Walk
Circuit de l’écluse du Pas d’Héric
Nort-sur-Erdre · Loire-Atlantique
An easy 8 km loop in Nort-sur-Erdre, on the highest reach of the Nantes-Brest canal and along its feeder channel.
- Suggested time
- 2 hours
- Type of place
- Walking loop · Nantes-Brest canal
- Atmosphere
- Towpaths and farmland.
- Getting there
- Nort-sur-Erdre
The route
Loop: the route returns to its starting point. Route: Département de Loire-Atlantique (PDIPR), Licence Ouverte 2.0, mise à jour du 2021-01-04.
Download the GPS trackGPX file, to open in a walking app (Komoot, OsmAnd, Garmin Connect, iPhiGéNie…).
Who this place suits
- With family
- 7/10
- As a couple
- 7/10
- With friends
- 8/10
- Solo
- 8/10
- With a dog
- 8/10
- Reduced mobility
- 3/10
These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.
About
In Nort-sur-Erdre, this trail follows the paths of the Nantes-Brest canal and its feeder channel, through hedged farmland. You discover the junction of the “little canal” with the Nantes-Brest canal. The Pas d’Héric and Bout de Bois section is the highest reach of the canal: the channel that feeds it keeps a constant water level for navigation in all seasons, and supplies the reaches that descend towards the Erdre valley on one side and the Vilaine valley on the other. The loop is 8 km long, with 44 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours of walking. The stated level is easy. Start: the point marked on the map, in Nort-sur-Erdre. The waymarking is yellow. The official route, published by the Loire-Atlantique département, is shown on the map and can be downloaded as a GPX file to follow on your phone.
What you will see
- 8 km, about 2 hours
- 44 m of ascent
- Level: easy
- Loop: back to the starting point
- Pas d’Héric lock
- Highest reach of the Nantes-Brest canal
Show 1 more pointHide
- Feeder channel
Tips on the spot
- Start: the point marked on the map, in Nort-sur-Erdre.
- The GPX track can be downloaded from the map: handy for staying on the right path at junctions.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk?
8 km, with 44 m of ascent, or about 2 hours of walking.
Where does it start?
The point marked on the map, in Nort-sur-Erdre. The route comes back to its starting point.
What is the channel for?
It feeds the highest reach of the canal to keep the water level up in all seasons, and so the reaches that descend towards the Erdre and the Vilaine.
Source: Département de Loire-Atlantique (PDIPR), Licence Ouverte 2.0, mise à jour du 2021-01-04 via data.gouv.fr, updated 4 January 2021.
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Traveller reviews
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