Bellou-sur-Huisne walks

A lovely walk along a former railway line, converted into a footpath and cycle route, through charming rolling countryside, then along paths and small tarmac roads with beautiful views over the Huisne Valley.

This walk through the Rémalard countryside will allow you to discover the Perche landscapes: hills, woods, streams, traditional houses and châteaux.

This hike is the third stage of an eight-day, 200 km route, the Tour des Collines du Perche.The route leaves the beautiful village of Moutiers-au-Perche, above the church, and immediately enters the woods. It then passes through a beautiful valley and a long stretch of forest before reaching the grain-growing plains of the Eure valley. It then reaches the woods of Neuilly and the forest of La Ferté-Vidame, which it crosses to reach the small town of La Ferté-Vidame.

A lovely walk, mostly on good paths, which allows you to visit a magnificent forest, admire a few ponds and pass by some religious buildings. The only difficulty is the length.

This is an easy circular loop starting from Longny-au-Perche, which follows a small road and shaded paths.Étang Chiot is not a pond but the name of a stream and a hamlet!

A hike that combines villages, plains and forests. Without any particular difficulties, this hike is suitable even in wet weather. It can also easily be done by bike and with the family.

Starting from the 13th-century priory of Sainte-Gauburge, this route leads along sunken paths to the Dolmen de la Pierre Procureuse, the site of several legends, then passes in front of a feudal motte at the Tour du Sablon and several fortified farms, before reaching the Angenardière manor house.

Discover Bellême, a Petite Cité de Caractère® (Small Town of Character), on this tour that highlights its rich heritage. Bellême charms visitors with its unique architecture, where the harmony between limestone and ochre and pink sand plaster, typical of Perche-style buildings, gives this town its incomparable charm.

A lovely walk in the beautiful Bellême national forest, where you can admire the Étang de la Herse lake and its fountain.

This route offers panoramic views of the Huisne valley on the outskirts of Nogent-le-Rotrou.

Beautiful views of the hills of Perche and the Vinette Valley. This route follows paths and small roads with little traffic.

Following the sunken lanes of the Perche and the rolling hills, the route passes through the village of Gemages, the Angenardière Manor and the Priory of Sainte-Gauburge with its Ecomuseum. The return journey to L’Hermitière takes you through the Bois des Baronnières, which overlooks Le Theil.

A hike through woods, sunken paths and hills that will introduce you to the Même valley, a panoramic view of Saint-Germain-de-la-Coudre and the church of Gemages. Along the way, you will admire the charming village of L'Hermitière, its castle and its church perched proudly on a hill.

This hike is the fifth stage of an eight-day, 220 km route, the Tour des Collines du Perche. The hike takes a long detour via Autheuil and the Réno-Valdieu forest before heading towards Mortagne-au-Perche, one of the three historic capitals of the former province of Perche.

This circuit begins in the heart of the Senonches Forest on wide, easy-to-ride paths, starting from the Rond de Condé, followed by a passage through La Ferté-Vidame and its rich historical past.Don't miss Moussonvilliers and its washerwomen at work at the Ruisseau de Grenouille wash house.Afterwards, cross various waterways, each one different from the other, including the Rivière de Saint-Maurice, the Avre, the Iton, the Risle, the Cauche and the Sommaire, the most difficult to cross.

This short loop in the Senonches State Forest starts at the Grand Rond, a magnificent star-shaped crossroads of forest paths, and first follows a long forest path that leads to the Rond des Hussards. A path then winds its way between the national forest and private woods. After passing through the Rond de la Rachée, the circuit passes at the foot of the Chêne d'Hérissé, the only tree to survive the 1999 storm in this area. Shortly before the end, the Hêtre du Haut Cornet stands a few metres from the path.

A pleasant circular, partly through the forest and partly across fields, ideal for a late morning walk, lunch in Manou or at the Moulin à Vent, and a return in the afternoon with a visit to the Froux peat bog.Departure from the Senonches national forest, from the Bois des Dames, formerly owned by the nuns of the neighbouring Belhomert Abbey. At the entrance to Manou, view of the castle known as Blanche de Castille. Garden near the church and the "Bon'Eure" pond in Manou, a pleasant place to relax and have a picnic.Cross the Froux bog site, developed by the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels (Conservatory of Natural Areas) to showcase rare and protected animal and plant species.Return via the Forestiers pond, which is ideal for observing animals coming to drink in the evening.

On this largely forest-based tour, discover the Chapelle de Réveillon and its frescoes, then the site of La Ferté-Vidame where Saint-Simon, the famous chronicler of the court of Versailles, wrote his memoirs, recounting the escapades of his time. Near his "favourite residence" in the Church of Saint-Nicolas, he had wanted to rest alongside his beloved wife. The revolutionaries decided otherwise and desecrated the tomb, scattering the remains and putting an end to their desire to be together forever, their coffins "bound so closely that no one could separate them". A beautiful love story, already romantic at a time when marriages were rather conventional. Paradoxically, the wealthy Marquis de Laborde built a sumptuous palace on the site of the demolished medieval castle, where he wanted to invite the elite of his time and resume the escapades that the Duke had so strongly condemned. The Revolution passed and the Marquis, once so powerful, lost his property and his head!

This route, which alternates between sunken lanes, forest paths and flat sections, will take you to the hill overlooking the Huisne Valley to the west. Along the way, several panoramic views allow you to admire the meadows of Avezé, a veritable hay barn that has provided for generations of farmers.

This hike is the fourth stage of an eight-day, 220 km circuit, the Tour des Collines du Perche. Thisfourth stage takes us along part of the northern edge of the Grand Perche with its large forests, which have changed very little since medieval times.

This very wet area drains water from the Senonches Forest. There are numerous streams and ponds. The route starts by following the Meuvette valley. The stream originates in the nearby private woods and flows through the Haron and Rouge ponds.After passing through a cultivated area, the return journey is along small roads. This walk is best done in winter, when the nearby forest paths are difficult to navigate.The commune is backed by private woods and bordered to the west by the walls of the park of the former château of the Marquis de La Borde, which became the Citroën Test Centre in the 20th century.Between the park and the forest, old farmhouses have been converted into attractive second homes, well maintained and decorated with flowers in summer. The village has a church which, since the 12th century, has undergone many vicissitudes.At the rear, the communal wash house has been restored, and a public space welcomes walkers who wish to take a moment's rest.

Discover this peaceful village, its countryside and its hedgerows by following its sunken lanes, which offer beautiful panoramic views of the Même valley and the hills of the Perche.

For this second stage, fromthe town hall in La Ferté-Vidame, the route leads to the park entrance. After visiting the part open to the public, you unfortunately have to follow the wall of the former Citroën test centre. It was the birthplace of the "deux chevaux", the "traction avant" and many other models. Enclosed by this 13 km wall, it is impossible to cross, so you have to follow the D941 and D15.The route then crosses an area of farmland and copses. It passes by some pretty, well-restored houses. At La Pommarié, it finally reaches the woods. The Allée du Maupas leads to the Senonches State Forest, which you will follow for a long time. We pass at the foot of two remarkable majestic trees to reach the Grand Rond, a majestic star-shaped crossroads. After the village of Tardais, the route returns to the forest and leads to the entrance to Senonches. It crosses the town via the recently renovated and flower-filled main street.

The second stage of this journey through Vlaminck country will take us from La Ferté-Vidame to Senonches via La Puisaye. After crossing an agricultural plain, the path takes us into the woods of La Saucelle, then into the Senonches State Forest. We will pass through Tardais, a small village where the painter often came to hunt with his friend Michel Erlisch, the village mayor, and where he painted a picture of the church as seen from the town hall. We will finally arrive in Senonches, a small town of character where he often went to enjoy joyful and hearty feasts with friends.

The Étang des Panses lake can be seen along a path where it is not uncommon to encounter forest animals. After the forest, you will discover Percheron fruit trees at the Miermaigne conservation orchard; in mid-November, you can take part in the Apple Festival.

This short loop in the Bois de la Saucelle, near Puisaye, is mainly woodland. It confirms the toponymic meaning of the name Puisaye, which refers to a wetland area. Through private woods, the circuit follows wide avenues, including the Ligne Jacob, whose length, width and majesty could justify the mischievously pretentious name of "Champs Élysées du Perche". However, don't expect to find shops and noisy café terraces here. All you will hear is birdsong. Enjoy the peace and quiet of this unspoilt, authentic natural environment, exploring it on tiptoe so as not to disturb the many animals that you are sure to glimpse if you are discreet.Avoid this route on hunting days. Danger!