A Day at the Beach at Mael Carhaix...45 kms but pretty easy – mostly on cyclepath
45 kms but pretty easy – mostly on cyclepath
The beach at Mael Carhaix is small and set by some quite well known flower gardens. It has a large play area and of course plenty of safe paddling area. There's even a small bar selling sausage and chips at the lake-side...
The first part is simply to get onto the cyclepath (the V6) running West following the old narrow-gauge railway. This takes you gently cycling up to and then past Rostrenen – it's all very quiet, very safe and very rural. The cycle-track takes you right into the village of Mael-Carhaix where you'll find a couple of bars and a restaurant along with a small supermarket and bakers. Just 500m outside the village is the lake set in formal gardens and with a small campsite attached. It's a lovely grassy spot and unlike Beau Rivage will only attract a few locals in summer making it both calm and relaxing for parents whilst their children play on the swings or chase the ducks on the lake.
The return just involves a 3 kms road section, but this is almost entirely cycling downhill (and the road very quiet) where you join up with our olf friend the canal towpath which will take you all the way back to Gouarec. On the way you pass the beautiful little chapel at Pitie. This is set at a wide point in the canal where barges used to turn or tie up for the night and it makes the most gorgeous picnic spot.