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Leave the D785 at the sign for Mont Saint-Michel.
The car park is at the end of the road.
GR®380markings: White and red (very sparse)
+ YellowPR® signs: at junctions
(S/E) With your back to the car park, take the stony path leading down towards the north-west (GR®). At the first Fork in the road (junction with aPR®, signposted), continue straight on along the path, which widens as you keep the imposing television relay station in sight. When you reach the road, follow the D42 for a few dozen metres to the right.
(1) Turn left towards the mast. Take the path on the right which climbs towards Tuchenn Kador (north-east), leaving anotherPR® (signpost) on your left. Follow this single grassy path as it climbs steadily through heathland and heather. From time to time, large cairns mark the route.
(2) On reaching the summit (383 m), veer slightly to the right towards the large boulder, from where you’ll have the finest view of Lake Brennilis (Saint-Michel Reservoir on the map). This summit is also a launch site for paragliders. Then begin a steady descent, staying on the single path, to reach another potential parking area. Ignore thePR® signpost heading left (Lac du Drennec) and turn right towards the D885.
(3) Cross this road (take extreme care) and follow it to the right, passing the “Croaz Torred” (Broken Cross) bar. At the road sign for Botmeur, turn left onto this road.
(4) Immediately turn right onto a wide grassy path that runs behind a house (do not continue along the Botmeur road). It runs parallel to the departmental road at first, then veers away from it. Continue along this path through the meadows until it joins a small road leading to Botcador.
(5) Turn left to cross this hamlet and look out for an old washhouse on your left, renovated in 2001 (dry in August 2017). Note the architecture of the houses. In the heart of the hamlet, a picnic table awaits you near the Tree of Liberty.
Nearby is a remarkable well dating from 1818.
Carry on straight ahead along the small road to the next hamlet, Balanec Ber (another picnic table), and you’ll come to a T-junction.
No signposting
(6) At the junction, turn right despite the various crosses and follow this small road towards Kernevez. It winds through meadows and pastures. The marks on the ground indicate that it is used more by livestock than by cars.
YellowPR® signposts (Route du Yeun): at junctions
(7) APR® path joins from the left; continue straight on (signposted ‘Route du Yeun’) along a track that narrows as it winds its way into the peat bogs.
(8) Cross the Stêr Red stream and turn right onto the only path.
(9) A footbridge takes you across the River Ellez, which feeds into Lake Brennilis. Continue along the section fitted with wooden duckboards. (Please note: some of the planks are slightly damaged and may be slippery when wet).
(10) At the crossroads of paths after the peat bogs, turn left (signposted ‘Route du Yeun’), leaving anotherPR® path to go straight on. Follow the wide clay path, heading south-east, with Roc’h Cléguer (317m) looming overhead. The path has numerous puddles which you’ll need to regularly go round. The map showsthe GR®37, but there are no signs for it on the ground. Walk alongside a coniferous woodland on your left and pass close to a water intake for the fire service (note the black colour of the water, caused by the peat). A little further on, the path turns right and heads uphill.
No signposting (despite theGR®37-GR®380markings on the map)
(11) At the crossroads, let thePR® continue to the left and carry on straight ahead to the menhir by the roadside.
(12) Turn right onto a narrow ridge path heading due west. Here too, theGR® markings shown on the maps are absent. From this ridge line, on your left, you have a view of another ancient mountain range: the Montagnes Noires. The narrow, stony path crosses an area of moorland and heather.
(13) When you come to the first path on the right, take this path to reach a rocky outcrop (305 m) on the left: a viewpoint over the lake and Montagne Saint-Michel, then return to the fork (allow about 700 m there and back). Continue to the right along the single path, still heading west.
(14) At the crossroads, turn right (signposted ‘landes and peat bogs’), then turn left behind the Ty Blaise building to take a path running along the edge of the meadow. This leads to the megalithic site known as ‘An Eured Veign’ (La Noce de Pierres), consisting of 77 or 88 menhirs aligned across the moor (information board). Only a few are visible. Follow this west-facing path. You can turn left for a short round trip to a viewing point with information boards explaining the conservation of this natural area. You’ll reach the D785.
(15) Cross this road (take extreme care) and continue straight ahead along the access road to Mont Saint-Michel.
(16) Turn right and continue up the newly constructed steps, designed to preserve the vegetation. The wide, multi-tiered steps lead to a broad, well-maintained path that takes you to the summit, where the Saint-Michel Chapel stands (381 m). From the top, there is a sweeping panorama of the artificial lake at the Brennilis dam to the east, the summit of Tuchenn kador (383 m) to the north and the western end of the Monts d’Arrée to the west.
Head back down via the wide, well-maintained path taken at the end of the ascent to reach the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Local authority
Easy 
