Description:

Huelgoat is a charmingly pretty village popular with both local residents and holiday makers for its beautiful natural setting amongst the ancient forest which once covered Brittany.  The forest now covers 10 km² and is overseen by the French forestry commission.

Huelgoat is in central Brittany in the department Finistere and covers an area of 14.85 km².  The town is one of the 7 cantons of Chateaulin.

The village lies on a lake created between the 16th and 18th centuries to supply water to local silver lead mines.  Huelgoats lake covers 15 hectares and flows into the Riviere d'Argent.

There is a market in the centre of Huelgoat every Thursday morning.  Huelgoat also has two grocery store, two bakeries, a tabac and several unique shops to the village such as the popular honey shop.

For all other groceries there is a Intermarche supermarket in Huelgoat.  For clothes shopping and larger chains visit Carhaix which is only 16 km away.

Huelgoat has an Ecoles Primaires et Maternelles and a College.  The nearest Lycee is at Carhaix just 16 km away.

Huelgoat has a post office, several hair salons, two garages, a vets, two banks, two pharmacies, an optician and a small library.   The town has two doctors and a dentist whilst the nearest hospital and Ophthalmologist is 16 km away in Carhaix.

For entertainment there are several popular restaurants, creperies and Cafe Bistros.  There is also a bar and a cinema. 

Huelgoat has an open air swimming pool which is only open during July and August.

Huelgoat has two hotels in the town as well as two campsites one of which is owned by the village.   Further visitor accommodation is readily available in the surrounding area.

Huelgoat's nearest beach is just 45km away at  Carantec.

The town holds regular one off events such as carnivals, toy fairs and Fest Noz throughout the year.

Huelgoat has lots of geological and prehistoric areas of interest around the village and surrounding forest which you can reach via well marked out walking paths;

• Le Chaos de Rochers (Chaos of Rocks) - a jumble of hundreds of large boulders below the dammed lake into which the river vanishes.  To get down to the rocks vistors need to go down a 10 m ladder
• La Roche Tremblante (Trembling Rock) - a 137 tonne boulder which sits in a way that the rock will move if pushed on one point by a person
• Le Champignon (Mushroom) - a large rock balanced on a smaller one giving the impression of an enormous mushroom
• La Mare aux Fees  - the fairies pool
• La Mare aux Sangliers - the wild boar pool
• Le Camp d'Artus (Arthur's Camp) - a sea promontory hillfort and rampart based on a Gaulish oppidum
• La Grotte d'Artus (Arthur's Cave) - a natural shelter formed under a roof of rocks

Huelgoat has an active association scene.

In the surrounding area and forest there are some great walking, cycling and horse riding.  Hunting and golf are also popular.