south

A cycling trip immersed in nature in the heart of Brittany

Nature & small heritage

Short trip (3 to 5 days)

I begin / Family

5 unforgettable days on a family cycling holiday along the Nantes-Brest Canal

Want to try out travelling by bike as a family? This safe, relatively flat route along the towpath of the Nantes-Brest Canal is the perfect place to start! Lovers of nature and culture will be thrilled: it offers panoramic views, a nature reserve, villages filled with flowers, an abbey, a lake, and much more.

😍 This route is the perfect opportunity to take your time and discover central Brittany, try out some fun leisure activities, and arouse your taste buds!

📍 95 km
⏱️ 4 stages
🏁 Gouarec ➡️ Guerledan ➡️ Glomel
🚲 I begin / Family

Practical info

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Day 1: Gouarec > Mûr-de-Bretagne 18 km

After leaving your car at the Parking du Foirail car park in Gouarec, it’s time to kick off your cycling trip. Conveniently, just steps from the car park, at the Camping de Gouarec campsite, you can hire bicycles for the whole family, and even bike trailers and trailer bikes.

After riding for 6 kilometres, you have to stop at the majestic Bon-Repos Abbey. You can even visit the inside: the abbey offers many activities, as well as contemporary art exhibitions. If you happen to be there on a Sunday morning, don’t miss the farmers’ market from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Next, going around Lake Guerlédan, the route heads into the hills to follow a former railway to Guerlédan (formerly Mûr-de-Bretagne). You’ll love the views of the lake, with its shimmering waters.

In Guerlédan or Caurel, there are several Accueil Vélo (Cyclists Welcome) establishments where you can spend the first night of your family cycling holidays.

Day 2: Mûr-de-Bretagne > Gouarec 18 km

Before heading back to Gouarec for the second day of your cycling trip, take the opportunity to stop to enjoy the views at Beau Rivage.

Just before Bon-Repos Abbey, if you’re fascinated by megaliths or natural landscapes, take a detour to see the Liscuis passage graves, which are prehistoric tombs!

When you get back to Gouarec, take some time to explore this Anglophile village. With its typical shale houses, proudly sporting roofs of slate from nearby quarries, and its almost medieval ambiance, you can’t help but fall in love with Gouarec.

For the night, the Camping de Gouarec campsite offers different types of lodging to suit anyone’s taste!

Day 3: Gouarec > Glomel 24 km

After a good night’s rest, continue your cycling trip in the direction of Glomel and enjoy the many canal locks along the way! It’s a good idea to take a break at the Coat Natous double lock, a rare feature on the Nantes-Brest Canal. While you’re there, you can also visit Notre Dame de la Pitié chapel.

When you’re in Glomel, you’re at the highest point of the Nantes-Brest Canal: 184 metres! This point is known as the tranchée de Glomel (Glomel Trench).

You can spend the night in an Accueil Vélo (Cyclists Welcome) establishment, such as the Camping de Glomel or Manoir de Saint-Péran.

ℹ️ ALL THE PRACTICAL INFORMATION

➡️ Type of route: round trip

🅿️ Where can you leave your vehicle?

In Gouarec, there’s a large car park near the canal, accessible via Rue de la Gare (see on Google Maps)

🚲 Bike hire

At the Camping de Gouarec campsite, there are different types of bikes (classic, pedal-assist electric, tandem) and equipment (panniers, trailers) on offer.

📓 Finding your way around

There are a number of paper guides to help you follow this route, find the references.

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