Walk around the Cranou Forest

Car park on Route de Rumengol (D42).

(S/E) From the car park when approaching from Rumengol, turn right onto the forest track heading east and follow it to the railway bridge that crosses the Brest–Quimper line.

(1) Cross the bridge and follow the D42a road for about 350 m. Leave the road and head down the path on the left between forest plots 36 and 37, heading north, until you reach the Ruisseau du Pont Rouge.

(2) Cross the stream and follow the path uphill until you reach a track. Turn left onto it and, after a left-hand bend followed by a right-hand bend, you’ll arrive at a four-way crossroads.

(3) Turn right onto the track and continue straight on. Please note that there are still some markings from the old^GR® 37 route, which may be confusing. Continue to the Roche Noire Forest House.

Red and white markings

(4) Carry on along the same path, keeping to the right whilst following the^GR® 37 markings, until you reach a path running perpendicular to it.

(5) Turn left onto this path and head uphill. After a hairpin bend to the left and then to the right, continue uphill until you reach a signpost indicating a^PR® path (yellow markings) on the left.

No markings

(6) Leave the^GR® by taking a grassy path to the left: be careful – the sign mentions a^PR® but the markings are virtually non-existent, so ignore it. Cross the Ruisseau du Faou. The path widens and continues along the edge of the forest, reaching a junction after a right-hand bend uphill.

(7) Do not go through the gate on the left at a 90° angle, but take the path of large stones on the left immediately after it. After this, the path is no longer stony. Continue in the same direction until you reach a junction with another path.

(8) Turn 90°, to the left, onto this path, follow a bend and then head downhill to a junction.

(9) Turn sharply left (south-east) and continue straight on until you reach a junction where you rejoin the GR^®.

Red and white markings

Carry on straight ahead for about 80 m to reach the Fontaine de Saint-Conval.

(10) Retrace your steps. Follow the path down to the left for 100 m until you reach a track; turn right onto it for about 20 m, then head down to the left. Pass by a wayside cross and, immediately afterwards, join a wide cross-country path.

(11) Turn right and follow this path down to the first path on the left.

(12) Turn left, heading due south, and head downhill to a junction you have already passed on the way there.

(3) Turn right, cross the railway bridge and continue to the D42.

(13) Turn left onto this road and continue for about 150 m.

(14) Leave the road onto a track on the right and follow it to a bend about 800 m further on.

(15) Turn left, heading south-west, onto a track and go straight up to the car park (S/E).

The walk starts from the car park on the edge of the forest when coming from Le Faou.
To get there from Quimper or Brest, take the N165 expressway, exit at Le Faou Sud and follow signs for Rumengol. Drive through Rumengol to the first car park at the entrance to the forest.

Le Faou, a charming little town.
Rumengol.
Daoulas Abbey.