On the heights of Locronan

Along beautiful paths through the woods and small roads, this route takes you up the Montagne de Locronan, where the little Chapelle ar Sonj chapel is located, an essential stop on the various troménies: viewpoint over Locronan and the entire Porzay region from Ménez Hom to the Bay of Douarnenez. The route continues down into the woods to the imposing Chapelle Saint-Thélau chapel, before returning via the historic centre of Locronan.

Details

1599934
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.95 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 653 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 636 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 919 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 499 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Locronan (29180)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.099053° / W 4.205019°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0518OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking: Espace Ti Lokorn

(S/E) When leaving the car park, turn right, walk alongside Espace Ti Lokorn and then the library. At the glassworks, turn left into Venelle de Templiers.

GR®38trail markers: white and red

Follow this small uphill road that runs alongside the cemetery.

(1) At the top, turn left and continue along a sunken path. Pass under a fallen tree and ignore the path on the right, which will be the return route.
At the next three-way junction, turn left following the markings, leaving the path on the right, which will be the return route. Continue along this path at the edge of the woods, with the campsite below on your left.
At the next fork, continue straight ahead, ignoring the path that climbs up from the left from the campsite. Continue along this rutted path until you reach a junction with a small road at a place called Coat Beuliec, marked by a small calvary. Turn left onto the road and continue for about ten metres.

No signposts

(2) Follow this small road to the left, which climbs straight up to the top of Locronan mountain. At the road that branches off to the left (signposted 'campsite 300m'), walk a few metres to the left to enjoy a sweeping view of Douarnenez Bay and Ménez Hom. Continue climbing until you reach Chapelle ar Sonj (Chapel of Remembrance), a key site in the Troménie procession.

Enter the enclosure, passing by the stone pulpit dating from 1887. The chapel is usually closed, but a heart-shaped peephole allows you to see inside, including a beautiful modern stained-glass window by Bazaine. There is a beautiful view of the Porzay plain and it is a good place to take a break.
On leaving, continue left to the end of the road.

(3) Turn right and enter the woods (large antenna on the left), follow the widest path that descends steadily between moss-covered oak bushes.
This path is a little rutted in places and requires some caution. Always stay on the main path. Above a field, you will come to an even wider path (viewpoint over the chapel) and follow this path with the bell tower as a landmark.
Enter the enclosure to go around this imposing chapel with its calvary bearing the statue of Saint Thélau (or Théleau) on a deer at its base.

(4) Leave the enclosure (chain) and join the small road, which you follow to the right. Pass the entrance to La Boissière and you will reach a fork in the road.

GR®38signposting: white and red markings

(5) Turn right at the Ty Conan sign and follow this uphill road. Leave the locality on your right and continue. The slope becomes steeper. Walk alongside a coniferous forest (PEFC certified forest sign). Continue on the same road as the IGN map route to Coat Forestier is no longer accurate and reach the Coat Beuliec crossroads.

Off the beaten track

(2) Turn left downhill, pass this hamlet and arrive at the access points to Coat Forestier.

(6) Look for number 499 on the right for a property and take the wide path that enters the woods (old unmarked signpost) and follow it to the crossroads near the campsite.

Turn left and, facing the fallen tree, take the Chemin des Carrières on the left. Continue straight ahead until you reach the small road, which you follow to the right for a few dozen metres.

GR®38signposting: white and red markings

At an old wooden bench, turn left downhill and you will come to a small esplanade with a bench.

(7) Turn right, go through the wooden gate (no horses sign) and go down the sunken path called Venelle Leur ar Person, which follows the wall of a property on the left. When you reach a street, note the imposing stone building on the right. Continue along the path that turns left.

Off the trail

(8) Turn right into the street called Venelle Leur ar Person and at the end, turn left into Rue Saint-Maurice, which descends towards the central square of Locronan, passing in front of the imposing porch of Saint-Ronan Church (usually open and well worth a visit). Turn right between the church and the houses, continue straight on Rue du Four, pass the town hall and arrive at Espace Ti Lokorn where you will find the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 499 ft - Parking: Espace Ti Lokorn
  2. 1 : mi 0.2 - alt. 591 ft - Turn left at the fork
  3. 2 : mi 0.95 - alt. 748 ft - Crossroads of Coat Beuliec
  4. 3 : mi 1.6 - alt. 915 ft - Path to the right in the woods
  5. 4 : mi 2.17 - alt. 594 ft - Saint-Thélau or Théleau Chapel
  6. 5 : mi 2.55 - alt. 515 ft - Turn right towards Ty Conan
  7. 6 : mi 3.76 - alt. 702 ft - Path to the right in the woods
  8. 7 : mi 4.37 - alt. 571 ft - Barrier
  9. 8 : mi 4.66 - alt. 515 ft - Venelle ar Leur Person on the right
  10. S/E : mi 4.95 - alt. 499 ft - Parking: Espace Ti Lokorn

Notes

The type of terrain (ravined path) and the descent to the Saint-Thélau Chapel explain the average classification and the fairly steep gradient.

(1) La Troménie: Tro Minihi means the tour of the monastic property. The Grande Troménie is one of the most important "pardons" in Brittany. It takes place every six years, over a 12 km route. The next Grande Troménie will take place on Sunday 14 July 2019. The Petite Troménie is a 6 km route that takes place every year between each Grande Troménie.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Pguedu
Pguedu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was our first hike with this app, and we managed to follow the route with only two minor errors, which were quickly corrected. Now we just need to perfect our skills with your app. We're very happy with it; we found it by chance... How lucky for us... Thank you

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Al funk
Al funk

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short hike, as bucolic as you could wish for!

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Arnaud 75
Arnaud 75

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike enjoyed with the family in gloomy weather. Few people, a perfect route. Thank you for this discovery of the heights of Locronan.

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phidet
phidet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike, with points of interest including chapels and the magnificent village of Locronan.

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MD1000pattes
MD1000pattes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route that allows you to discover Locronan

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for your feedback.
I have corrected it by indicating a side.
In practice, this is very obvious.

"Reliability of description: Disappointing": a little harsh for a minor detail that has no real consequence.
Kind regards

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surya
surya

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

there is a big mistake in the description at the point where it says "at the next fork, continue to the right, ignoring the path that climbs up from the left coming from the campsite". In fact, there is already a fork before this one, which is not mentioned in the description, and this means that if you don't turn left but continue straight ahead, you will end up on the road and not at the Calvary. after that, it doesn't matter if you turn left onto the road, as you will arrive at the Calvary. However, the GPS indicates that you have strayed from the route and at that point you don't understand why you can't see the Calvary. Otherwise, it is a lovely little walk with views of the hills and two chapels.

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ChrisWild
ChrisWild

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful short hike, well described.
A little elevation gain, relatively constant, but not huge.
Very pretty views and varied landscapes (view of Douarnenez Bay, then woods and paths, as well as chapels).

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sunnybaloo
sunnybaloo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with our three dogs.

Be careful between points 3 and 4, as the path has been washed away by rain.

Otherwise, everything else was great, as always.

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mcplomeur
mcplomeur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful escape to the Locronan mountain. Quite a climb, of course. A lovely descent towards Plogonnec through the woods, where the tree trunks are covered in moss, creating a magical atmosphere! The path is not always easy to navigate due to mud, leaves and large rocks at this time of year. But it's manageable. And on the way back, Christmas lights and mulled wine await.

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aldelpech
aldelpech

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An absolutely magnificent hike!
I really enjoyed this hike, which offers a variety of landscapes, old buildings, slopes and atmospheres. There was hardly anyone on the trails, and few people in Locronan on this sunny Sunday in mid-September.

I think it's a perfect hike when the weather is dry: some of the slopes must become real torrents when it rains. In any case, it's advisable to wear good shoes.

Thank you to the creator of this walk for the precise instructions and choice of routes.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Hello,
Thank you for your review.
I must admit that I don't see where this error could have occurred, forcing you to go to Plogonnec and then Locronan via the main road.
I have travelled this route several times and it has even been used for a hikers' meeting without any problems.
I have sometimes found, when asking people for information, that they know their usual walking route but cannot provide much information about other routes they have not used.
Best regards

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Stéfanie
Stéfanie

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
It was a lovely route, except that I couldn't complete it because I couldn't find my way at Coat Beuliec. I asked a very kind lady who was out walking and lives in the area, but she didn't understand the route either. So I ended up taking the road back to the village of Plogonnec and then Locronan via the main road, which was full of cars – what a nightmare!
I'm still trying to figure out where I went wrong, but I still can't see it.
Otherwise, the climb up to the mountain was really nice. And the view was magnificent, too bad the weather wasn't very good.
In short, I'll have to do it again to forget these little annoyances 😉

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alichne
alichne

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Interesting.
Beautiful Saint Thélaud Chapel.
Most of the route is through wooded areas.
The route uses roads with little traffic, except during rush hour - end of the route around 5 p.m.: to avoid the crowds, you would have had to leave earlier!

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chipie33290
chipie33290

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful route with stunning views of Douarnenez Bay
lovely forests, two beautiful chapels
really worth doing
thank you for this route

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