Circular Faye route via Les Beaudeaux, starting from Ménétréol-sur-Sauldre

Park in the car park at Place de l’Église Saint-Martin.

(S/E) Follow the Grande Rue towards Aubigny-sur-Nère – this is also the Sologne^{GRP® trail}, marked in red and yellow – for about 850 metres until you reach a path on your right, just after No. 48.

(1) Continue along the path on the right, signposted CR8 and marked in yellow and red, until you reach a junction with a larger track.

(2) Turn right and head down the CR15 to the Petite Sauldre. Cross the Petite Sauldre via the two bridges and continue along the CR15, which climbs slightly diagonally to the left, until you reach a small tarmac road (the Route Neuve).

(3) Turn left, pass the entrance to the hamlet of La Faye, and carry on straight ahead, following the CR signposts. Ignore all side paths and continue until you reach a sharp right-hand bend.

(4) Turn right and continue along the ascending track (no signposting). Ignore the side paths. You will reach a crossroads near the hamlet of Les Aucherons.

(5) Turn left, then very quickly turn right, leaving the hamlet straight ahead, and head towards an inverted Y-junction; this is just under 100 metres from a road (D30) which you can see in the distance.

(6) Follow the path uphill to the right (no signposting). Ignore the side paths and continue until you reach a junction with several lanes (at this point, there is a CR sign on a tree).

(7) Carry on straight ahead, ignoring all side paths. Join the D12 and cross it, taking care.

(8) Follow the sign opposite for Les Devins and Les Quatre Vents, passing the houses at Les Cholets. A little further on, a sign indicates ‘Chemin communal Route n°1’.

(9) Cross a small bridge with an archway above it. Pass the entrance to the hamlet of Les Devins on your right and continue straight on until you reach an X-junction.

(10) Turn right onto the path signposted ‘Chemin Communal Route No. 4’. Pass the hamlet of Les Quatre Vents on your left and continue until you reach the junction with a wide track.

(11) Turn left onto the ‘Chemin Communal Route n°4’ and join the^GR®31at the hamlet of Les Beaudeaux.

(12) Turn right following the white-and-red markings, reach the D79 and cross it, taking care.
Alternative route: you can turn left to walk to a pond about 200 m away and then return to the crossroads.

(13) Continue straight ahead towards Les Tenus and the CR31. At the hamlet of Les Tenus, take the path on the right signposted CR31. Carry on until you reach a small cottage on the left-hand side of the path. Keep to the left, pass in front of the cottage and reach a ford across the Rère.

(14) To cross the Rère, use the makeshift footbridges on the left-hand side of the track. Continue straight on until you reach an X-junction at the hamlet of Les Grandes Bruyères.

(15) Turn right, following the CR signposts. Continue along this long track, ignoring all side tracks. You’ll reach a junction at a place called Le Poirier Rond.

(16) Turn left onto the CR14, reach the D924 and follow it to the left for about 125 m. Cross the road carefully and follow the path signposted CR14. You will reach the CR10.

(17) Turn right and continue to a pond (Grand Étang Communal); go round it on the left, then follow the yellow arrow on a blue background, no. 7, to the left. Continue along this path until you reach the Petit Étang Communal, and go round it on the left.

(18) At the end of the dyke, follow a small path down to the left, cross a ditch via a designated crossing and continue along the path that winds through the woodland between the Municipal Campsite and the Petite Sauldre. Join the D79. At the road, turn left, cross the bridge and head for the Place de l’Église (S/E).

A walk with no difficulty whatsoever, classified as difficult due to its length.

Saint Martin’s Church