Cycling in the Oust Valley: nature, locks and picturesque villages
Want to combine cycling, heritage and nature? Then this is the route for you! In the heart of Brittany, each day will enable you to discover one or more of these themes on the Nantes-Brest Canal.
😍 From Redon to Josselin, the itinerary is suitable for everyone, with a car-free route. A slow ascent along the river Oust awaits you.
📍 160 km
⏱️ 6 stages
🏁 Redon ➡️ Josselin
🚲 I begin / Family
Day 1: Redon > Saint-Vincent-sur-Oust (10 km)
Before setting off on the trails of La Vélodyssée, take the time to visit Redon, at the crossroads of 7 valleys, the Nantes-Brest Canal, the Vilaine and the Oust!
💡 Practical, to visit the town in complete peace of mind: the Tourist Office offers a concierge service to drop off your bikes and their luggage.
After visiting the town, set off for the Canal de Nantes à Brest. In just 10 kilometres, you'll reach the majestic site of Ile aux Pies on the banks of Saint-Vincent-sur-Oust. Formed by the river, this peaceful site with its natural promontories invites you to relax.
To make the most of the site, treat yourself to an activity on the water or in the air! Paddle, canoe, via ferrata, Tyrolean traverse, rock climbing... you're spoilt for choice for a thrilling half-day.
🛏️ For the first night of your stay, you're almost there already: several Accueil Vélo accommodations are available within a 3 km radius.
Day 2: Saint-Vincent-sur-Oust > La Gacilly (15 km)
After a good night's sleep, it's off to La Gacilly by bike. You'll have to leave the Nantes-Brest Canal at the Bilaire bridge and reach the Petite Cité de Caractère via small country roads.
Here, you can wander along narrow flower-lined streets and discover talented craftspeople. The La Gacilly Photo Festival, held from June to September, turns the town into a veritable open-air gallery! A visit to the botanical garden for nature lovers or the Maison Yves Rocher for those with a thirst for knowledge will round off the day.
🛏️ For overnight stays, find accommodation in and around La Gacilly.
Day 3: La Gacilly > Malestroit (33 km)
After this soothing getaway, it's time to get back on the bikes and head for the Canal de Nantes à Brest to join La Vélodyssée. On the way to Malestroit, between the undulating valley of the river Oust and the foothills of the Landes de Lanvaux in the background, between wild lands and forests. On your way, the Limur and Guélin locks will be welcome stops.
In Malestroit, Petite Cité de Caractère nicknamed ‘the pearl of the Oust’, you'll appreciate its medieval centre and thousand-year-old town.
🛏️ For overnight accommodation, the Berges du Launay stopover gîte (with the Accueil Vélo label) north of Malestroit welcomes walkers for the night.
Day 4: Malestroit > Josselin (27 km)
On this fourth day, we reach Josselin via the canal, another town with a strong character, steeped in a fabulous medieval heritage. On the way, the Monterlot water stop is an ideal place to take a break in a bucolic setting.
You'll be amazed when you reach Josselin and its impressive fortress, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the river Oust. A visit to Josselin castle is a must on this stage.
🛏️ In Guillac or Guégon, near Josselin, a number of accommodation establishments with the Accueil Vélo label can accommodate you for the night.
🍴 Good addresses for refreshments: the café associatif de la Forge (snack bar) and the bakery in Guillac.
Day 5: Josselin > Val d'Oust (26 km)
Now it's time to take the road in the opposite direction back to Redon. After about fifteen kilometres, you arrive in Val d'Oust. For an activity such as tree climbing, orienteering or exploring the Canal on the water in a canoe or pedalo, head for the Domaine du Roc. The Domaine du Roc is also a campsite with the ‘Accueil Vélo’ label and a host of unusual accommodation, making it the ideal place to spend the night.
The day's not over yet! Just a short pedal away from La Vélodyssée (4km), Robert Coudray opens the doors of his museum in Lizio: L'univers du Poète Ferrailleur. Discover this magical, dreamlike world of sculptures, automata and tightrope walkers made from recycled materials.
Along the way, you'll also pass the Brasserie Lancelot, one of Brittany's first breweries.
Day 6: Val d'Oust > Redon (47 km)
This 6th day marks the return to the starting point.
It is also possible to arrange for bikes to be repatriated with Véloc'Ouest, see practical information below.
ℹ️ ALL PRACTICAL INFORMATION
➡️ Type of route: round trip
Access to the route
🚆 By train:
Redon is accessible by train:
- From Paris TGV Atlantique line Paris > Quimper via Rennes
- From Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, Rennes, Vannes, Lorient, Quimper by TER
🚲 Bike hire
- At the Redon Tourist Office from mid-June to mid-September : from €12 per day
💡 One-way hire can also be a solution: bikes delivered in Redon and dropped off in Josselin with Véloc'Ouest
🗺️ Map of the route
Tailor-made itineraries
Tailor-made itineraries
8 Peillac / Redon
7 Josselin / Peillac
A pretty stage on a designated track of La Vélodyssée through a sinuous valley of the Oust with the foothills of the Landes and Lanvaux as a backdrop. After passing the confluence with the Claie, St Congard and the Guélin Lock provide very welcome breaks.