Arthon walk, from the Étang de la Garde to the Étang du Moulin Sault

A lovely walk along pleasant wooded paths and small roads that wind through the countryside surrounding the village of Arthon, with beautiful views over several ponds.

Details

8174783
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.50 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 35 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 33 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 158 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 135 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Arthon (36330)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.693672° / E 1.698753°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2126SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Place de la Mairie. The main trail markings are yellow.

(S/E) Take the street to the right of the town hall which leads behind the church. Head down to the right between the church and the castle (private). Cross the D14 carefully and take the small path opposite which leads down to a footbridge. Use this to cross the Creuzançais.

(1) Head back up to rejoin the road. Continue to the right until you reach a roundabout; go round it heading south (landscaped pond).

(2) At the cross, follow the path to the right.

(3) At the fork, turn right and, 150 m further on, continue straight on towards Étang Guérin.

(4) Head left, towards the south-east, and go straight on at the next junction. Étang de la Garde is on the right.

(5) Ignore the path leading down to the right and follow the north-eastern edge of Étang Crachat, then turn left towards the hamlet of Les Petits Champs.

(6) Take the road on the right, then turn left at the next junction. At the junction in La Tremblaire, turn onto the road on the right and follow it carefully for 400 m.

(7) Head down the grassy path and follow it to a ford. Cross a footbridge, then head back up to the D42.

(8) Turn left and cross the hamlet of Lavau for 150 m; veer right onto a hard-packed track, then right again onto a track suitable for vehicles. Pass a path on the left, then another on the right. Arrive at the junction at the 153m mark.

(9) Take the left-hand track, a lovely tree-lined avenue. Continue straight on until you reach a small road.

(10) Turn left onto it, passing a path leading down to the right to the private Balsan pond, then another on the left, and reach the Étang de l’Adenet, in a bend.

(11) After the bend, head down to the right onto the track, then turn left to follow the communal Étang du Moulin Sault. Cross a car park.

(12) At the exit of the car park, follow the D14 to the left, continue along it at the next junction (crossroads) and, at Rue du Moulin, turn left to return to Place de la Mairie (A/D).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 142 m - Place de la Mairie: street to the right of the town hall
  2. 1 : km 0.24 - alt. 136 m - Footbridge over the Creuzançais
  3. 2 : km 0.49 - alt. 141 m - Path on the right at the cross
  4. 3 : km 0.79 - alt. 144 m - Take the path on the right, then go straight on
  5. 4 : km 2.73 - alt. 136 m - Étang Guérin: on the left
  6. 5 : km 3.62 - alt. 145 m - Étang de la Garde
  7. 6 : km 4.1 - alt. 149 m - Les Petits Champs
  8. 7 : km 5.36 - alt. 146 m - Grassy path on the left
  9. 8 : km 6.93 - alt. 158 m - Lavau
  10. 9 : km 8 - alt. 153 m - Beautiful tree-lined path on the left
  11. 10 : km 9.16 - alt. 144 m - Balsan Pond
  12. 11 : km 10.2 - alt. 141 m - Adenet Pond
  13. 12 : km 10.99 - alt. 140 m - Moulin Sault communal pond
  14. S/E : km 11.5 - alt. 142 m - Town Hall Square

Notes

Water point and toilets behind the town hall, near the church.
Depending on the season, bring waterproof shoes for a few areas that can sometimes be wet near the ponds (mainly between (4) and (6), and between (7) and (8)).

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Lafalla
Lafalla

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a very beautiful hike along paths and through meadows. We took a shortcut at the start; instead of continuing to the right, we continued straight ahead. The path rejoins the route and is very pleasant. There are lots of ponds. We really enjoyed it.

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Mic's
Mic's

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike followed via GPX, so no worries about the route
A lovely walk, mostly shaded along the whole route, with a lovely spot by the pond for a picnic.

Top notch!
Mic's

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lea36
lea36

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy route, very well signposted, with the odd pleasant surprise in store… and a wide variety of wildlife. I highly recommend it.

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MARTDomi
MARTDomi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and easy walk

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