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The route starts in the village of Sidiailles, from the square with the chestnut trees opposite the church and its famous bell (the oldest in France still in use, dating from 1234).
(S/E) Take the road running alongside the church and pass the new cemetery. Ignore a path on the left and continue to a three-way junction.
(1) Head back down to the left, passing the Chezelles Lodge and Bed and Breakfast. You can then enjoy the view of the surrounding countryside.
(2) Take the first path on the right.
(3) 800 m further on, take the grassy path on the left; you are now on the GRP® des Maitres Sonneurs, marked in yellow and red, a literary trail linking Nohant (Indre) to Huriel (Allier) (GRP®). Ford the stream and head back up to a tarmac road.
(4) Follow it to the left to reach the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey of Notre Dame des Pierres, which was used as a stone quarry in the last century (the gateway is visible, as are the ruins of the old farm, the former surrounding wall and the remains of the mill, which can be seen through the vegetation in winter).
Head down the small path opposite to the River Joyeuse (mentioned in George Sand’s novel *Les Maîtres Sonneurs*).
(5) Cross it via a footbridge or by wading across the ford. Walk through the Bois de l’Abbaye, then follow the edge of the woodland to a junction.
(6) Follow the GRP® to the right and continue to the D997 and the Croix Cordeau.
(7) First turn right then left onto the small road. You’ll leave the GRP® and join the GR® 303 (red and white markings linking Moulin 03 (Montconbroux-les-Mines) to Boussac (23)), which you’ll follow until just before the dam. Follow this small road, passing several buildings on the right.
Continue along the small road until you reach the D997. Follow it to the right and take thefirst small road to Le Carroir on the right. Follow this until you reach the start of a path on the right before the Carroir farm.
Take the track that leads down towards the lake. About twenty metres before you reach it, take the small path (grassed area) on the right (Sentier du tour du lac) until you cross a small stream.
(8) Take a path that climbs slightly opposite through the woods, through wild and rugged countryside.
When you reach the River Arnon, cross via a recently installed metal footbridge, then head up the valley to the left until you reach the ruined castle of La Roche Guillebaud (featured in George Sand’s novel *Mauprat*).
Continue along the path, then head up to the right until you reach a road.
Turn left onto the road, followed by a stony track that will take you to La Madeleine. There are lovely views, through the vegetation, of the lake and the water sports centre. Ignore the yellow signposting (PR® from Saint-Eloy d’Allier) and always follow the GR® marked in red and white.
Once you reach a small road blocked by a chain, do not take it but turn left and then, immediately, right onto a grassy path. Head down to the stream and follow the path which runs close to or along the lake’s shore, passing through a field and across copses and heathland.
(10) Just before the Sidiailles Dam, leave the GR® 303 – which branches off to the right – by taking the path opposite and to the left at the rest area above the dam. Follow the winding footpath down to the car park.
Cross the Arnon via the footbridge and take the path on the left to climb back up to the level of the dam, passing close to Camp de César.
Cross a tarmac road and head straight back down to cross a stream. Continue until you reach a grassy path.
(12) Head up this path on the right to reach the Domaine de la Porte. Take the tarmac road that passes in front of the old cemetery, then cross the D997 in the village of Sidiailles to return to the starting point (S/E).
Association / Club / Walk leader
Tourist office
Easy 
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
Difficult 
