Vendée walks

Check out this beautiful trail completes a circuit around "Lac du Jaunay”. It is a quiet and wonderful place for nature lovers.

This is a pleasant route offering a beautiful walk through the forest, over the dunes and along the beach, with a climb back up to the ski hill, the highest point in the forest at 34 metres above sea level.

A short hike for lovers of unspoilt nature.

A 13 km circuit along the edge of Lake Graon allows you to enjoy the local flora and fauna. A very varied circuit with narrow paths and woodland trails... A real treat. The circuit can be extended by small loops of around 2 km (La Renardière and Les Petites Touches).

A short walk in the Forest of Mervent and along the River Mère.

There are many pedestrian paths to discover in Mervent forest.

A beautiful walk around a large part of the Polder de Sébastopol nature reserve. This route also takes you past the Étang Vide and the exit of the Gois passage on the Île de Noirmoutier side.

In a steep-sided valley. A hike along the Lay River at a place called "Le Grand Bateau". The Lay River flows through part of the Poitevin Marshes and empties into the Atlantic Ocean between La Faute-sur-Mer and L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer.

The banks of the Sèvre Nantaise between the Bois de la Barbinière and the Moulin Guy

The sound of waves crashing on the beaches, the smell of salt air and invigorating sea breezes: this is what you can expect on this hike, which follows the coastline as closely as possible.

A hike full of mystery... in the land of the fairy Melusine.

A tour around the artificial lake of Moulin Papon, on foot or by bike.

Hike along the dunes, forest and marshes. A biotope waiting to be discovered.

The Olonne forest stretches across the dune massif that borders the ocean between Brem-sur-Mer and Les Sables d'Olonne. This massif completely isolates the marshes located between the forest and the first hills where the vineyards of the Vendée fiefdoms flourish. This circuit offers a walk between the ocean and the banks of the Vertonne through the flat, open landscapes of the marshes, the more rugged forest and the immensity of the sea.

This is a beautiful 3-hour walk along the banks of the Vouraie reservoir. The path is very easy to follow.

Relaxation and a change of scenery guaranteed! Come and enjoy the peace and quiet, the authentic landscape and the rich flora and fauna. The Marais Poitevin, also known as the "Green Venice" for its tourist attractions, is a vast area of water and greenery where nature lovers will find peace and tranquillity along 400 km of canals.

Walking along the Rigole d'Aziré to the Courdault canal, then returning via the Marais des Nattes, you may spot some nutria, purple herons or lapwings, and perhaps even a deer or two.

This route winds between the forest and the Olonnes marshes, where many species of birds come to find food and peace.

Set off to explore the Marais des Olonnes.

A beautiful circuit between the sea and the marshes at the northern tip of the Île de Noirmoutier, near L'Herbaudière.

Hike through the countryside of the commune of Le Bernard to discover six dolmens, including the largest in the Vendée (the Frébouchère dolmen), four menhirs and a Gallo-Roman tower. Information panels are provided at each site. A significant part of the circuit is on tarmac. Can also be done by mountain bike.

A superb hike through the largest forest in the Vendée. The terrain is varied but not particularly difficult, making it a hiker's paradise. Beautiful paths, a dam lake, a climbing site, a leisure park, a hidden cave, remarkable bridges and trees, and a forest that has been explored for many years: this is what I invite you to discover.

This beach walk should be done at low tide and includes a section through the marshes. Remember to check the tide times (see practical information). Moderator's note: The route was modified on 16/06/2023 to bypass the Bois de la Blanche between 2 and 5, which is private property.

Just a few minutes from the ocean, take a stroll along the country lanes among sunflowers, wheat fields and vineyards. ⚠️ 25/06/2025: it seems that it is impossible to access the field between 3 and 4 along the path. Thank you for your feedback on this in the reviews.

A beautiful coastal hike that goes all the way around the island.

Two unique and very different valleys: Piquet with its granite chaos and the darker and more peaceful Pierre aux Fées.

Take a walk on the hill of the mills to discover the remains of the windmills and beautiful views of the low bocage to the north as far as Pouzauges and Saint-Michel-Mont-Mercure and the plain to the south as far as the Forest of Mervent.

Between fields and small woods, between shellfish beds, canals and the Sèvre Niortaise, this loop starting from the port of Damvix is accessible to all.Along the route, there are some lovely spots for picnics and even small restaurants by the water in Bazoin and Damvix where you can stop for a bite to eat. This walk can be continued by boat on the Sèvre Niortaise (boats can be hired at the port of Damvix). You will come across fishermen, swans, cows and ducks and hear tree frogs croaking.

A very pleasant hike between Brem-sur-Mer and Île d'Olonne, which first follows the trails of the Forêt d'Olonne, then the Marais d'Olonne and finally the bocage of the hinterland. ⚠️ 13.08.2025: hike modified between 7 and 8, no access for bikes at 7 to reach the marshes.

Vous aimez les découvertes originales et insolites ? Profitez de votre séjour aux Sables-d'Olonne pour vous balader dans le Quartier de l'île de Penotte, un lieu atypique et haut en couleur qui ne laisse personne indifférent ! Rejoignez le quartier de la Chaume qui est le cœur historique des Sables-d’Olonne en utilisant "La passeur".

This is a pleasant hike that will take you through the Bois des Girondins and the outskirts of Moulin Papon. There are two more challenging sections: after crossing the bridge at Bertheliére and crossing the ford at Ruisseau des Coux. See Practical Information.

A route to discover the large Rivoli Urban Park (5), in the shade of the trees, in a preserved biodiversity, and the Moulin Papon Lake dam (10). This lake is used to supply drinking water to the town of La Roche-sur-Yon. The water treatment plant can be seen from the dam. Seagulls and cormorants can be seen on the lake, and from the shore it is not uncommon to spot kingfishers, swallows and swifts in flight. In summer, leisure facilities are available for young and old alike.

Tour of the northern part of Lake Moulin Papon, which is wilder and more rugged than the southern part. It is not uncommon to see kingfishers, a few mallards, coots and, more rarely, geese. A detour via the hamlet of La Berthelière allows you to admire the renovated old houses, which are truly wonderful.

A round trip to visit the two tourist sites in Nesmy: the pottery, the legacy of over a hundred years of family expertise, with guided tours organised during the school holidays; and Rambourg Mill, the last intact watermill in the Yon Valley, a magnificent mechanical world worthy of Jules Verne, which can be visited every summer and during special events. It is also possible to visit the gardens of Nesmy Castle in the summer. For visits, see practical information: La Roche-sur-Yon Tourist Office

A large loop through the bocage and the town's parks, offering both natural surroundings and an urban environment with preserved biodiversity. On this route, you can admire the château in Beaupuy Park, the sunken paths lined with pollarded trees, and the park with its ponds and leisure facilities.

Walk through landscaped and natural areas, along ponds, pools and rivers, enjoying remarkable diversity in the middle of a peaceful village. Along the route, you may spot grey herons, kingfishers, great spotted woodpeckers and more.

This loop follows a historic path and takes you past some extraordinary plants in the vegetable garden of the same name. A loop through the bocage, surrounded by meadows and hedges, this route does not present any particular difficulties. However, be careful at roundabouts and on main roads with heavy traffic.

Hike around La Meilleraie with a mostly shaded first section and some unpaved paths, forming a pleasant green tunnel in summer. The second part of the circuit is more open, with a section on the plain. This second part can be avoided by going directly from point (6) to point (9).

A cycle route to discover the countryside around La Roche-sur-Yon, among hedgerows, ponds and rivers.