Bagnoles-de-l'Orne walks

A beautiful walk that runs alongside the Village du Cheval and then enters the forest via a path offering beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. It then crosses the Saint-Ortaire priory and returns to the centre of Bagnoles-de-l'Orne, passing by the lake and the casino on the way back to the car park.

A superb circular walk starting from the ‘Petite Cité de Caractère’ of Lassay-les-Châteaux, voted France’s third favourite village in 2023. 94 per cent dirt tracks and some wonderful heritage sites to discover along the way: Lassay Castle, Bois Thibault Castle and the ruins of Bois Frou.An interpretative trail based on the legend of Lancelot du Lac enhances this route with several stops featuring information panels on themes from Arthurian legend. The Château de Bois Thibault, open during the tourist season (weekends and public holidays only), features a magnificent round table and a comic strip depicting the legend of the famous knight Lancelot.

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful walks in the Lassay-les-Châteaux area. Lots of sunken paths, some woodland and a stream.

In the northern Mayenne countryside, Lassay-les-Châteaux is a small town that is well worth a visit. As you walk along the surrounding paths, a few signposts invite you to follow in the footsteps of Lancelot through meadows, forests and the remains of three castles. An easy walk on well-maintained paths and a few country roads.

The village of Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain is the starting point for two circular walks that will take you through unspoilt hedgerow countryside. Both routes follow dirt tracks for 90 per cent of the way. Here is one of these circular walks. The second: The ‘Boucle des herbages’ circular walk from Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain

The village of Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain is the starting point for two circular walks that will take you through unspoilt hedgerow countryside. Both routes follow dirt tracks for 90 per cent of the way. Here is one of these circular walks.

During this hike, you will discover surprising mining remains: iron mine shafts, calcination furnaces from before and after 1938, and a mining town. The hike begins along a Way of the Cross that will take you to the Calvary of Mont Brûlé. The hike winds through the undergrowth and follows a few sections of road. During your journey, you will discover a castle and an old watermill nestled in a green setting.

A walk through the ages, surrounded by nature. You’ll discover reproductions of Impressionist works by Ludovic Piette and Camille Pissarro, as well as megaliths including the Menhir de la Pierre Robert and a dolmen. Finally, the beautiful Bignon manor house and its hamlet.

A picturesque circular route with no navigation difficulties, ideal for families. The route mainly follows the Flers-Domfront Greenway, passes by the Château de Varenne and its old forges, then climbs up a path towards the Manoir de la Nocherie. It rejoins the Greenway after crossing the Varenne at the Moulin de la Nocherie ford to return to the start.

The landscapes and views to the east serve as a reminder that the Alpes Mancelles are not far away. Consequently, some sections involve elevation changes which may present a few difficulties for those who are not used to them. At the (5), do pop into the Chapelle du Cerisier for a short break.

A family walk in the largest wetland area in the Orne department. Located in the Houlme region, at the heart of the Normandy bocage, the Grand Hazé is a landscape of 200 hectares of ponds, peat bogs, reed beds and peaty woods.

The Chapelle de Bon Secours trail consists of no less than 89 per cent dirt tracks. It follows the ancient Roman road that linked Gué Saint-Léonard to Mayenne. A short detour is recommended to the Tourbière des Égoutelles, a regional nature reserve. This two-hectare site, situated in a former Armorican sandstone quarry, is home to over a hundred rare plant species, including carnivorous plants such as sundews, round-leaved sundews and the Portuguese butterwort.

A very lovely walk in the Buttes d’Hardanges, a Sensitive Natural Area, between the villages of Ribay and Hardanges. This former military zone is now a true haven of peace and offers a vast array of natural meadows, wet heathland, dry heathland, peat bogs and valley floors.

The organisations Familles Rurales Briouze, Environnement et Vie en Pays de Briouze and the municipality of Craménil have put together a family trail for you to discover the flora, fauna and typical landscapes of our bocage. Some sections are damp, so make sure you wear sturdy shoes! The route described includes a 3.2 km alternative route; you can also complete the 4 km circular route.

The village of Crennes-sur-Fraubée, situated on the southern slope of the Corniche de Pail, offers magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. This route, 88% of which is on dirt tracks, is one of the most beautiful walks in the Mont des Avaloirs area.

The Lac de Haute Mayenne, artificially created by the Saint-Fraimbault dam, will charm you with its rich and varied flora and fauna. But this route will also allow you to discover the confluence of two rivers that feed into the Mayenne: the Varenne and the Colmont.