Loop starting from Gesnes-le-Gandelin

Park on Place de l'Érable opposite the town hall in Gesnes-le-Gandelin.

(S/E) Turn left onto Rue Grande to reach the church crossroads.

(1) Turn left onto Rue des Rochelets opposite the church. Follow the white and red GR®235 signs until you reach a crossroads.

(2) Leave the GR® and turn left onto a dirt track, the PR® trail marked in yellow. Continue until you reach the houses of Les Carries.

(3) Turn left onto the GRP® des Alpes Mancelles (yellow and red markings). Cross the D56with caution and continue on the path opposite.

(4) At the T-junction, turn left onto the GRP®. Walk alongside a pond on your left until you reach the Moulin de Vaux.

(5) Then turn right, leaving the castle on your left and the mill on your right. Follow the small road that leads to the mill.

(6) At the T-junction, turn right. Shortly afterwards, when the road turns left, continue straight ahead on a path. At the next junction (elevation 143), turn left.

(7) Come out onto the D124 and carefully first turn right then left to cross it and continue on a small road. After passing the hamlets of La Rabonnière and La Gadelière, continue along a path. Make a few turns and then head north.

(8) At the crossroads, turn left. You will come out onto a small road in the hamlet of La Roche and follow it to the right.

(9) At the T-junction that appears shortly afterwards, turn right (leave the GRP® trail on your left and follow the yellow markings). Continue straight ahead, ignoring a road on your right and then one on your left.

(10) At the crossroads, follow the GR®235 on the left at the edge of the woods. Take the first path on the left, heading south.

(11) At the T-junction with a road, first turn right then left to continue on a path. Shortly afterwards, take the first path on the right (south-west).

(12) At the crossroads, turn right onto a small road and immediately ignore another road on the right. At the triangular crossroads, turn left. Then take the first right, the Grande Rue, and quickly return to the car park at Place de l'Érable (S/E).

Toilets and mini-market at Place de la Maréchalerie.

Alençon

Before (1): you can take a short detour to see the wash house on Rue de la Liberté and Place de la Maréchalerie opposite the church on Route d'Assé.
Les Alpes Mancelles: Fresnay-sur-Sarthe, Saint-Cénery-le-Gérei, Saint-Léonard-des-Bois.