The Nantes to Brest canal offers the perfect route for you to enjoy a beautiful journey through Brittany! The safety and pleasant surrounds of the towpath guide you along a bucolic route at a somewhat faster pace than a barge. Along your route, you will meet many lovers of this land; cyclists, hikers, lock boaters, residents and fishermen who will all be happy to tell you their stories of the canal.
Running between Nantes and Brest, the canal stretches for 450 km long with a 364 km portion from the lock of Nort-sur-Erdre to the 237th lock in Châteaulin (with a total of 238 locks*) .The richness of this route lies in the variety of the waterways, more of which are wild than artificial. From Redon to Châteaulin, you will find yourself in the heart of Brittany. You will have the chance to ride through some of the most beautiful parts of the canal on and well maintained route of trails and asphalt roads.
Your tour will start in Redon at the Oust riverbank, which shares a common riverbed with the Nantes to Brest canal. The route is flat and can be taken at a leisurely pace. This will allow you to appreciate the peaceful atmosphere that surrounds you. As you face the cliffs of the Ile de Pie, which is on the other side of the canal, Brittany will show you just how mesmerising it can be. Around 2/3 of the way through the route you ride through Malestroit, a small city with a large amount of character. From there, you will continue to Roc André, where you will find impressive religious architecture. The famous brewery, Lancelot, is also located in this village. Make sure you allow time for a visit, and get the chance to taste a traditional beer or local Phare Ouest cola.
After few kilometers, you enter the city of Josselin. Your unique enterance will take you through its majestic castle, with views overlooking the canal. Also known as a “Small town of character,” its typical houses, with timber facades, offer a warm welcome. If you still have any energy, this afternoon, you can rent out canoes to explore the Canal from another perspective.
Today will bring you back to the banks of the Nantes-Brest canal. As you approach Rohan, you will discover the Abbey of Our Lady of Timadeuc. This is the home of an order of Benedictine monks. They make cheeses, jams, and fruit jellies … You can discover the abbey and their wonderful products, in their shop. Then, you will head towards Pontivy. You will find many locks and small retention ponds in this part of the canal. Along the Blavet riverbanks, Pontivy you will find a fifteenth century castle, which was one of the Duke of Rohan residences.
This morning you will leave Pontivy, heading towards the Guerlédan lake and its famous hydroelectric dam. Here, the towpath will disappear, and the journey will take on a new character for a short while. Before getting to the center of Mur de Bretagne, famous for the iconic climb that often features on the Tour de France, you take a detour that will lead you to the Guerlédan lake.
Today's route heads out of Saint-Gelven and guides you towards the canal at the level of the ancient abbey of Bon Repos (Good Rest). You then join the Forges des Salles, the highlight of the canal (184m) and the Glomel trench. Later, the ride will take you to Carhaix, one of the oldest Breton cities. Formerly the capital of Poher, the city dates all the way back to the Roman times. It is famous for its music festival, des Vieilles Charues.
This will be a day spent riding in the foot of the Black Mountains. You will eventually arrive at the towpath by the Carhaix port. At the end of the day's journey you will arrive at Castle Trévarez (which needs you to get out of the canal when you arrive in Châteauneuf). Châteauneuf-Du-Faou, built on a rocky outcrop, is where you will be spending the night.
Spend the day enjoying the wild nature and mountainous surrounding area, where there is much more present to enjoy. The Monts d’Arrée and the Menez Hom one of the peaks of the Massif Armorican, are not far away. Fortunately, as you will be cycling on the towpath, you can enjoy all this incredible scenery, without having to climb! You will eventually arrive on the Port Launay, the last lock.
Route Map (For guidance only):
Routes maybe subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and day-by-day information will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX Files are available for most our the cycling holidays we offer. Please ask us for details.
Total Distance: 450 km (Approx. )
Difficulty: Medium
Mostly off road, on tow paths by the side of river and canals, with some short stretches on minor roads. The route is predominantly flat, however long and includes some longer stages (60km +).
This tour is not suited to persons with very reduced mobility.
We recommend flying to Rennes airport to reach the starting point of this cycling holiday.
Flights are available with a number of airlines to your required airport or you can travel to the start using alternative methods such as rail or road.
We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices by date or Voyages SNCF for European rail travel. There is customer car parking available at most hotels for a supplement. Please contact us for more details.
Please use local transport to arrive at the starting point or call us on 0161 703 8161 for more specific travel advice.
You do not need to go back to the starting point of the cycling holiday as all hire bikes are left at the final hotel.
Important: Please book your flights only after the cycling holiday has been confirmed by invoice or email. Flights and transfers are not included in the advertised holiday price.
Trekking bikeA layed out and dynamic position Supplied equipment per bike
|
|
Touring bikeA straight and easy going position Supplied equipment per bike
|
|
EbikeWith an autonomy of almost 120km, cycling has never been so easy! Supplied equipment per bike
|
|
Children Bike20″ or 24″ bike |
|
Bike trailer |
This cycling holiday stays in good quality hotels with private facilities carefully selected for their proximity to your cycle route and comfort. If you wish to know specific information about the hotel facilities, Wi-Fi and upgrades used on the holidays, please contact us on 0161 703 8161 for more information.
Please note that the hotel list is subject to change and should be used as a guide only. We will confirm the exact hotels prior to arrival.
BREST TO QUIMPER | SAMPLE HOTEL LIST (CAT A) |
BREST | Hotel le Continental (Brest) |
Chateaulin | Hotel Restaurant le Chrismas |
Chateauneuf de Faou | Chambres d'hotes Au Fil de l'Aulne |
Carhaix-Plouguer | Hotel Noz Vad |
Saint Aignan | Chambres d'hotes Merlin les pieds dans l'eau |
Pontivy | Hotel Restaurant Robic |
Josselin | Chambres d'hotes Le 14 Saint-Michel |
Redon | Chambres d'hotes La Maison Jaune |
Le Gavre | Hotel Restaurant Auberge de la Foret |
Nantes | Hotel Belfort |
You will receive your final hotel list approximately 4 weeks prior to your arrival date detailing the hotels used on your cycling holiday. If you wish to know more about the hotels prior to completing a booking form, please contact our Customer Services team via email or by phone.
You can find out more about this cycling holiday by completing a Contact Form or by calling 0161 703 8161 to speak to one of the team.
Season | Dates |
Season 1: | 31st March – 30th October 2021 |
Season | Room | Prices per person excluding bike hire |
Season 1 | Double | £1015 |
Extras | Prices per person |
Rental Bike: | £125 |
Electric Bike Upgrade: | £240 |
Child Rental Bike: | £90 |
Location | Room Type | Prices per person |
Redon | Double | £100 |
Redon | Single | £90 |
Chateaulin | Double | £125 |
Chateaulin | Single | £90 |
Date From | Date To |
---|---|
31 March 2021 | 30 October 2021 |
Make your own way into Redon and check in to your hotel. You will have an orientation meeting with our guide today. Then, in the evening, there will be free time for you to explore Redon.
Orientation
Before your first ride, there will be a chance for you to meet one of our guides. Take this opportunity to get some last practical tips, and advice on must-see places and experiences. We can answer all your last minute questions, and take care of your bike fitting, before you begin your trip.