Walks in Cotes D'Armor, G H Randall - Formerly known as Cote du Nord this area includes the central section of the north coast and its hinterland. Here one finds scenes as diverse as the famous Pink Granite Coast, the high Landes de Liscuis and the chaos of the river Gouet. Background information is included in the description of each of the 36 routes covering coast, towns and countryside. Length of walks vary between 3 and 9 miles. Published April 09

Walking and Other Activities in Finistere, Wendy Mewes -  This handy book includes walks of varying lengths and types all over Finistere, the westernmost department of Brittany. An essentially rural area, the region has sea on three sides, many estuaries, rivers and lakes, a swathe of deeply wooded terrain and the jagged peaks of the Monts d’Arrée in the sparsely populated interior. Information for individual walks includes directions, points of interest and factual detail of terrain/gradients. Colour photographs illustrate many of the walks. Published March 05

Walk Brittany, Charles Davis - Aimed at both the casual visitor and the long-term resident, this book details the extraordinary variety of walking in Brittany, from easy strolls to challenging long-distance outings, featuring forty itineraries in Finistère, Côtes d Armor, and Ille et Vilaine. Walking routes include: walking route summary; ratings for Effort, Time, Distance, Ascents/Descents, Refreshments and Vertigo-risk; fully detailed walking description, including frequent timings to aid navigation and check your progress; GPS waypoints at every key point on every route; full colour 1:25,000 scale IGN licensed mapping for each route; short walk and stroll alternatives. Published June 07

Walking Brittany, Judy Smith - This guide offers 25 walks, scattered throughout Brittany. In addition to basic route directions, there are details of historical, geographical and social interest. Eating places and tourist information centres are detailed and there is a glossary of French words useful to walkers. Published Aug 05

Walking the Brittany Coast: Mont St-Michel to Morlaix, Judy Smith - a comprehensive picture of the best coastal walking in Brittany. Each volume contains directions, maps, features, sights, details of accommodation and services, as well as planning advice for getting the most out of a walking break, whether for a day or a month. Numerous colour photographs give the flavour of an immensely varied littoral - cliffs, beaches, dunes, estuaries, marshes, promontories and ports. Published July 08

Walking the Brittany Coast: Morlaix to Benodet, Judy Smith. Published June 08

The Nantes-Brest Canal, This handy, spiral bound guide contains detailed practical information for those wishing to walk (or cycle) the length of the Nantes-Brest Canal across Brittany. It provides an invaluable reference source for both long-distance walkers and cyclists, and those who simply enjoy ambling by water. A full introduction traces the history of the canal from its origins in Napoleonic times and construction early in the 19th century, through a brief economic heyday and tragic decline, to today’s role as an outstanding leisure resource. The main part of the book gives a section by section analysis of the canal, indicating the towpath route, locks, road junctions and towns and villages on the way. Useful and interesting information about the canal and all its attributes is interspersed throughout the text. Published April 07

Crossing Brittany: Walking the Nantes-Brest Canal, Wendy Mewes - Wendy Mewes' vivid narration of her long walk across Brittany beside the Nantes-Brest canal brings to life the history and landscape of a distinctive region where as many as 20,000 Britons now live. Well-known as a writer about Brittany, this is the author's most personal work to date. Her journey reflects an individual search for identity and raises questions of integration and settlement in a foreign country. Places through which the canal passes prompt further thoughts upon significant characters and events of Breton history. Published Nov 08

Central Brittany Coast to Coast, Penny Allen - A well-illustrated guide covering the major part of the two central departments, Côtes d’Armor and Morbihan. It includes interesting and unusual places to visit, detailed scenic walks and a themed reference section. The author is a writer and artist who has lived in Brittany for many years. Her distinctive artwork and useful personal comments add to the originality of this book. Published June 06

Finistere, Things to see and do at the end of the World, Wendy Mewes - A guide book full of ideas for individuals and families to make the most of their time in this distinctively varied region of France. 14 separate circuits for exploration, schematic maps and directions, suggested sights, walks, museums, activities etc. Published Sept 04

Walks in Morbihan, Southern Brittany, GH Randall - Morbihan is the department that sits in the middle of southern Brittany. Its name, 'mor bihan', is Breton for 'little sea', a reference to the Gulf of Morbihan where hundreds of tiny islands are scattered across an area of calm water. The department is best known for its neolithic remains, such as the alignments at Carnac and the many other impressive megalithic sites to be encountered all over this alluring landscape. Often overlooked by tourists are the central and northern parts of Morbihan, which offer good rural walking country with impressive scenery, deep forests, rolling hills, beautiful rivers, remote chapels, isolated dolmens and charmingly tranquil villages of ancient houses. "Walks in Morbihan, Southern Brittany" is invaluable for tourists, holiday-home owners and residents. It provides a wide choice of walks from 5-15 kilometres. It includes suggestions for further walks and places of interest in the vicinity, and is illustrated by colour photographs. Published March 07. Limited availability.

The Brittany Coastal Path, Alan Castle - The GR34 takes a month to walk. The 360 miles of Path from Morlaix to Mont-Saint-Michel are described in detail. The walk is divided into 9 sections and can be completed in a single trek of about a month's duration or can be split into weekly or fortnightly holidays, or even long weekends. There are also details of 78, mainly circular, walks that are suitable for day walks. Details of accommodation, transport and other facilities are included, plus places of interest and practical information for newcomers to walking in France. Published Jan 95. Limited availability.

Top 25 and Serie Bleue

The French equivalent of Ordnance Survey Maps

 IGN Top 25 maps cover areas of particular tourist interest, mainly around the coast, and have a map number ending in T. The maps have an overprint highlighting local footpaths, long-distance GR routes and, where appropriate, ski routes. Other tourist information includes campsites, equestrian or canoeing centres, huts, mountain refuges, etc. Map legend is in French and English. Each TOP 25 map covers an area of approximately 28 x 21 km (17 x 13 miles).

The rest of France is covered by Serie Bleue maps, which have no overprint and map numbers ending in O or E. The legend is in French only but is fairly self-explanatory. Each Serie Bleue map covers an area of approximately 20 x 14 km (12 x 9 miles), with some maps slightly larger.

Both series have similar cartography, with contour interval of 5 metres, except for mountainous areas, where the maps have hill shading and contours at 10-metre intervals. Scale 1:25000

Generally, Top 25 Maps are £8.99 and Serie Bleue £7.99 but prices do vary and offers apply from time to time.

Cote-D'Armor/Ille-et-Vilaine (Michelin Local Maps) - Detailing the Cote-D'Armor / Ille-et-Vilaine region of France, this laminated fold-out map includes a complete index of place names and covers all regional specialities, heritage and traditions. It offers clear and concise mapping for stress-free travelling. Published March 08

Finistere/Morbihan (Michelin Local Maps) - Detailing the Finistere / Morbihan region of France, this laminated fold-out map includes a complete index of place names and covers all regional specialities, heritage and traditions. It offers clear and concise mapping for stress-free travelling. Published March 08

The Rough Guide Map Brittany - Brittany is one of the most popular regions of France, with highlights including Mont-St-Michel and the medieval city of Rennes. The Rough Guide map should be useful for those touring by car - a popular option amongst visitors from the UK and Ireland. The map includes all the ferry routes into St Malo, and all the roads across the region from autoroutes to tracks. there are also footpaths and contour lines for those hiking around the national parks and coastlines. As with all the maps in the Rough Guides series, this map is made of rip-proof, waterproof Polyart paper, durable enough to survive a trip spent in the car seat-back, rucksack and cafe table-top. Published March 04

Brittany (Thomas Cook Travellers S.), Perfectly designed for mainstream travellers who want to access the best of this beautiful and popular region. It offers expert advice, tracking down the best sights and experiences; detailed background on people, geography, culture and history; clear and accurate mapping for orientation at country, region and city levels; suggested walks and tours to somewhere a little different; impartial and dependable sleeping, eating and entertainment listings; full colour throughout, with over 140 photographs; and a comprehensive coverage of the region, including: Rennes and the East, Northern Brittany, St Malo, Finistere (including Brest) and Southern Brittany (including Nantes). Published March 09.

Brittany AA Key Guide - People experience their holidays by visiting a particular part of a city or region of a country. The chapters in "KeyGuide Brittany" are ordered in a regional way, with all the sights, walks, drives and listings for that area in one section to reflect this trend in travelling. The guide is colour-coded throughout with coloured dividers separating each section. There are expert recommendations for where to eat, stay, shop and be entertained, great walks and drives and beautiful photography throughout. In addition, there is a super-clear atlas of Brittany with index and locations pinpointed. Published Jan 09

LOCAL LINKS

www.brittanywalks.com  - A wide range of information about walking in Brittany: books and book reviews; articles about walking in this varied region; walks - recommended areas and individual walks; and information about walking groups in Brittany.

IGN Tourism, Outdoor Activities and Regional Discovery Maps - An extensive series of maps published by the IGN in cooperation with local authorities, ramblers' associations, cycling clubs, etc. The maps are designed to provide information on places of interest, recreational facilities, various types of accommodation, local and long-distance footpaths, bridleways, cycling and mountain bike routes, etc. Various scales, mainly 1:50,000. Some titles will have limited availability or may only be available used (Amazon Marketplace) - in case of difficulty please email.

Topo Guides with Day Walks - The extensive list of topo-guides to the long-distance footpaths in France published by the Federation Francaise de la Randonnee Pedestre has now been expanded to include guides to local walks, the PRs (Promenades et Randonnees). Each guide offers a selection of walks of various length and difficulty, overprinted on extracts from the 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 topographic survey. The text is in English or French. Some titles will have limited availability - in case of difficulty please email.

Several of the guides listed in the "Topo-guides to Long-distance Footpaths" series also include day walks in addition to the long-distance routes, as indicated in the description of each title.
 

Armorique regional Natural Park on Foot - 39 walks, from one to five hours long, in the Armorique PN south-east of Brest. Maps in colour.

The Department of Cotes d'Armor on Foot - 40 day-walks, from two to seven hours long, in the department of Cotes d'Armor. Maps in colour. Illustrated ith colour photos and drawing.

The Department of L'Ille et Vilaine on Foot - 44 day-walks, from two to five hours long, in the department of L'Ille et Vilaine. Maps in colour. Illustrated with colour photos and drawing.

The Department of Morbihan on Foot - 45 day-walks, from two to five hours long, in the department of Morbihan. Maps in colour.

The Menez-Hom Atlantique on Foot - 35 day walks, from two to six hours long in the Western Brittany between Chateaulin and Camaret. Maps in colour.

The Pays Bigouden and Douarnenez on Foot - 49 circular walks, from one to eight hours long, in western Brittany, around Douarnenez and Pont-l'Abbe. Maps in colour.

The Pays de Saint-Malo on Foot - 36 walks, from one to four hours long, in the region around Saint-Malo. Some walks stay along the coast, others go inland as far as Dinan. Maps in colour.

The Rennes Region on Foot - Fifty walks of varying difficulty around Rennes are here illustrated and described in full detail. There are walks along the rivers Ille, Seiche and Vilaine and the Canal d'Ille et Rance, two itineraries to explore Rennes itself and hill walks. The routes are highlighted on extracts of the IGN 1:50,000 scale survey.

Le Pays de Broceliande on Foot - 31 walks, from one to six hours long, around the Foret de Paimpont. Maps in colour.