Mixed · France
Plumeliau – Quistinic
A rolling 52 km road cycling loop from Saint-Nicolas des Eaux, Brittany through Kermaniec, Kerhouic and Kerbras, with 408 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 52.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 408 m
- Riding time
- 2½–3 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Saint-Nicolas des Eaux
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 408 m
- 52 km
Route description
- Saint-Nicolas des Eaux
- Kermaniec
- Kerhouic
- Kerbras
- Villeneuve
- Saint-Quion
- Penvern
- Kernicolas
- Kermandio
- Saint-Nicolas des Eaux
Starting from Plumeliau, the route immediately heads onto its first climb lasting 2.2 km, gaining 83 m at an average gradient of 3.9%, reaching a top height of 139 m around 2.6 km. The ride then continues mostly on minor roads (73% of the distance) with some main road sections totalling 9.5 km, including longest named roads D 23 (7.8 km), D 3 (6.5 km), D 2 (6.4 km), and D 327 (5.7 km). The surface is predominantly paved (97%) with only a short amount of gravel or unpaved roads (2%).
Highlights
- Climb starting just after Plumeliau, avg 3.9% for 2.2 km
- Second climb at km 30.6, 74 m gain over 2.2 km
- Third climb near finish, 1.3 km at 3.3%
- Melrand at 44 km with bars and shops
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.4 km | 2.2 km · 83 m · 3.9 % · max 6.8 % | 139 m |
| Unnamed climb | 30.6 km | 2.2 km · 74 m · 3.4 % · max 6 % | 129 m |
| Unnamed climb | 48.8 km | 1.3 km · 43 m · 3.3 % · max 5.8 % | 108 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 9.7 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 73% minor road · 18% main road · 5% quiet street · 2% path · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 9.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Main roads used
- D 23 (8 km), D 3 (7 km), D 2 (6 km), D 327 (6 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 18% climbing · 20% descending · 63% flat
- Steep sections
- 2 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.5% at 0.9 km
- Longest descent
- 2.2 km from 13 km, dropping 56 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 43 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 3 water points, 3 petrol stations, 10 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.5 kmLe chalet · bar · 80 m off route
- 8.7 kmRestaurant Le Dauphin · restaurant · 30 m off route
- 13.2 kmCarrefour Market · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 14 kmIntermarché · supermarket · 100 m off route
- 14 kmPharmacie Gely · pharmacy · 80 m off route
- 14.7 kmBoulangerie - Patisserie LB · bakery · 40 m off route
- 15.2 kmWater point · 40 m off route
- 24.5 kmBar glacier de Minazen · café · 170 m off route
- 24.5 kmToilets · 190 m off route
- 24.6 kmRepair stand · 170 m off route
- 33.4 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 38.3 kmIntermarché · supermarket · 100 m off route
- 38.7 kmMaison de santé · clinic · 50 m off route
- 40.2 kmWater tap · 100 m off route
- 43.1 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 44 kmLe Melrandais · bar · on the route
- 48.1 kmCafé · 70 m off route
- 49.2 kmToilets · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 18.8 km — Station, 680 m off route
- 50.8 km — Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux (station), 310 m off route
Worth a stop
- 44 km — Melrand (attraction)
- 50.9 km — Belvédère de Castennec (viewpoint)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- Le chalet (560 m), L'open (630 m), L'Ecluserie (770 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café or shop: 11.5 km from 25.3 km
- 9.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane