Around Les Essais and Saint-Georges-de-Pointindoux

Start from the car park at Place des Essais, alongside the D978 (Route de Nantes).

(S/E) Cross the D978 at the pedestrian crossing, take the bridge over the Auzance and walk past the wash house on the opposite bank. Head slightly to the right along a stream, cross it and then walk alongside it on your right-hand side. Cross the road (Avenue Napoléon Bonaparte) at the pedestrian crossing and, opposite No. 26, head left for about 50 metres.

(1) Turn left immediately onto Place Frère Henri Buton and cross the car park. At the far end, cross a grassy area, heading towards the left-hand side 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 your left), continue along the marked path and cross the stream. Head diagonally to the left to reach the Bibrou lake.

(2) Walk round the lake in either direction (the route follows a clockwise direction).

(2) Turn left and head uphill (Rue de la Fontaine). At the top, turn right onto the one-way street and, after about thirty metres, take a dirt track on the left. Walk alongside a hedgerow and you’ll come out onto a street (Rue Jean Bouin).

(3) Follow the street to the left and turn right straight away, passing a large sports hall on your left. Walk between two football pitches, follow a playground and you’ll reach a side street (Rue Marthe Régnault), opposite No^{. 6Ter}. Follow this street to the right until the end.

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

(5) Turn left and follow the grassy verge for 200 metres; then, in the bend (to ensure you can see in both directions), cross over to take the path on the right and continue following the Vendéevélo route.

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

(7) On leaving the village, follow Rue des Carrières to the right, walking along the paved section on the left.

(8) Before the bend and just after No. 8, cross the road and immediately turn right onto the footpath (leaving the Vendéevélo route). After 300 m, you’ll reach a junction; cross the road and continue to the right (Route de Vairé) for 400 m along a very busy and therefore dangerous road. Keep well to the left-hand verge of the road (facing oncoming traffic), take care, and join the first path on the left.

(9) Take this path, leaving the Route de Vairé. After about a hundred metres, continue along the path to the right. Cross the road (D12), which has quite a bit of traffic, and turn right onto the path between the road and the field.

(10) When you reach the tarmac, follow the road to the left (with little traffic) towards La Mouzinière. Walk on the left-hand side for 600 metres until you reach the hamlet.

(11) Before the bend to the left and as you enter 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 approximately 1 km. Please note: in winter, a 200-metre stretch is very often muddy. At the road, turn right and follow this quiet road for 400 metres, keeping to the left-hand side as you face any oncoming vehicles. Pass through the hamlet of Le 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 signposted path to reach the road again

(13) Cross this road 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.