Walk along the Èvre

Start from the car park at the Farfadet Leisure and Sports Centre on the edge of the D265.

(S/E) With your back to the leisure and sports centre, turn right onto the D265, then left onto Route des Gardes and join Chemin de la Boussardière on the right.

(1) Leave the tarmac and take the path on the left. At the next fork, turn left, join a stream and follow it to the right. The path veers off to the right and follows a road on the left until it joins another road at a crossroads with a cross.

(2) Follow it to the right (D133) and reach Trémentines. At the roundabout, continue straight ahead and reach the next crossroads.

(3) Turn left onto Rue d'Angers and, at the roundabout, turn right towards La Chapelle-Rousselin, then left onto Rue du Château d'Eau. Continue straight ahead onto Rue Jean-Philippe Rameau and, at the end of this road, take the path on the right to reach the Étang de Trémentines.

(4) Go around it on the right and rejoin the street. Continue right (Rue Maurice Ravel) and arrive at the large car park, Place Emmanuel Bodet.

(5) Take the lane on the right that runs alongside the nursing home, then continue along the street. At Place de la Victoire, turn left, then right onto Place du Docteur Fruchaud.

(6) At the end, continue right onto Passage de l'Union, ignore a street on the left and turn left at the next one. At the bottom of Impasse de Bellevue, continue right (Rue du Vieux Pont) and cross the bridge over the Èvre.

(7) Immediately after, turn onto the path on the right, then continue as close as possible to the Èvre. At the road, turn right, go under the road bridge and turn left. Continue for about 100 metres until you reach a pedestrian crossing.

(8) Take the path on the right and follow the Èvre until you reach a crossroads.

(9) Turn right onto Chemin de la Forêterie, cross the bridge over the Èvre and immediately take the path on the left. Follow the river, then head up the steep slope on the right (you will need to carry your bike as there are steps and the slope is very steep) until you reach a crossroads. Turn left and, when you reach the road, continue straight ahead. Pass the Vieux Château and take the^first path on the left.

(10) Take this path and, at the track, continue straight ahead. Continue along the access road to Le Mesnil until you reach a fork.

(11) Turn left, then take the path on the right just before the sign for Le Garotin. Go around the buildings on the right, then continue along a path and then on the asphalt road until the next crossroads.

(12) Turn left and follow the road straight ahead. Pass the entrance to La Frouardière and arrive at a 90° left turn with a cross.

(13) Continue straight ahead on the track until you reach a 90° right-hand bend. Continue straight ahead on the path, then on the small road until you reach a large crossroads.

(14) Cross with caution and continue straight ahead on the D265. Continue straight ahead until you reach the car park of the Espace Loisirs Sports de Farfadet.

(S/E) Cross the car park and take the cycle path that runs more or less parallel to the D265. Cross the D265, then follow it on your left until you reach a three-way junction with a cross at the entrance to the village of Les Gardes.

(15) Keep left on Rue du Moulin Morille until you reach number 15 and Rue de la Colline des Gardes opposite.

(16) Continue straight ahead, go around the abbey on the right, Rue du Monastère, then turn right, Impasse de l'Observatoire, and reach the highest point at the top of the hill (the highest point in the department).

(17) After enjoying the view, turn around and continue straight ahead, following the abbey wall on your left. Follow the road until you find a path on the left.

(18) Take this path, walk past a farm on your right and, at the corner, take the road on the left. Pass No. 8 Haute Garde, then turn onto the path on the right. Follow it to the end.

(19) Turn onto the road on the left and continue straight ahead until the end of Rue de la Colline des Gardes.

(16) Turn right and follow the same route you took on the way there to reach the car park of the Espace Loisirs Sports de Farfadet (S/E).

No water refill points available.

Suitable for families, but be careful in a few tricky spots.