Circular route around Yvoy-le-Marron via Mont-Collier

Start from the car park at the church in Yvoy-le-Marron.

(S/E) With your back to the church, turn left onto the Place du Cheval Blanc, then take the left-hand lane at the Fork in the road. Turn left onto the Grand Rue in front of the Hôtel de la Poste, then onto the Route de la Ferté-Saint-Aubin.

(1) Turn left onto the Rue du Moulin, then left again at the junction with a side street.

(2) You’ll see the Saint-Caprais Fountain, marked by a cross, on your left. Carry on and cross the Chemin du Mirauldin, then the Chemin du Val d’Arignan, and continue along the lane, ignoring the various turn-offs. Pass the Ferme des Eaux to reach the forest track.

(3) Turn left at the three-way junction, just after the Étang de la Rosa on your right, onto a path signposted “Ligny-le-Ribault 1h25”. This path is known as the “Chemin des Boursiers” where it has been made more stable.

(4) At the crossroads, follow the signs for “La Couvrée” by veering to the right and pass the Étang Neuf on your right.

(5) Pass the Domaine de la Couvrée on your left and continue along the^GR®3C(^GR® de Pays de Sologne), marked in white and red. The Chemin de la Couvrée, which becomes a tarmac road, crosses a moorland area

(6) At the junction with the D61, turn left. At the next crossroads, turn left towards Yvoy-le-Marron.

(7) Take the graded track on the right signposted “Villeny 2h40”, which quickly becomes a forest track before crossing moorland.

(8) When you reach a cross-cutting gravel track, turn right at a place called l’Auneau.

(9) Turn left when you reach a tarmac cross-path, and cross the Ruisseau d’Arignan. Continue along the dirt track, passing La Darmerie, then La Caroline.

(10) Opposite the Château de la Cantée, take the path on the right marked “Route du Bouchet 3h40”. Pass the Ferme de la Cantée, then the pond crossed by the Ruisseau de Saint-Caprais

(11) At the junction just after the pond, turn right, then left, passing the various private access roads.

(12) When you reach a hard-surfaced track, carry on straight ahead, passing close to the Étang du Maraicheux on your left.

(13) Turn left when you reach a stabilised cross-path, pass the Ferme de la Vallée, then cross the D88.

(14) When you reach the tip of the Étang de Collier, turn onto the embankment opposite Château Mont-Collier. Leave this stabilised track when it heads towards La Grille, continuing straight on along a path that runs alongside the Étang de la Grille.

(15) As you emerge from the woods, carry on straight ahead along the grassy path, passing close to the Étang de la Beauce on your left.

(16) Turn left when you reach a cross-cutting stabilised track, cross a second track, and walk alongside a property on your right. Cross the D104 towards Le Chavant.

(17) Keep to the right at the Fork in the road, then take the path on the left in front of the Chavant farm. Once past the farm, this track becomes a grassy path and then crosses a cross-path.

(18) Carry on straight ahead, letting the^GR® trail veer off to the right.

(19) At the T-junction, turn left then right. The track turns right opposite the Étang de Bouvière, then left as you approach the Étang de Ribert, and finally right to pass the Ferme de la Meule and then the Ferme de la Bordebure.

(20) The route then becomes a hard-surfaced track which turns right before joining the D207a, onto which you’ll turn left.

(21) At the crossroads, turn left to see Villebourgeon Castle.

(22) Once past La Garenne farm, turn left onto the stabilised track –^{the GR®} de Pays de Sologne – which you’ll follow as far as Yvoy-le-Marron. Take in the view of La Brosse farm at the side of the path.

(23) Continue, keeping to the right at the junction, then quickly leave the track when it takes a wide right-hand bend, taking instead a forest path which you should follow – there is no possibility of confusion – until it becomes a stabilised track again, then a tarmac road as you approach the first houses of Yvoy-le-Marron, now known as ‘Chemin de la Pommelière’.

(24) Turn left onto Rue Saint-Jean, which continues as Rue des Échelles as you approach the church tower. Turn right onto Grande Rue, then left onto Rue de l’Église, to return to the starting point, the church square (S/E).

Watch out for signs indicating private property. There are many of them and their locations are often confusing.

You can stop off at Ligny-le-Ribault (restaurants, hotels).

During the walk, you’ll see:

1. the village of Yvoy-le-Marron
2. the châteaux of La Cantée, Mont-Collier and Villebourgeon
3. some very beautiful woodland scenery between Villebourgeon and Yvoy-le-Marron