highest points. Some sections of the trail are quite steep, ideal for a good leg workout, but over short distances. Walking poles may be useful for those less confident on their feet. There are numerous lodges and campsites available for overnight stays. There are seven different starting points; check the lake’s website http://www.lacdeguerledan.com/ for details. The trail is very well signposted with “Sentier de Guerlédan” markers throughout the route and the red and white markings ofthe GR® 341 andGR® 37. A few paths branch off the main trail to stay close to the lake or climb a little higher into the forest, but 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.

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.

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 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".

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A beautiful circular route around the Kerné Uhel pond along the left bank of the Blavet, then along the river in the Chaos de Toul Goulic. The return trip along a pretty stream will take you back to the hydroelectric dam, then along the right bank, around the Goz-ar Hand peninsula before reaching the bridge and the car park. You will also have the pleasure of seeing many birds of all kinds and lots of remarkable trees.