the menhir is half-hidden behind elder, oak and holly.the lost stone of kerienBrittany is home to some world-famous megalithic sites, including the tallest standing stones on record. It is also home to the widest-girthed menhir; but surprisingly, this unique stone is now almost completely lost in obscurity.
The great stone at Kerien features in no books, remains un-photographed, and is not marked with a single sign. A visitor, therefore, needs to be equipped with a map, stout shoes, and a stick. The menhir is north of Kerien. Head out of the village on the D8, direction Bourbriac and turn left for Cosquer-Jehan. Just on the other side of the hamlet is a farmers’ track. This is the only ‘parking’ for the stone, and the rest of the search needs to be made on foot.
Although the menhir is nearly 6 metres tall, and an incredible 11.40 metres in circumference, it is invisible from far away, and has been completely overgrown by trees. The stone stands on a bank, between the two fields closest to the road, and is surrounded by shrubs, ivy and thick undergrowth.
Once close, it is easy to discern the menhir's shape and size. An oak tree growing close by gave me a unique opportunity to climb to the top of the stone, which, unlike many other menhirs, was spacious and flat – large enough for a person to lie down with ease. The menhir has not always been so neglected; it was once much-visited, but seems to have been forgotten along, no doubt, with this remote and sparsely-populated part of Brittany itself.
The Roch an Bley, or Rock of the Wolf.Roc'h an Bley This tall, and rugged menhir is in the middle of a very large field. Continue down the farmers' track from the hamlet Roch an Bley, and the stone becomes visible at the other end of the field.
Menhir of the Crec'h an ArgantThe Silver Hill On the D69 from Mael-Pestivien to Bourbriac (Breton - Boulvriag), a track leads off to the ‘Crec’h an Argant’ – the silver hill (signposted from Bourbriac direction). A well-maintained sunken pathway leads a short way, before the menhir looms up on the right, sitting astride a bank, beside a field of crops. (I have never seen a menhir on the edge of a sunken pathway before). It is a cylindrical, elegantly-shaped menhir. There was a crack near the base, large enough for me to insert my hand.
The path is part of a randonnée, which leads off towards Magoar.
DOlmen of Kerivoa Continuing up the road towards Bourbriac, one passes by the Dolmen of Kerivoa, on the right, just after the turning for the hamlet of that name. The dolmen is a very interesting monument – a semi-submerged cavern, set in a small hillock of earth, which is itself surrounded by an assortment of granite boulders. However, recent work on the field has left the sight sadly denuded of vegetation – a small occurrence, I am sure, in the long and varied career of a megalith, but a big event for someone like myself, whose life will no doubt be, at most, one hundredth that of the dolmen…
The Cre'c an Argant menhir is signposted from Bourbriac town center, and then again on the road. During the summer, the dolmen can be hard to access, if there is maize in the field.
