Huelgoat : entrez en terre de légende

A mysterious corner of Brittany that’s been on our bucket list for quite some time. Nicknamed the “Breton Fontainebleau,” this forest with its one-of-a-kind atmosphere captivated us instantly, both for its beauty and for the legends that whisper through its trees. Let’s journey back to Celtic times, drink from the fairies’ spring, and soak in the magical spirit of the Armorique Regional Natural Park and its surroundings.

Tales and legends of Brittany

As you enter the majestic Huelgoat Forest, you can’t help but be fascinated by the chaotic arrangement of its boulders. Their incredible shapes mingle with menhirs and other secret spots that locals still whisper about, like Artus’s Cave, said to be the resting place of King Arthur. Perhaps you’ll even cross paths with his ghost, or that of Merlin the Enchanter, still guarding the treasure he once entrusted to the spirits of the forest.

But how can we explain such a strange geological landscape? According to legend, Gargantua once passed through the region and was offered a meagre meal of buckwheat by the locals. Furious, the giant hurled all the rocks he could find on his way to Léon, creating the chaotic landscape we see today. A word of advice: be generous if a giant ever asks for dinner!

Brittany, an obvious choice

The GravelUp team includes quite a few Bretons, some born and raised, others adopted from the four corners of France. Legend has it that this part of the crew has earned the nickname the Breizh Mafia. With so many hearts (as soft as a Kouign Amann) beating for Brittany, you can imagine the idea of bringing you here to ride among galettes and salty sea air was hard to resist. But we didn’t want to do it just anywhere, or anyhow.

We took our time. We looked for the best routes to offer you a mix of landscapes and hidden gems, and above all, we wanted to sprinkle this new destination with a touch of magic, by riding through one of Brittany’s most mythical forests: Huelgoat.

A breath of fresh air

The routes we’ve selected for this Breton adventure will take you deep into inland Brittany, a lesser-known region full of natural treasures and gravel tracks far from the crowds. Axelle and JB went ahead to scout the trails and came back with one clear feeling: total disconnection.

At Ty Monde Guesthouse, ideally located in this little Finistère paradise, Marion and Pierre-Baptiste welcomed them with generosity and warmth, the kind that instantly makes you feel at home. After a few local treats, they set off for their first ride: a beautiful loop between Botmeur and Plouyé, with a must-stop at the Menhir de Kerampeulven and plenty of breathtaking sights along the way.

Midway through, the Monts d’Arrée rise before them, an extraordinary landscape where heather and fern blanket the steep hills of this small mountain range, whose highest point reaches 385 metres. JB and Axelle climb to the Saint-Michel de Brasparts Chapel, a steep but rewarding ascent offering an exceptional panoramic view over the surroundings. They take in this wild, preserved, enigmatic Brittany, feeling both the thrill of the ride and moments of complete solitude.

Degemer mat e Breizh – Welcome to Brittany

We won’t say more (we like to keep some surprises for when you join us!), but we hope this story gives you a taste of what awaits in our new Brittany destination, a place so close to our hearts, ready to be explored by gravel bike.

Discover our trips in Brittany