Circular route from La Réunion to Lac de Clarens via Casteljaloux

Park in the car park opposite La Réunion town hall.

(S/E) As you leave the car park, with the town hall in front of you, take the road on the right. Walk downhill to a T-junction.

(1) Take the path opposite, go round to the right of the tennis court and follow the path, which becomes a road as it enters a housing estate. Keep going straight on.

(2) Turn left. When you reach the Route de Damazan, cross carefully and head straight on up a lovely climb to Le Lanin. Walk through the hamlet to reach the Route de Nérac (D655). Cross carefully, keep to the left, then immediately turn right onto a white track.

(3) Leave the track on your right (private road) and then follow the path on the right. Continue along the descending path (caution: pidgeon hunting hut – do not use during the hunting season) until you reach the hamlet known as Le Bousquet.

(4) At this hamlet, follow the path to the right and reach the Route de la Forge, which leads to La Taillade.

(5) Turn right onto this road towards Casteljaloux and carry on to the bridge over the Ruisseau de Coupey.

(6) Just before the bridge, turn left, pass between two large stones and join the nature trail.

(7) Turn left and follow this path along the Avance, which leads to the lake, going round a solar power station.

(8) Turn left, pass a roundabout on the left and head for Lac de Clarens. Walk round the lake until you reach the bungalows.

(9) Turn right and leave the lake (pass through a gate which serves as the ticket office during the high season). Turn right onto the road and head towards the bungalows. Pass through a barrier and, just before the first bungalows, turn left to reach the banks of the Avance, then turn off and follow the path to the Route de la Forge.

(10) Turn left, walk past the fish farm, then head into the woods on the right. Continue to the next crossroads.

(11) Follow the path, keeping to the right, and walk alongside the Ruisseau de Barlet to the reservoir.
Turn left to join the Route de Nérac (D655).

(12) Cross it carefully, then head into the woods opposite, heading north-east. At the cross-track, follow it a few metres to the left, then turn right.

(13) Turn right, pass between the wooden posts and join a main path. Turn left and head downhill to the Damazan road (D11). Cross with care, turn left then immediately right towards La Réunion and head for the car park on the left (S/E).

A route that can be done on foot or by mountain bike.

Bring water: the path is sandy in places, and it can get very hot in summer.
Do not undertake this route during the wood pigeon hunting season.

Terra Aventura: geocaching in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (app available to download).
Casteljaloux: the thermal baths, the golf course, the lake (admission fee applies in summer).