Saint-Grégoire walks

A short route with no particular difficulties between Saint-Grégoire and Betton. No risk of getting lost, just follow the Ille and Rance canal along the towpath on the east bank and then return via the west bank.

Although very close to Rennes, this route mainly offers routes on wide gravel or grassy paths. There is very little tarmac except when you are close to inhabited areas.

This path takes us through the meadows of the Thorigné dairy farms to the Rennes National Forest. There, the scenery changes: oak and pine forests, around the Caleuvre, recreate for us the fantastical world of elves. Very colourful in spring and autumn. Nature just a stone’s throw from the city. The first section follows the Chemin Joseph Gentil, established in memory of this resistance fighter from Betton.

A walk through the centre of Rennes, passing important sites such as the new convention centre (former Jacobins Convent, Parliament of Brittany, etc.) and ending pleasantly at the Thabor Gardens. The route also allows you to appreciate the architectural richness of old Rennes and some admirable façades.

This short walk allows you to enjoy the Ille and Rance Canal and the countryside in the south-east of the town, starting from the centre of Betton. The charm of the Pluvignon stream, shaded by a double row of ancient oak trees, makes you fancy a picnic. After the village of La Forme, the return route via the Vau Robion footpath takes us back to the canal.

This hike is an opportunity to discover the charm of the countryside south of Betton, with a return trip along the towpath of the Ille and Rance Canal. More than half of the route is dedicated to cyclists and hikers. The rest of the route consists of dead-end roads with little traffic. You will discover the Haut Chalet lock, the hamlets of Vau Robion and Les Lices, and the Moulin de la Charbonnière site with its wash house. Colourful, cool and peaceful. Can also be done by motorbike.

An urban walk where you first stroll along the Vilaine river before crossing two public gardens. Then you wander through the historic centre of Rennes with its cobbled streets and half-timbered houses. With the Palais Saint-Georges, the Portes Mordelaises, the Opera House, the Parliament of Brittany and several churches, there is a rich heritage to discover.

A short walk along the banks of the Flûme and Champalaune rivers and through the small Champagne wood.

This walk has a charm that lies in the many sunken paths it takes along the slopes of the Ille, west of Chevaigné. Sometimes lined with hundred-year-old oak trees, you can enjoy the peace and quiet, the colours and nature. Sometimes with a wide view over the Ille valley, it allows you to discover the Ille and Rance canal below, the meadows and hamlets. Very colourful in spring and autumn, shaded in summer, passable in winter: a walk for all weathers!

This hike takes us from the Ille and Rance Canal to the plateau north of Chevaigné via the eastern slopes of the Ille. It allows us to discover the charm of the locks, the sunken paths and the countryside with its hamlets. It is very varied and colourful in spring and autumn. This hike can be extended to include the "Les coteaux de l'Ille à Chevaigné" hike, with which it shares the same starting/finishing point.

Walk along a shaded path on the banks of the Vilaine river, passing by the Manoir de Tizé.

A short hike in the Rennes forest along shady forest lines and paths through the forest alongside the Caleuvre stream. This easy trail is particularly beautiful in early spring, when the beech trees have young, light-green leaves, or in autumn, when the leaves have turned yellow and red. It takes you along the old water supply line that brought water from the Minette (a tributary of the Couesnon) to Rennes.

A pleasant walk in the Forest of Rennes, passing through Saint-Sulpice-la-Forêt.

Enjoy a pleasant walk along the Vilaine river and the Étangs d'Apigné lakes. This lake area is very popular with the people of Rennes for sports and picnics. You are sure to come across joggers and cyclists along the path.

A walk through the Chasné countryside that is not difficult, apart from some very wet sections in the event of rain. The route, described in full here, allows for several variations to shorten the distance. It is lined with majestic oaks and ragosses.