Toul an Lann menhir

Trip No.193  Entry No.1  Date Added: 13th Jul 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 29th May 1993. My rating: Access 5

Log Text: Cycling camping trip of north Brittany, day 1. Cycle Roscoff, Morlaix, Lannion, Ploumanac'h. Too far. 52 miles. Funny Rocks. Big seafood dinner.

Menhir de Kerloc'h

Trip No.214  Entry No.25  Date Added: 5th Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 17th Apr 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Part of the La Roche Jaune menhir mystery solved, and so time to continue along the road towards La Roche Jaune in order to find and fully position the "unknown menhir".

A couple of kilometres further to the northeast, right at the roadside and fitting all descriptions, this menhir is easily found. It is about 6.5m tall, and has clearly been recomposed out of several broken parts, and has a strange look about it, as if it has an open mouth. I cannot find any reference to when it was re erected.

Ty-Lia (Île Grande)

Trip No.203  Entry No.553  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This looks to be a fairly complete standard allée couverte well signposted and in a little grassy area on Ile-Grande, just off the coast near Trebeurden. It is about 9 metres long by 1.5 metres wide, and oriented to 110°. There are two large capstones which cover most of the chamber. Many of the outer peristalith stones survive, particularly on the southern side and the back end, and there are traces of the mound within them.

Prajou-Menhir menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.554  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The "indicator menhir" just outside and in front of the allée couverte. It is about 1.7 metres high but nicely weathered.

St Samson Chapel well

Trip No.203  Entry No.560  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Just to the north of the St Samson chapel is a splendid little spring and well house, with clear water bubbling up from within it.

L'Armor menhir

Trip No.214  Entry No.21  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 17th Apr 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This menhir is in a private garden which had a huge and thick hedge around it, making the menhir difficult, if not impossible to see. However, since my last visit, the (presumably new) owners of the house have cut the hedge beside the road, and indeed made a gap through which the menhir can now be clearly seen. The menhir is a pointed piece of granite, between 2 and 3 metres tall. A win for all.

Prajou-Menhir allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.555  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is a terriffic allée couverte approaching 14 metres long and facing towards its indicator menhir at orientation 103°. Seven capstones of varying sizes are still in place, the two westernmost being the covers for a separate end cell of about 2.5 metres length. Within this end cell are many carvings, including pairs of breasts, cartouches, palettes and many others. Approaching 2 metres wide, it is not much more than a metre in height.

It has probably been helped in its survival by being incorporated into a wall at some stage in the past, but of which all immediate traces have now been removed.

It is easily found in a little grassy area just to the south of the road to Ile Grande, with a signpost, and is a part of a local "Megalith Trail", details of which can be obtained from the local tourist office. There are several other menhirs in this area of land, just above the high tide level and marshy.

Kerguntuil Dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.557  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This is a large single chambered dolmen, easily found and signposted, and kept in a little fenced off area in a field. It has at times in the more recent past as both a stable and a house. The chamber is about 5 metres by 2 metres, and a good 2 metres in height, all covered with a single large capstone. Three large side supports remain, but the others have been broken up and made into large block walls around the chamber.

There is evidence of a fireplace with chimney, an oven, a doorway with hinges and windows, all created with the stones. Quite a desireable residence in its time, no doubt, and a pleasant and interesting place to visit nowadays. It is still partially below ground level, and much of its mound remains behind it, at the west side.

Kerguntuil allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.558  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Just about 100 metres upslope from the Kergunteuil dolmen can be found its neighbouring allée couverte, also signposted and kept in a little area. This one again has been incorporated into a field wall at some time in the past, which has no doubt ensured its survival.

It is 8 metres in length, oriented at 070° and has 4 capstones covering the 1.5 metre wide, 1 metre high chamber. The entrance is at the northwest end in the side, but I am not sure if this is the original. Inside the chamber are a few stones with engravings on them, one being particularly spectacular in the middle of the northern side. On it is a row of 6 pairs of outstanding spheres, most of which have a U shape carved beneath them, and which are interpreted as pairs of breasts. There is also another pair higher up. Several "palette" shapes are also carved, and several other symbols. The stone adjacent has a sort of crescent on it. A boat perhaps ? This is an excellent place to visit.

Crec'h Quillé

Trip No.203  Entry No.569  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: This allée couverte to the south of Perros Guirec is situated just to the east of the busy D.788 dual carriageway, and signposted from it, but most people will go whizzing straight past. From the parking area beside the main road, it is just a couple of hundred metres, but is walking access only. It's set in a nice little plot, probably originally intended for a house when it was discovered in about 1960.

It is surprisingly complete except for the capstones, and still has most of its surrounding mound and outer peristalith of alternating slabs and drystone walling. This is a rarity in these parts, a lateral entry allée couverte, with the main chamber running east west at 073°, and the entrance about two thirds the way along on the southern side.

The chamber is about 15 metres in length, by 1.7 metres width, but its surrounding mound is much larger. Just inside the main chamber, opposite to the entrance, is a smoothed and carved slab, which on one face, facing into the chamber, contains a pair of "breasts" with a large collar or crossed arms underneath. The adjacent face, which faces towards the smaller end of the monument, appears to have a "crosse" shape engraved on it. At this point are two capstones, which no doubt helped to preserve the engravings here. There is the base of a large stone just outside the entry, which is thought to be the base of an indicator menhir. The tumulus has been dated to about 2500BC.

I was going to drive past this myself in a rush to get somewhere else, but I am very glad I did stop to see it, and my visit lasted over an hour, which means I will be late to camp again tonight. A very nice monument.

Keryvon allée couverte

Trip No.214  Entry No.20  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 17th Apr 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Doing a little coastal route after leaving Ploumanach, and the remains of this allée couverte are right beside the D.788 road from Trébeurden to Trégastel, only feet from the cliff edge.

Tossen-Keler Cromlech (1964-2018)

Trip No.214  Entry No.23  Date Added: 5th Jun 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 17th Apr 2014. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: Following lunch in the old town at Treguier we were then heading north along the river to go and sort out the Roche Jaune menhir quandary, so first did a little detour by dropping down from the old town to the quayside for a quick look at the Tossen Keler cromlech.

Poor thing is looking very unloved today, with vehicles parked all around it and various funfair or market stalls nearby. In this situation, it looks not much more than a load of big stones used to divide up the quayside into carpark, boatyard, and other areas. What a shame. Dad was asking why it has been moved here, and I have to say, I still have absolutely no idea.

Tossen-Keler Cromlech (1964-2018)

Trip No.195  Entry No.41  Date Added: 5th Jun 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 25th Jun 1995. My rating: Access 5

Log Text: Cross Channel sailing trip from Plymouth, after a 19 hour crossing in rough conditions we berthed in Treguier for some well deserved rest and relaxation. The remains of this cromlech have been positioned on the quayside.

Champ des Roches

Trip No.208  Entry No.2  Date Added: 10th Jun 2020
Site Type: Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 20th Mar 2008. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: None

Temple de Mars

Date Added: 10th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Temple Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 1992. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Cycling camping trip round Emerald Coast, day 2, Dinan, Corseul, St Caste. Roman tower, dolmens, Lunch at Le Guildo castle.

Having cycled to this site with the others, all I got was scorn due to the state of the remains. I think it was here that the phrase HOC was first coined. I thought it was interesting.

Doigt de Gargantua (Côtes-D'Armor)

Date Added: 10th Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 1992. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Cycling camping trip round Emerald Coast, Brittany, day 3, Fort La Latte, Cap Frehel, Les Sables d’Or.

This 2.5 metre tall, thin menhir stands guard beside the footpath overlooking the splendid Forte de la Latte, at the headland of the same name to the east of Cap Fréhel.

Saint-Uzec menhir

Trip No.214  Entry No.22  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 17th Apr 2014. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Thought Dad would like to see this one, so chose this as the only megalithic site to specifically go look at after leaving Ploumenach about midday and driving round the coast road. We get here with nobody else around, the sky is a perfect blue and lots of birds chirrupping away. I think that when I have been here before it has either been dull grey sky, or with the sun in the wrong direction making photos bad, but today it is really looking terrific, with the carvings clearly showing up.

Dad seems very interested in why it is all carved like this, and it is significant that it is currently Easter holiday, and only yesterday somebody commented about my resurrection from Ile Carn. Although the carvings were all very clear, we could not be sure what they are all meant to represent, clearly neither of us are fully clued up on Catholic religion and its symbolism! Me being me, I particularly like the sun and the moon at the top of the stone. Fabulous.

Liscuis 3 allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.581  Date Added: 10th Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 26th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: There are three allée couvertes here on the hilltop on the ridge overlooking the river Dourla, and beside the busy GR37 footpath. They are signposted from all around, and are several hundred metres walk uphill and along the ridge from a little car park. They are all suffering badly from neglect and vandalism, which is a great shame as I was reading a book from 25 years ago which says that they have only recently been discovered and are in a wonderful condition and almost complete. I guess it doesn't help that the rock is a very splitty dark grey slate type rock, which now it is exposed takes little to break it. While I was up there, many people walked past, many kicking the stones as they went, with children (and adults) jumping up and down on them.

This seems to be a V shaped dolmen rather than a pure allée couverte with its chamber widening from less than a metre wide to greater than two metres wide for the main part. Approximately 12 metres long, it has three capstones in place, and faces approximately west at 210°.

It is suffering very badly, not only from graffitti, but also official damage in the form of footpath sign paintings and markings. There is a separate cell at the back, with an entry doorstone, at an angle, making a triangular entrance.

Liscuis 2 allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.582  Date Added: 10th Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 26th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: There are three allée couvertes here on the hilltop on the ridge overlooking the river Dourla, and beside the busy GR37 footpath. They are signposted from all around, and are several hundred metres walk uphill and along the ridge from a little car park. They are all suffering badly from neglect and vandalism, which is a great shame as I was reading a book from 25 years ago which says that they have only recently been discovered and are in a wonderful condition and almost complete. I guess it doesn't help that the rock is a very splitty dark grey slate type rock, which now it is exposed takes little to break it. While I was up there, many people walked past, many kicking the stones as they went, with children (and adults) jumping up and down on them.

A bit further along the ridge than the other two, and off the main path, this one seems to have suffered a bit less from the vandalism. It faces north at 010° and is about 14 metres long, up to 2.5 metres wide, and 2 metres high, with the southern 3 metres being a seperate cell, both ends narrow down to only a metre wide. It has a paved floor, but there is only one capstone remaining in place. It is still mostly within its mound.

Liscuis 1 allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.583  Date Added: 10th Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 26th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: There are three allée couvertes here on the hilltop on the ridge overlooking the river Dourla, and beside the busy GR37 footpath. They are signposted from all around, and are several hundred metres walk uphill and along the ridge from a little car park. They are all suffering badly from neglect and vandalism, which is a great shame as I was reading a book from 25 years ago which says that they have only recently been discovered and are in a wonderful condition and almost complete. I guess it doesn't help that the rock is a very splitty dark grey slate type rock, which now it is exposed takes little to break it. While I was up there, many people walked past, many kicking the stones as they went, with children (and adults) jumping up and down on them.

Right beside the busy (on a June Sunday afternoon) GR37 footpath, this allée couverte is suffering badly from neglect and vandalism. The chamber is 11 metres in length, and oriented to the east at 070°. Just two capstones are in place on the chamber which varies from 1 metre wide at the ends, to 2 metres wide at the middle. Part of the surrounding mound survives. There is a terminal cell at the western end, and a doorstone at the eastern end.