A hilly circular walk starting from Le Ménard

(S/E) Park in the hamlet of Le Ménard; please take care not to inconvenience local residents, as parking spaces are limited.

(S/E) Set off north-east along the Route de Saint-Jean; turn right onto the first path which joins another signposted path, continue straight on and head down to the river.

(1) After the river, take the track leading uphill to the right, cross a road and continue straight on along the Impasse de l’Hôpital. Just before the house at the end of the cul-de-sac, follow the existing signposting and turn right. Continue uphill to the next house, cross a road and carry on along the track opposite until you reach the D8.

(2) Cross this road with care and take the track that climbs slightly to the left.
At the Y-junction with another track, take the track on the right that leads uphill; then, 50 metres further on, turn off onto the small path opposite and leave the main track.
Carry on straight ahead to reach the hamlet of Fond.

(3) When you reach the houses in the hamlet, turn right onto the tarmac road leading uphill.
Enjoy the view over the Roannais region and the village of Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice, amongst others.
At the next junction, cross the D86 with care and carry on straight ahead along the path.
Continue climbing along the path which winds through the pine trees. Do not take the first path on the right, as it is a dead end. Walk alongside the meadow on your right.
Carry on straight ahead; do not take the paths branching off to the left, and head for the Croix des Prés.

(4) Turn left and head downhill along the path lined with meadows. Take the first right onto the recently widened path. Walk alongside a meadow on your left. The path then climbs through the pine trees to a flat area and a junction with another path branching off to the right.

(5) Turn onto this path on the right and continue straight on to the hamlet of Écoche. Do not take any of the various paths branching off to the left. Head down this slightly stony path.

(6) When you reach the tarmac road, take this road to the right for about 100 metres, and carry on until you reach the junction with a cross.

(7) Caution! Take the path on the right between the two roads and do not turn onto the path on the left which leads to Villemontais. Walk down this path carefully until you reach the hamlet of Lambertière. Take the tarmac road on the right for a short distance to reach the hamlet.

(8) Turn right at the houses, with the farm on your left, leave the hamlet and continue straight on for a few hundred metres until you reach a descending cross-path.

(9) Turn left at the next junction to head back down to the hamlet of Le Puy. Continue the descent along a small road and cross the D86 with care. Carry on straight ahead along the small road, which becomes a track. You’ll arrive near a small road with a farm in sight

(10) Then turn onto the small track branching off to the right and join a small road, which you should follow for about 100 metres.

(11) Then turn left towards the hamlet of La Chapelle (winegrower’s sign).
Caution! Do not enter the winegrower’s property; make sure you take the path on the left that runs alongside the property. You’ll initially walk alongside a small stone wall on your right.
Continue along this path until you reach the junction with the D8.

(12) Cross this departmental road with care and continue along the small road opposite until you reach the first junction.

(13) Turn right onto Route de la Gare, then turn left into the hamlet to return to the starting point (S/E).

Make sure you bring suitable sun protection; some sections (at the start and end) have no shade.
You should also bring suitable walking shoes.

Not far from the medieval village of Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice.
The vineyards of the Côte Roannaise.
The Loire Gorges.
The banks of the Isable at Saint-Polgues.