Circular walk from the Chapelle du Chêne to Saint-Martin-de-Connée

Park in the church car park.
This walk is signposted with yellow directional signs marked “No. 42 – La Chapelle du Chêne”.

(S/E) From the car park behind the church, walk along the left-hand side of the church (Chemin Montais) and continue straight ahead. At the end of the path, turn left and take the sunken lane.

(1) At the junction, turn right for a few metres before taking the path on your left, which climbs and winds its way up a series of bends.

(2) Turn left and join a road.

(3) Cross over towards La Pinellière.

(4) At La Pinellière, follow the signposting to the right towards the hamlet of La Rouairie, which you’ll leave on your left, and turn right onto the small tarmac road towards La Désillière (D585). Pass through this hamlet and continue along the road.

(5) When you reach the hamlet of Le Buron, turn right onto the small road leading uphill, located before the wayside shrine. Pass the hemp kiln, which is easier to spot in winter as it is covered in vegetation in summer. Continue along the tarmac road to the top.

(6) Follow the path to the right. You are now on the ridges of the Orthe Valley (on your left). You can also see the Sillé-le-Guillaume National Forest on your right.

(7) At La Tansorière, turn left onto the path 150 m from the farm. At La Pellerie, the path is often flooded due to nearby springs that feed the Orthe.

(8) When you reach the D540, turn right for 150 m to reach the D35 with La Gelinière on your left. Follow it to the left: be careful, this is a dangerous and busy road! Drive with caution!

(9) Take the road on your right towards Moulin Neuf. Follow the signposts along the dirt track which leads you to Oustalou and then to Château d’Orthe.

(10) At the junction, turn left, then keep right towards La Roche. Follow the signposts to reach La Perrière.

(11) At this farm, take the first path on your right. Follow the signposts to La Sollerie. Take a moment to admire the valley and explore the oven.

(12) After La Sollerie, take the first road on your right towards La Chapelle du Chêne. Walk through the hamlet. Take a moment to explore the church and the Stations of the Cross on your right.
After the 11th station of the Way of the Cross, turn left onto the dirt track towards the Croix de la Motte. Follow this track to the road.

(13) Turn right at La Blanchardière, walk for about 400 m, then turn left towards La Tisonnière. At this hamlet, turn right, then follow the path to reach the D13.

(14) Cross the bridge over the Orthe and immediately turn right onto the path. Follow the signposts and continue straight along the path to return to the village and reach the church of Saint-Martin-de-Connée and the car park (S/E).

(3) On your right, you can shorten your route by heading towards Les Chéries to reach La Tansorière and rejoin the route at (7).

La Chapelle du Chêne: built in the 17th and late 19th centuries, the stained-glass windows tell the unusual story of this chapel, inside which stands an oak tree.