Rennes to the Mont-Saint-Michel

After making your own way to Rennes, explore the capital city of Brittany and its fusion of modern and historic architecture. This city characterises itself with contemporary art and gastronomy.

Time to set off on your first day of cycling! Your route will be on the Canal d’Ill-et-Rance towpath, a shady route with is pleasantly flat but surrounded by hills. You will encounter several villages on your route until you reach the basin of Bazouge, a water reserve that puts water into the canal. Here you will find eleven locks which look like a water staircase and can manoeuvre 27 metres, it’s a true sight to behold when a boat must come through!

Go down 11 locks from the top of Hédé Village and then pedal once again on the towpath. First notable stop of the day is in Tinténiac, where you can find a museum in an old lock house which tells of ancient crafts. After a quick cultural stop, continue your cycling surrounded by trees until you reach Pleugueneuc, where there is the castle of Bourbansais. Here there is a fascinating zoo to visit! After here is a dramatic landscape where the Ille and Rance rivers meet and flow into the sea. Before arriving to your destination of Dinan you will pass by Léhon, one of Brittany’s truly beautiful towns with amazing houses. Say hello to Dinan via the port and travel up to the historical town centre.

Today you will leave Dinan the way you entered it via the harbour and enter the towpath again, but you won’t be on this for the entirety of today’s route – after a short distance you will leave the canal to join a greenway build on an old railway line. Along this countryside path you firstly come to Dinard, this 19^th-century seaside resort must be stopped in to appreciate the villas and an ice cream! From here you will cross over to Saint-Malo by boat (just Surcouf and Cartier).

It’s time to set off on your last day of cycling, which will not be the least – enjoy a journey through countryside and coastline of the Emerald Coast. Your destination of Saint-Malo is only a stone’s throw away, so you have plenty of time to enjoy your last afternoon here. Spend some time in the middle of the old rigs, on the large beach, take a walk on the cobbled streets or perhaps get some goodies to take home from the shops.

Today on the agenda is one of the world’s architectural highlights! Leaving Cancale on the port is a little tricky and then the route is plain sailing from here. Do the bay of the Mont Saint-Michel on foot, appreciating the emerald waters. The route will take you through big beaches and salt meadows and on a pleasant journey to the Mont. Should you want to take a break, there are numerous restaurants and oyster farms before you head through salt marshes and reaching your destination. You started your trip in Brittany but now you are in Normandy! Enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mont Saint-Michel.

On your last day you can opt to do a last loop! This takes you on narrow roads around the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel and to Roche Torin. Enjoy the view of Mont Saint-Michel from a different angle.