Saint-Thual walks

Discover romantic Brittany, between the two departments of Ille-et-Vilaine and Côtes d’Armor, as you travel along part of the Ille and Rance Canal!

Stroll through and around Bécherel. A few tricky ascents and descents, but a very pleasant route for exploring this charming town! Enjoy the walk, everyone!

Quite a few quiet roads and sunken lanes (best used in dry weather). Lovely views of the surrounding countryside. Signposting (blue square on a yellow background) is a bit dated, and there are a few signs still indicating the route. I have also included various possible alternatives in the description to avoid unmaintained sunken lanes.

A lovely walk starting and ending in Évran (22), taking in the landscapes of romantic Brittany with its valleys, winding canal and locks.

A varied route between the peaceful Ille-et-Rance canal and the steep-sided Moulin-Neuf valley, with beautiful architectural heritage to discover along the way. A very shaded route with very little tarmac.

In Rophemel, the Rance flows through a valley of great beauty. Built in the 1930s, the hydroelectric dam submerged nine fulling and wheat mills. The dam and valley have been a "listed and protected site" since 1945. In addition to producing electricity, the reservoir also supplies drinking water to the city of Rennes. The reservoir was drained in early 2018 to carry out work on the dam. Another drainage operation is underway (2024) to carry out further work on the dam (see my hike: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-6431... )

Circuit exploring the 11 locks of the Canal d’Ille-et-Rance.

Saint-Pierre-de-Plesguen borders the Mesnil forest to the south-east. The route is very wooded and lined with a few picturesque hamlets where you can see some old stone houses weathered by time, in varying states of repair. A magnificent bread oven can be seen just off the route at a place called La Planche, at the first house on the right.

This short walk through the woods and along the water's edge will impress you. You will encounter giants: beech trees, oaks and a few chestnut trees over 25 to 30 metres tall. Some are grouped together, so in summer you find yourself under a cathedral of greenery.The Bazouges Basin, its wildlife, the reeds and the houses on its banks will naturally bring out your cameras. Full of freshness, this short hike is a pleasant little break on hot days from June to October.

Médréac, a small village in Ille-et-Vilaine, on the border with Côtes d'Armor. The route is particularly attractive: the picturesque Néal valley with the cave of Gabillard, a local Chouan resistance fighter, the megalithic alignments of Lampouy, the railway station, its museum and its rail bike with two routes. This hike follows theGR® 37 and part of thePR® "Circuit des mégalithes" (Megalith Circuit). The southern part of thisPR® has not been included as it is uninteresting and the paths are poorly maintained.

A pleasant hike where you can enjoy the paths and small roads to Hédé. Then follow theGR®37trail, which will take you to the canal. Return along the towpaths to the starting point. Don't forget your camera.

A long hike for experienced walkers, from Lehon (Côtes-d'Armor), starting at the old Saint-Magloire Abbey (founded in the 9th century) to Saint-Pern (Ille-et-Vilaine), the mother house of the Little Sisters of the Poor. A page of history and religious life waiting to be discovered.

First, enjoy a breathtaking view of the Dinan viaduct with two passages under the arches, then stroll along the canalised Rance to reach the village of Tressaint and its woods. This route offers peace and serenity, even though it is very close to a popular tourist destination.

The route takes you through the old town of Dinan and past several points of interest, then down into the Rance valley. It passes through Léhon, a picturesque little village, and ends along the Rance and the port of Dinan. For the tour of the walls, see the map on the Dinan Agglo website (see practical information). The journey time does not include breaks and stops for visits or sightseeing!

A town of art and history, Dinan is a place of great beauty. Its historic centre takes us back to the Middle Ages and from the top of its ramparts, visitors can look out over the Rance valley and the road viaduct which, with its 10 arches and 50-metre height, spans the Rance. To this, we must add a stroll through the magnificent town centre of Léhon and finally a romantic walk along the Rance.

The highlight of this walk is exploring the remains of the feudal motte and Coëtquen Castle, built in the 15th century (private property). The route takes in small roads and beautiful forest paths. The name Coëtquen can be translated as ‘white forest’. The Coëtquens were lords who became part of a branch of the Dinan family.

Loop around Dinan between Rance and Pays du Poudouvre via the Écluse du Châtelier to La Moinerie in the commune of Plouër-sur-Rance.

Wind your way along the banks of the Rance, stopping off at the Abbaye Sainte-Magloire-de-Léhon to visit the fortified heights and historic heart of Dinan.

A countryside walk along sunken lanes and, to a lesser extent, on the hills overlooking the town of Combourg. A route with no particular difficulty. It alternates between paths through woodland and paths across fields. A significant portion is on roads with very little traffic. Riniac is of no particular interest. It is more of a "dormitory" village, but with pretty houses. The countryside offers beautiful views.

This route will take you through wooded and hedgerow landscapes. Mostly in the undergrowth, it will take you through the Mesnil State Forest (600 ha), formerly owned by the privateer Surcouf, as well as a very small part of the Coëtquen Forest (557 ha). Due to land consolidation policies, many hedgerows have disappeared over the last 50 years. However, hedges and embankments play an important role in the diversity of fauna and flora. They shelter livestock from the wind, limit water runoff and slow down the wind. Birds, insects and small mammals find shelter and food in these areas. Hedgerows are also a source of renewable energy and carbon sinks. For the past twenty years or so, local authorities have been encouraging the restoration of hedgerows and copses.

La Motte-Marcillé is the name of a feudal motte. This short walk will introduce you to the village’s architectural and natural heritage. From the church, you’ll head out into the countryside along charming little paths.

This route takes you through wooded and hedgerow landscapes. Running exclusively through the undergrowth, it takes you through the Mesnil State Forest (600 ha), formerly owned by the privateer Surcouf. The paths are well-maintained but numerous, particularly in the southern section; follow the route carefully, ideally using a smartphone, as it is easy to take a wrong turn. The covered walkway, known as ‘La Roche aux Fées’, should not be confused with another walkway of the same name, which is more monumental and located in Janzé.

A green corridor fed by the River Garun, a park, and country paths around the railway line and the station. The end of the route is more residential but nonetheless interesting as you follow the GR®37.

A pleasant walk to discover the Abbey of Notre-Dame du Tronchet. The route takes you through a heavily wooded landscape, including the Mesnil State Forest, the Château du Haut Mesnil with its chapel, and then Lake Mireloup. It is a route rich in both natural and cultural interest.

Bonnemain is one of the twenty-six communes in the canton of Combourg (also known as Romantic Brittany). This walk complements the one to the north-east, which runs between the village and the Domaine des Ormes. It winds its way through the countryside via sunken paths and past some pretty little houses.

Bonnemain is one of the twenty-six communes in the canton of Combourg (also known as Romantic Brittany). This walk complements the one to the north-east, which runs between the village and the Domaine des Ormes. It winds its way through the countryside, via sunken paths and a few pretty little houses.

Located in the north-west of the Ille-et-Vilaine department, Bonnemain is one of the twenty-six parishes in the canton of Combourg, also known as Romantic Brittany. This gentle walk allows you to discover the surrounding countryside and the Domaine des Ormes, renowned for its campsite. The path is lined with some beautiful stone houses and two wayside crosses. The path around the Étang de la Sablonnière is particularly pleasant.