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Start in Le Mans, at the Pont des Tabacs in the Parc de l’Ile aux Planches.
(S/E) Cross Rue d’Eichthal at the pedestrian crossing and turn left onto Boulevard Demorieux after crossing the River Sarthe. Turn right onto the boulevard. Cross the railway bridge to find a path on the right, near a petrol station.
(1) Take this path leading towards the river. Continue along the left bank until you reach the Passerelle des Sables d’Or. Cross it to find the towpath.
(2) Follow it to the left, along Boulevard Nature, until you reach the Passerelle des Riffaudières footbridge, located just before the ring road.
(3) Take the footbridge to cross the Sarthe. Go under Boulevard Demorieux, then turn left and follow it for 200 m. At Impasse du Renouveau, first turn right then left and enter Parc du Gué-de-Maulny. Cross the park, heading almost straight on at each junction, almost as far as the ford where there is a footbridge.
(4) At this junction, before the ford, turn left to follow the Huisne and go round the playground to return along the river. Keep right at every junction until you reach the towpath. Continue, passing under the other bridge on the boulevard.
(3) Turn right to retrace your steps along the path you took on the way out. Return to the Passerelle des Sables d'Or.
(2) Continue straight ahead. Head towards Rue du Canal, where you will find a lock and the former tobacco factory.
(6) Continue on your way, pass the junction and head towards Le Port du Mans via Rue Franklin, passing under Boulevard Anatole France (Pont de Fer or Pont du Greffier). Take thefirst left and then left again to reach the other entrance to the island’s park, opposite the statue L’Envol, dedicated to Wilbur Wright and the pioneers of aviation.
(7) Cross the park, between the canal and the river, via the new Allée Marcel Bréjou, which replaces the former Rue Ampère, thus returning to the Eichthal entrance of the park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Tourism professional
Moderate 
