Walking holidays of France – 06N/07Days

Sentier d’Interpretation – Approx 6km/4miles.

An afternoon walks to stretch your legs after the journey. The route is waymarked and gives a chance to become orientated in the delightful countryside. Gently undulating, pretty, and unspoiled. Even on a Sunday, you will see few other people.

Option 1 – Les Cinq Communes Walk – Approx 14km/9miles :

Up a rocky track through woods, where orchids can be seen in spring. The route goes south through a patchwork of timeless cattle pastures, woods, and ancient hedgerows. You will see medieval pan-tiled farmhouses and a 1619 fortified farm. At the appropriate times of the year, there are swallowtail butterflies, skylarks, hoopoe, and hen harriers, to name a few. There is a bar at le Beugnon, a short detour away.

Option 2 – Route du Busseau – Approx 23km/14miles :

Cross the stream by the ford (or use the footbridge if you prefer), and climb to the east through woods to the open pasture. Continue west where families of immaculate Parthenaise cattle can usually be seen peacefully grazing. Visit the 1,000-year-old churches in the villages of Scillé and le Busseau. In spring and early summer, there is a beautiful profusion of wildflowers.

Option 1 – Coulonges Country Market & St Pompain – Approx 10km/6miles

A car is needed to get to Coulonges and St Papain. Total driving for the day is 44km (26½miles) and 25 minutes on quiet country roads. Drop-in on the colorful local produce market at Coulonges-sure-Laurie on Tuesday morning, where the locals meet and shop. See the last remaining pissoirs in the whole world. Walk in the vanillas of St-Papain. Climb the abandoned duct, have a picnic by the Roman bridge, and stroll in the cool walnut groves.

Option 2 – Scillé and les Jinchères – Approx 15km/9miles 

An intriguing labyrinth of pleasing lanes and tracks north of the accommodation. You’ll probably not see another soul. You pass through cool woods with clear streams, meadows and pastures, and an ancient pixie bridge. Our map shows all the paths that are open in this delightful sector, so you can choose how far you wish to walk.

Le Beugnon Lakes Picnic. (Short route – 13km/8miles and Long route – 19km/12miles).

A leafy valley leads through pastures, woods, and orchards. A sylvan lane carpeted in wild garlic leads to a mouth-watering spread beside the lakes. We bring the picnic to you with chilled rosé and sunlight dappling the table cloth. You may see hoopoe, hen harrier, golden oriole, kingfisher, various woodpeckers, and plenty of other birds and butterflies. If you choose the shorter option, a visit to Faymoreau is possible later in the afternoon, where an interesting exhibition of Faymoreau coal mines that operated until 1958 and the striking modern stained glass of Carmelo Zagari may be seen.

Option 1 – Route de Fenioux – Approx 26km/16miles.

Spring-flowered meadows where otters have been seen. Hazel and walnuts in the autumn hedgerows. The sleepy village of La Fazilière has a waymarked detour to the restored lavoir and steeping-ponds of the ancient basket makers. See loads of birds and butterflies. Stop for a refreshing drink in the friendly bars at Fenioux.

Option 2 – Marais Poitevin (Green Venice) – Approx 9km/5miles or more.

A vast patchwork of canals, pastures, and woods dotted with picturesque “port” villages. Built by medieval monks to tame a vast river delta on the Atlantic. Numerous waymarked walks as well as the renaissance abbey at Maillezais to explore. Hire a boatman and see the original fire-on-the-water. Eleanor’s Abbey at Nieul-Sur-l’Autize is on the route between Coulonges-sur-l’Autize and Maillezais – it is particularly recommended for a visit in case of inclement weather.

Option 1 – Butchers Wood – Approx18km/11miles.

Southwest to the drowsy village of le Beugnon, la petite Suisse, and magnificent deciduous forests. A (winding) Roman road! Cherries, plums, apricots, figs, apples, medlars, walnuts, and hazelnuts in the hedgerows (not all at the same time of course). You will see hardly another person on this walk. There is a bar in le Beugnon.

Option 2 – Mervent Forest & Lakes and Vouvant (Short route – 5km/3miles, Medium route – 7km/4miles, and Long route – 11km/7miles.) The selection of three walks can be combined if you prefer a longer distance. Majestic deciduous forest, winding paths, dappled sunlight, and wonderful lake and forest vistas. Visit a lakeside bar, Mervent dam and the grotto de Père de Montford. The fortified medieval village of Vouvant is also convenient to visit on this itinerary, where a charming one-hour promenade takes you in the medieval ramparts, Melusine’s keep, postern gates, shaded riverside paths, etc. There are also cafés, bars, and painter’s studios in Vouvant.

Departure after a Leisurely breakfast.