Happy Xmas and New Year

Today in the forest

Wishing all Brittany Walks' members a very happy holiday season, wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

LAST WALK

BWs' luck with the weather held on our last walk today. After a rainy morning we had a dry afternoon for a gentle perambulation in the forest around the Roche cintrée and along the Argent valley to the Chaos in Huelgoat. Tex was definitely Dog of the Day. Long-standing members joined me for lunch beforehand to celebrate all our many walks and the friendship we have found together. Thanks to everyone, those who could only stay for lunch, those who walked afterwards and to many absent friends, epsecially Kay and Steve and Lesley and Derek, who were in my thoughts today. Eleven years is a long time to have explored Brittany together, and I will never forget all the fun, laughter and cheerful spirit which have made it all worth while. Not goodbye, but au revoir until some new adventures in 2016.

Brittany Walks - the end, after 11 years

The walk in Huelgoat on Monday November 16th will be the final Brittany Walk, as I've decided all good things must come to an end. After 11 years of organizing a regular programme of walks, I now need more time for my own work on landscape and my own walking: I'm currently preparing a new book of Finistere walks which will be published next spring.
Many thanks to the hundreds of people who have joined us over the years, often finding new friends in the process and always good company for an afternoon in beautiful scenery. I am grateful for all the messages of thanks I've received in the last week from 'old' and more recent supporters, reminding me that all my effort and commitment to promote walking in Brittany have been worthwhile. That is certainly how I will remember the experience.
Although there will be no more walks, I intend to continue the short breaks which have been so successful, with a visit to the island of Ouessant in the spring, and there may be occasional visits to places of interest and courses, which have also proved popular.
Anyone wishing to be on the mailing list for such events, please let me know. I will be starting a completely new list, not using the old BWs one, so you need to opt in to receive messages. For the moment this blog will remain in existence, but I hope to have time to give the Brittany Walks website more attention and have regular updates of interest to those who love walking in Brittany.
Thank you and happy walking wherever you are.

Landscape course

A lovely group of people gathered at L'Autre Rive today for the Breton landscape course. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and would like to thank the participants for their contribution to a fun time. Sorry, forgot to take a photo....
My exhibition of texts (together with four artists) on the same subject at the same venue continues until Friday November 6th.

Best Huelgoat walk!

 Today we enjoyed a superb autumnal stroll in perfect walking weather on a new route through a very remote part of the forest, before returning past the Mare aux Sangliers and Arthur's Grotto. Many thanks to Annie for the photos and to all who came along. TEX was impeccably behaved and Dog of the Day (at last).

Walk on Wednesday 21st October

Our next walk (under 8km) is a new route in Huelgoat, covering some famous sights and some less well-known paths. Nothing difficult but boots advisable if after wet weather. We meet in the large parking area beside the main road (route de Berrien) near the Intermarché supermarket. Start 2pm prompt.
Booking please to brittanywalks@orange.fr

Sunny in Quimper

We were very lucky with the weather today. Quimper was bathed in sunshine throughout as we rambled around the old town with its beautiful historic houses and Gothic cathedral, and then along the river to the earliest area of settlement at Locmaria for a Romanesque church and medieval style garden. Lovely afternoon, thanks to everyone. Fleur gets Dog of the Day just for turning up.

Next walk: October 21st
One day Landscape of Brittany course: November 2nd (change of date)

Quimper, Wednesday 23rd September

We have a town walk for September, taking in some of the remarkable history and architecture of Quimper, capital of Finistère. The pretty riverside setting is very attractive and our exploration will include the unusual cathedral, a Romanesque church, three gardens, medieval fortifications and the streets of colourful half-timbered houses for which Quimper is well-known.
Booking please - brittanywalks@orange.fr

Hot on the high hills

We had a lovely walk in hot sun on the trek up to the top of the Monts d'Arrée and then a cooler descent. Set off with three dogs and returned with four, so Dog of the Day is awarded to the one with no name. Thanks to everyone who made long journeys braving the crazy road situation with wall-to-wall unobliging cyclists everywhere. And it was great to have a big French contingent on this occasion.

August walk, Tuesday 18th

Every year in August we have a walk in the Monts d'Arrée, the highest hills in Brittany. This time it's a new route, a little under 8kms, starting from the neolithic alley grave at Mougau Bihan, near Commana. There are many interesting historical aspects to this walk and some wonderful views to north and south. We also cross a section of the marshes on wooden walkways.
The trail includes be a steepish climb of about 600m up onto the top of the hills, but otherwise no particular difficulty. Fine for dogs, but please note that we now only take fit dogs under 10 years of age. ;-) Paths are a mixture of grass and stony tracks, and there is one section of road walking at the end.

BOOKING IN ADVANCE PLEASE: brittanywalks@orange.fr

DIRECTIONS From roundabout by the communications mast on top of the hills, take the D764 towards Commana. Turn left, signed Mougau Bihan (opposite the right turn into the village of Commana) and continue ahead for 1km to a car-park on the right just past the monument.

PLEASE NOTE THE WALK STARTS PROMPTLY AT 2pm

Fab picnic

Brittany Walks has always been noted for the quality of its party food and today was no exception - thanks to all for producing wonderful savoury and sweet things to eat. Very sorry I forgot to take a picture of the spread :-( Too busy eating. Also sorry that not everyone could stay for the walk, which was a most enjoyable stroll down the coast to Térénez where we had drinks at a bar by the beach before returning to St Samson. Luck of BWs held for the weather. Pebble was Dog of the Day, despite getting close to another Black Star at one point....
I would like to thank everyone for coming today and include all those who couldn't be there because of holidays/visitors in general thanks for another year of great walking. Brittany Walks is indeed fortunate in its following, and I am very grateful to you all for your good humour and good company.

Picture by Judith - Fleur waiting for lunch to start!

Picture by Judith - walking off lunch

Summer Party

PLEASE NOTE - ADVANCED BOOKING ONLY FOR THIS EVENT

We have our Summer Picnic on the Bay of Morlaix next Wednesday. Members should all have received invitations with full details by now - if you are coming and have not yet replied, please do so asap.
Anyone else who would like to come should contact Brittany Walks by email on brittanywalks@orange.fr by Monday 20th at latest.
Let's hope for good weather!

Sunshine and ice-cream

Great walk! Only lost two people and one dog. Survivors enjoyed a moment of recovery at La Grotte.

Summer party is our next event - Wednesday July 22nd

Huelgoat walk, Wednesday June 24th

We will be walking out to the former mine site through Huelgoat forest on Wednesday, June 24th, starting at 2pm prompt from the car-park by the mairie (turn right after church in main square). This is quite an easy and very beautiful route of about 7.5kms on mostly earth paths. We will have a look at various aspects of the mine workings before returning to the town via another forest path.
Booking in advance please, to brittanywalks@orange.fr

Summer programme

The Events page on the website (brittanywalks.com) has now been updated to show our summer programme. We have a forest walk in Huelgoat on June 24th to the site of the former mine. The Summer Picnic is on July 22nd at St Samson on the Bay of Morlaix: food to share followed by a walk on the coast. August as usual brings a walk in the Monts d'Arrée on the 18th, exact location to be announced nearer the time. So a real variety of landscape and experience over the summer months.

Smiling in the rain

What a lovely day we had, thanks not to the weather but to the fab people who came along! A rainy morning at Le Relec was followed by lunch indoors at Plouneour Menez - delicious Breton far made by Annie (thank you) went down very well - and finally a walk out to the archaeological site of Goenidou, starting in rain and ending in bright sunshine. I hope what we saw made all those wet feet and damp clothes worth it. Tex definitely gets the Black Star award for dogs (if only he could understand what for...)

Monday 18 May - abbey visit/walk

Our spring day out on Monday 18th May looks at recent changes to the Abbaye du Relec, a 12th century Cistercian foundation. In the morning we will visit the abbey site and surrounding landscape with a beautiful short walk in its hidden valley to consider the history and development of this remarkable place, and then take a look at the new medieval potager style garden. Bring your own picnic for lunch by the lake.
After lunch we will drive a short distance to the hills above the abbey for a 4km walk to a remote archaeological site. Easy going on a surfaced track and great views along the way. The visual remains are evidence of an unusual system of land clearance and exploitation.
Le Relec is on the D111 near Plouneour Menez. MEET 11.30am by the fountain near the abbey church. Parking area right there or use nearby large car-park. 

Steve's photos

Hot dogs!

We had a beautiful but very hot walk today in the countryside around La Feuillée. Many thanks to all who came along and waded through the mud (as promised). First new BLACK STAR award for dogs goes to Pebble.....

Looks innocent enough here, doesn't she?

April walk - La Feuillée, Tues 14th

We start our walk at 2pm in the central square of pretty La Feuillée, the highest village in Brittany. It's an 8km route, mostly on lovely rural tracks with views of the Monts d'Arrée. Some sections will be wet and muddy, so boots strongly advised. Let's hope for some more sunny spring weather!

Perfect walking conditions

We had a really enjoyable walk today on the moors of the Monts d'Arrée in hazy sunshine with a brisk wind - ideal conditions for that wild landscape. Half the group also went on a brief detour through the Resistance village of Trédudon-le-Moine, whilst the rest of us ate cake...thanks to Patricia.
Dog of the Day was newcomer Paddy. Special award for Dog Who Ate the Most Cake - Brian.

Across the moors - March 18th

We have a walk in the Monts d'Arrée on Wednesday 18th, starting at 2pm from the parking areas on the Col de Trédudon (D36, short cut off the main road near the huge communications mast). This is an out-and-back route of 6.5kms with an optional extra 2km loop through a former resistance village.
The main part is typical moorland with mostly flat paths, uneven in places, and spectacular views all around - weather permitting! A short stretch of the extra section may be very wet. Please note that the route is very exposed and so potentially windy - hats maybe a good idea...

Some of Steve's photos from our day out

La Roche Maurice

Landerneau

La Martyre

La Martyre

Luck of BWS pretty much holds...

Despite an unpromising start weather-wise, we managed to be in bars or restaurants during most of the rainfall, and ended the day's tour of the Landerneau area in bright sunshine at the ruined castle of La Roche Maurice. A visit to the parish close of La Martyre in the morning was followed by a town walk around Landerneau itself, admiring the exceptional architectural variety from medieval to modern. It was a lovely day  - many thanks to all who came along and made it so.

February 16th - Landerneau visit

We have a visit to Landerneau and other places of interest in the vicinity on Monday 16th February. There is a choice to begin with. Either meet at La Martyre (just off D764 between Sizun and Landerneau) at 11.15 to see the famous and unusual parish close, or meet 12 noon in Landerneau, in the riverside car-park on the north bank. Plenty of places to choose for lunch (or BYO and eat in car if preferred) and then we'll have a walk around the town. This will be followed to a visit to the (very nearby) ruined castle at La Roche Maurice. Booking please - send a message to brittanywalks@orange.fr

Event cancelled

Wednesday's walk in the Monts d'Arrée is cancelled.
Our next event is a visit to Landerneau and the surrounding area on February 16th.