Around Lake Lavaud

A very pleasant route, especially the last part where you walk along the lake.

Details

1325919
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 74 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 71 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 271 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 224 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the Lavaud dam car park, free area for motorhomes.

(S/E) Turn right to cross the dam, veer left along the lake and walk up through the houses to reach the road. Turn left and stay on the road towards the hamlet of Doirat.

(1) Leave the road and head towards the lake to observe the view; a telescope is available. Return to the road and turn left. Leave the hamlet of Doirat on your left and continue. Turn left at the second crossroads (242m) and arrive at a place called Foucherie. Turn left. After the houses, there is a viewpoint over the lake.

(2) Retrace your steps to return to the road on the left, heading towards Chez Pichot. Pass the locality, leave Le Grand Village on your left and continue straight ahead.

(3) At the next crossroads, take the road on the left. At the next intersection (elevation 267), take the forest lane opposite and stay on it until you reach the D160 road.

(4) Follow the road slightly to the left and descend to the leisure centre.

(5) Cross the dam and take a small path on the left. Stay on the path that runs along the lake.

(6) When you reach an intersection at Mas du Baud, turn left, then right (elevation 243) and follow the path up to La Guierce.

(7) When you reach the road at a building with wooden cladding, turn left.
Cross the village and continue straight ahead until you reach a lane. Stay on this lane, which runs alongside the lake.

(8) Cross the lake via a small dam and continue to the left, still along the lake. You will arrive at the picnic area and car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 227 m - Lavaud dam car park - Charente (fleuve)
  2. 1 : km 1.36 - alt. 225 m - Detour to the observation point
  3. 2 : km 2.84 - alt. 226 m - Foucherie, observation point
  4. 3 : km 5.27 - alt. 265 m - Crossroads, on the left
  5. 4 : km 6.81 - alt. 271 m - D160, on the left
  6. 5 : km 8.69 - alt. 227 m - La Guerlie Leisure Centre.
  7. 6 : km 10.59 - alt. 242 m - Intersection, on the left
  8. 7 : km 11.28 - alt. 243 m - Road junction, on the left
  9. 8 : km 12.76 - alt. 225 m - Dam
  10. S/E : km 13.99 - alt. 227 m - Lavaud dam car park

Worth a visit

Longue Vue
Observatory
(5) Leisure Centre, bar

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
caty.ha
caty.ha

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

No signage on site and many roads without a view of the lake. Lake Mas Chaban is much more pleasant. It's a shame, as these are local guidelines and organisations.

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Merillon
Merillon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An easy route, but with far too much road travel, even though the roads are quiet. As suggested previously, it would be better to cut across at "Grand Village". We preferred the route around Lake Mas Chaban, which follows the lake shore much more closely.

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Hélène1687
Hélène1687

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The lakes of Haute Charente are very, very pleasant.

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Grand François
Grand François

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There wasn't a drop of water in this lake, due to drought, at least I think so. The landscape would have been more pleasant, but let's say it's a consequence of climate change...
I wasn't used to using Visorando's maps. I decided that on my next hike, I would only print the map to save money. Careful observation of the map is enough to find your way around this beautiful rural area.

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VIOT37
VIOT37

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Disappointing hike, far too much tarmac and a large section (the second third) of no interest whatsoever, which you should not hesitate to skip (from Grand Village to Terres du Poirier).

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Philippe 16
Philippe 16

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
This was the first real hike since lockdown restrictions began to ease.
Needless to say, it was eagerly awaited.
An interesting route around Lake LAVAUD.
This route takes you along many roads and few paths.
There is a picnic area at the start and "beaches" for swimming (when the weather is warmer).
No particular issues with the app, except when there was no network coverage, of course.
Thank you.

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Gil2509
Gil2509

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for sharing this hiking route, which we really enjoyed. Kind regards,

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Yesterday, I had a black screen at one point, which was the second time this has happened, but then everything went back to normal...
It may be a problem with the application.

Please take a look at the link below:

Unable to download map background

https://www.visorando.com/forum-randonnee...

See you soon

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Ericochets
Ericochets
• Edited:

For my part, yesterday I had a black screen at one point, which is the second time this has happened, but then everything went back to normal...
Perhaps there is an issue with the application.

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Gil2509
Gil2509

Hello,

Unfortunately, I cannot give an opinion on this hike, as the download did not work. In fact, we have tried several times with other routes and have not received any feedback. We are very sorry about this.

Kind regards,

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matmarlulu
matmarlulu

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Lovely second half by the lake, but far too much road for two-thirds of the walk, which is a shame...

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fginette
fginette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

pleasant, well-marked route

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