Around Les Essais and Saint-Georges-de-Pointindoux

Start from the car park at Place des Essais, on the edge of the D978 (Route de Stream).

(S/E) Cross the D978 at the pedestrian crossing, take the bridge over the Auzance and pass in front of the wash house on the opposite bank. Turn right along a stream, cross it and then follow it on your right. Cross the street (Avenue Napoléon Bonaparte) at the pedestrian crossing and, opposite No. 26, turn left and walk about 50 metres.

(1) Immediately turn left onto Place Frère Henri Buton and cross the car park. At the end, cross a grassy area heading towards the left of the car park. Then cross a street (Impasse de la Scierie) and the stream and follow the stream on your right. Cross Rue du Bois Renard (sign on the left), continue along the marked path and cross the stream. Turn left to reach the Bibrou lake.

(2) Walk around the lake in either direction (the route is clockwise).

(2) Turn left and go uphill (Rue de la Fontaine). At the top, turn right onto the one-way street and, after about 30 metres, take a dirt path on the left. Walk along a hedge and you will come to a street (Rue Jean Bouin).

(3) Follow the street to the left and immediately turn right, leaving a large sports hall on your left. Pass between two football pitches, walk along a playground and you will come to a cross street (Rue Marthe Régnault), opposite No^{. 6Ter}. Follow this street to the right until you reach the end.

(4) At the stop sign, first turn right then left to cross the road at the pedestrian crossing, then, between numbers 80 and^82Bis, take the Vendéevélo route (marked on the ground or by directional signs), passing through several housing estates with areas designed for walkers and cyclists, until you reach a crossroads at the end of Rue du Thym.

(5) Turn left and follow the grassy verge for 200 m, then, in the bend (to have visibility on both sides), cross over to the right onto the path and continue to follow the Vendéevélo.

(6) Opposite the Château du Plessis, pass in front of a remarkable oak tree (2020 national competition); 200 m further on, cross the Auzance again (wooden bridge) to head towards and cross the village of La Richard (still follow the Vendéevélo).

(7) At the village exit, follow Rue des Carrières to the right, walking on the paved section on the left.

(8) Before the bend and just after No. 8, cross over and immediately turn right onto the hiking trail (leave the Vendéevélo). After 300 m, you will come to a crossroads. Cross over and continue to the right (Route de Vairé) for 400 m along a very busy and therefore dangerous road. Stay on the left-hand side of the road (facing the traffic) and take care as you join the first path on the left.

(9) Take this path, leaving Route de Vairé. After about 100 metres, continue on the path to the right. Cross the road (D12), which is fairly busy, and turn right onto the path between the road and the field.

(10) At the tarmac, follow the road on the left (not very busy) towards La Mouzinière. Walk on the left-hand side for 600 metres until you reach the hamlet.

(11) Before the left-hand bend and in the village, at the corner of No. 9, turn right for 20 metres and immediately take the path on the left. Continue along this path for about 1 kilometre. Please note that in winter, a 200-metre section is often muddy. At the road, turn right and follow this quiet road for 400 metres on the left-hand side, facing any oncoming traffic. Pass the hamlet of Chiron and reach the first path on the left.

(12) Take this path and, after 350 m, take the path on the right and follow the paved path to return to the road.

(13) Cross this street and take the paved section on your right. Walk down the street (Rue des Pins) for 800 m to reach the car park where you started (S/E).

Lavoir des Essais.