Saint-Malo à Arzal crosses Brittany from the Channel coast towards the Atlantic, using waterways as its guide through much of the interior. France Vélo Tourisme presents the itinerary as Voie 42: a trip linking the canal d’Ille-et-Rance with the Vilaine valley, with historic towns and locks along the way.
From Saint-Malo to the canal
The northern end begins in Saint-Malo. France Vélo Tourisme describes a sea shuttle across to Dinard, followed by a greenway heading south towards Dinan. Dinard’s Belle Époque villas and Dinan’s narrow streets and timber-framed houses give the opening part of the journey two contrasting places to explore.
Beyond Dinan, the itinerary takes up the canal towpath towards Évran. The opening section is mostly on greenways, but it includes a shared-road link between Saint-Samson-sur-Rance and Taden. The route guide also calls attention to road crossings near Bourgneuf and Pleslin-Trigavou.
Locks and the approach to Rennes
The canal provides a clear thread through inland Brittany. Between Évran and Montreuil-sur-Ille, Tinténiac and the eleven locks at Hédé-Bazouges offer reasons to pause. Ille-et-Vilaine Tourisme describes the closely spaced locks as a staircase for boats, arranged over roughly two kilometres.
From Montreuil-sur-Ille, the route continues beside the canal towards Saint-Grégoire and Rennes. France Vélo Tourisme describes a cycle path alongside the water into the city centre, making Rennes a natural place to interrupt the waterside journey and spend time in Brittany’s capital.
The Vilaine valley and the southern end
South of Rennes, the Vilaine becomes the route’s companion. The itinerary passes the ponds at Apigné and continues towards Pont-Réan and Le Boël, with mills, locks and villages giving the valley its character. Farther south, the wooded Corbinières valley and Guipry-Messac are landmarks on the way to Redon.
Redon sits at the meeting of the Vilaine and the Nantes–Brest canal. The final section heads towards Bellion, then returns to the Vilaine and its marshes. Near the end, La Roche-Bernard and its old port make a stop before the route continues through Férel towards the Arzal estuary dam.
Planning the ride
France Vélo Tourisme divides the journey into six suggested sections and describes it as suitable for beginners and families, while warning that the Redon–Arzal section uses more small shared roads. Families wanting to avoid that final section can consider ending at Redon, where there is a railway station.
Signs carry the V42 identifier, though some older signs may show V2; the first-stage guide also notes gaps in signage in Saint-Malo and Dinard. Check the sea shuttle before travelling: the guide describes a land alternative via the Rance valley and Pont Saint-Hubert when the shuttle is unavailable. Heavy winter rain can cause the canal and especially the Vilaine to overflow, so check local conditions after wet weather.