Around Bransles via the Betz and Ardouzes valleys

Park in the garden car park in the valley (in front of the greenhouses).

(S/E) Head towards the crossroads, leaving the garden on your left. Turn left onto the path that climbs up to the plateau.

(1) Turn 90° onto the path on the left, which joins and runs alongside the woods (on your right) and leads out onto the D96.

(2) Watch out for traffic, keep to the left and head down to the next set of road signs (upside down). Cross carefully and take the small path opposite which leads down to the Chemin du Roi; follow this (magnificent) path until you reach a path which you follow up to the right until you reach a road. Turn left and head down to Les Gains and the River Betz.

(3) Cross the river by turning right towards two tiny, magnificent bridges, follow the road and, just after the last house, take the small path that climbs left directly into the woods and joins the road further up, which you follow straight ahead until the next path on your left.

(4) Follow it down towards the valley; at the bottom, cross a road and continue straight on towards the hamlet of La Chèvre.

(5) Turn right and follow the path which joins the road to the hamlet of Saint Loup. After this, turn left into Rue Pasteur then right onto Avenue du Gâtinais, D219 (watch out for traffic). Walk past the town hall and the village’s listed church (take shelter under the porch if it’s raining) and continue along the road on the left, taking the small path towards the cemetery.

(6) Turn left, walking alongside the cemetery, take the first path on the left which goes round the village to the next tarmac road where you turn right, then a little further on turn left to reach the hamlet of Les Petites Bordes.

(7) Turn right onto the first path and continue straight on, heading down towards the Vallée des Ardouzes.

(8) Keep left and follow the path along the valley floor to the next path on your left.

(9) Turn left and head back up onto the plateau; once at the top, take the path on the right which leads back down.

(10) Turn left and follow the path until you reach the tarmac road known as the Route de la Queue de l’Étang. Continue straight on until you reach a crossroads.

(11) Turn left and you will arrive in front of Château du Mez. At thestop sign on the D62, follow the road carefully to the right.

(12) After the bridge, cross this road carefully to join the tarmac road on the left, which leads to the hamlet of Le Verdeau.

(13) Continue straight on into the valley and reach the hamlet of Gros Lot.

(14) Continue straight on towards the hamlet of Brandard, turn left under the sign to return to the car park (S/E).

Shelter under the church porch.