The Oust Valley towards Malestroit: between towpath and greenway

Start from the car park at the Port of Saint-Congard, about 500m south of the village, on the RD764.

(S/E) Head towards Saint-Congard via the towpath.

(1) Turn right onto the bridge over the Oust. Turn left at the sawmill and continue to Saint-Laurent-sur-Oust via the D147. The slender church spire will show you the way.

(2) Opposite the church, turn left onto Rue du Clos de Chalands, which leads to the footbridge over the canal. On the opposite bank, turn left and join the towpath.

(3) Follow the towpath to the right as far as Malestroit. The river has been channelled but has retained its natural curves, which are accentuated by the rows of tall trees. It has a bit of a ‘Canal du Midi’ feel to it, but without the plane trees.

(4) In Malestroit, before the first bridge, turn left to rejoin the road that crosses the canal. Follow it to the right, cross the canal and continue for 500m.

(5) At the crossroads, turn left to head back towards the town centre, crossing Île Notre-Dame. This area was once home to a large number of mills, the remains of which can still be seen on the river’s branches on either side of the island. To return to the town centre, take the historic road crossing the Oust, then Rue des Ponts, which leads to the church.

(6) At Place du Docteur J. Queinnec, turn right then left onto Rue Saint-Michel. Before the Augustinian convent, turn right and rejoin the canal at the Malestroit Lock.

(7) Turn left to follow the towpath for 8 km up to Roc Saint-André. The path runs along the foot of the hillsides bordering this wide, open part of the valley, where traces remain of numerous gravel pits now transformed into ponds.

(8) At Roc Saint-André, leave the river and head left up towards the village, which you cross before turning right towards the church. Despite its ancient appearance and its Léonard-style granite bell tower, this church dates only from the early 20th century. From its chancel, you can look out over the whole valley.

(9) Head back down towards the river via Rue de la Contentaine, which runs alongside the church on the left, and continue on to La Touche Carné. You will then leave the banks of the Oust for a few kilometres.

(10) In the village, turn right, cross the greenway (a former railway line), and cycle to the Manoir de la Touche Carné. This mid-15th-century estate comprises a group of austere buildings surrounding a courtyard. A corner tower lends an imposing appearance to the main house.
Continue along the road to the right of the manor, then turn left before rejoining the greenway. Follow this to the right until you cross the Oust via the Pont des Deux Rivières.

(11) Below the bridge lies the confluence of the Oust and the Ninian, part of whose waters come from the Étang au Duc, north of Ploërmel, which is another interesting spot for a walk.
After the bridge, head down to the right to reach the left bank of the Oust, and continue along the towpath to Montertelot. Pass between the lock and the village’s charming church and continue southwards.

(12) In a bend of the Oust, the towpath is overlooked by the imposing Château du Crévy. This former Gallic oppidum commands a large part of the valley. Continue to Roc Saint-André. The towpath leaves the riverbank to join the road climbing up to the opposite bank (RD766a). At the crossroads, turn left towards the station

(13) Turn right and follow the Voie Verte.

(14) At the Pont de la Bagotaie, the Voie Verte leaves the valley and begins the climb leading to Malestroit station. Don’t panic, the average gradient is around 2% over 4 km. Whilst the greenways, which follow old railway lines, make for interesting family rides, they can become monotonous over time, as the trees on either side block the views and the gradients are gentle. It is therefore recommended to vary your routes.

(15) At the Vaugace junction, leave the Greenway and turn left onto the small country road that descends towards Malestroit. After a short, steep climb, turn left and coast down to the town. At the bottom of the slope, turn right then left. Continuing straight on for about 500m, you will reach the centre of the ‘small town of character’.

(6) At Place du Docteur J. Queinnec, turn right onto Rue du Général De Gaulle, cross Boulevard du Pont Neuf and immediately turn left to rejoin the towpath.

(4) After passing through Malestroit and reaching the river again, follow the towpath back in the opposite direction to your outward journey.

(3) Continue along the towpath to Saint-Congard and the harbour car park (S/E).

The route is perfectly paved and therefore very easy to cycle on. However, leaves and acorns can accumulate in autumn and make the paths slippery in wet weather.
Passing through the towns and villages along the way provides plenty of opportunities to stop and refuel.

Take the time to wander through the narrow streets of Malestroit. If you spot any “Raving Rabbids”, don’t be surprised: one of their creators is the owner of the “Maison de la Truie qui file”, a magnificent half-timbered building that stands proudly in the town centre.
A few kilometres to the west lies the village of Lizio. Don’t miss a visit to the scrap metal poet’s museum. It is a place of remarkable inventiveness and humour.