Route de la Rigaudière via La Roche aux Fées

Car park at the Roche aux Fées site.

(S/E) On leaving the site, take the D341 to the left and turn right at the first junction at a place called La Cour Morel.

(1) After 70 m, take the path on the right. At the end of the path, at the junction, take the road on the right, passing La Brahurie, La Coutume and La Berhaudière, then turn right towards Sucé. Pass Sucé and take the dirt track on the left.

(2) At the top of the hill, turn right towards the Pont Guesdon stream. At the bottom of the slope, turn right to join a path that runs alongside the stream and follow it to the right. It makes a small loop right-left-left-right before finally heading west, running alongside the stream and joining the D99.

(3) Follow it to the right for about a hundred metres and turn left onto Route de la Riguaudiére. Leave the castle on your right and continue round the pond to the bridge on the D173.

(4) Before the bridge, take the path on the left which runs alongside the D173 below. After about 1 km, you’ll reach the D99.

(5) Follow the road to the right towards Le Theil-de-Bretagne. Continue straight on until you reach the railway line, near the station (you can take a break at the wash house park).

(6) Turn left into Rue des Perrières (do not cross the railway line). Continue along the path on the right and follow it to the railway bridge.

(7) Take the Route des Petits Champs on the left. You’ll come out onto the Route de la Tidiére; follow it to the right.

(8) Just before the level crossing, take the path on the left and follow the railway line for about 350 m. The path turns left to reach a bridge that crosses over the D173. Cross this bridge.

(9) Turn onto the first path on the right to head back towards the railway line. Follow this path as it cuts across the landscape and reach the hamlet of Les Brégeons.

(10) Cross the road to take the path opposite and follow it to the next junction.

(11) Turn right onto the path, which will veer left after about a hundred metres, and follow it straight on to the crossroads you passed on the way out.

(1) Continue straight on along the dirt track to the hamlet of La Roche. Watch out for traffic. Follow the previous route back to the car park (S/E).

A few shops in Le Theil de Bretagne.

Picnic area in Lavoir Park.

The covered passageway at La Roche aux Fées.

The Château de la Riguadière (not open to visitors, EPHAD).

The medieval fortified castle of Marcillé-Robert, 5 km from La Roche aux Fées (guided tours available).