Circular Monbadon-Est

Thank you very much for all these notes and tips.
It's been a long time since I've done this hike, and like everywhere else, I've noticed that nature is flourishing and is no longer being maintained, which makes certain sections more difficult.
Luckily we have GPS, so we can always find a solution!
I'll add it to my schedule for the coming months.
Bruno33500

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Date of your route : Apr 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, everyone

A beautiful, varied walk in spring sunshine, albeit with a cold wind. Numerous hamlets, castles, vineyards, meadows and woods. The rolling hills make the region extremely interesting, with many viewpoints.
Of course, the highlight of the show is Monbalon Castle, which can be seen (and admired from all sides) along the route, as it is not hidden by any vegetation.

Several details are worth mentioning:
A GPS is almost essential (see below).
Perhaps best avoided in very hot weather (little shade) and very humid weather (see below).

The comments refer to what a previous commentator (Philippe2) noted between points 2 and 3.
The "path" (and that's a big word) to take just opposite the vineyard is almost impossible to find without a GPS. You can then follow it... with your GPS glued to your eye. The spring vegetation leaves only a vague trace.
Towards the middle of this path, the embankment is actually the outlet for moisture and runoff from the forest, which overlooks the stream below. Today (it has been dry for a few days, so it was passable, but it is not certain that it would be easy to pass during very wet periods).
Finally, at the end of this path, as you approach the field, the vegetation is particularly thorny. Given the narrowness of the path, in summer it will become difficult to cross without protection.

That said, there are two options in addition to the essential GPS.
The first is not to turn right at the corner of the vineyard but to take a fairly wide forest path that opens up at this point. On the 1:25,000 map and on Open Street Map, it seems to lead to Terrasson. But this is hypothetical, as there is no guarantee that this path does not lead to... nothing! Or to private property. So it needs to be checked. It would shorten the route.
The second option, which adds a good kilometre to the route but is safer, is to take the wide gravel lane that opens up on the right before Lafon, join the small road to the south (Le Mas), turn left and then left again onto the road that goes up towards La Gasquerie.

A few minor details of no consequence. Le Puy Castle has marked its territory by stretching a wire across the path that runs alongside the vineyards from Nichon to Le Moulin. It's symbolic, but it marks private property... so don't cross it. You must therefore go around the château on the left (take the road for 50 metres) and continue along the embankment until you reach Le Moulin (as other wires symbolically prevent you from going around the château more closely).

Finally, at bend 8, the wide path between the vineyards turns out to be just a separation between two vineyards and does not really look like a path in spring. What's more, it is covered with grass and has been churned up by tractors, making it prone to all kinds of sprains, as it is difficult to see where to put your feet. Simply walk between two rows of vines on the left or right, as the path there is flat.

Sorry for the length of this message, but it is also to thank those who take the time to suggest these routes and who do not always have the time to check several months or years later whether the route is still viable.

Best regards.

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Date of your route : Mar 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Between points 2 and 3, the explanations are insufficient to find the path, or the path has disappeared.

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Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately, this is not the only route that has been completely left to nature...
But with GPS, we can always find a solution.
Bruno33500

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Date of your route : Oct 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk without any major difficulties, well marked except for one spot where the path through the woods is not marked and is no longer maintained. It crosses a thicket of thorns, which makes it quite an adventure, as you have to navigate by instinct. At another point, it is better to take a short stretch of road, otherwise you will get lost in the vineyards. The route is fairly reliable, but you sometimes have to follow it in parallel and check frequently to make sure you haven't missed a turn, otherwise you may have to turn back.

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Date of your route : Jan 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Difficulties finding your way around the terrain, otherwise an easy hike.

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Date of your route : Apr 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with good signposting: only one section where the app really came in handy.

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Date of your route : Aug 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Still no paths. You really need to have the app on your phone to be able to find your way back to the trail further on.

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Date of your route : Feb 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk with varied landscapes and a slightly hilly route, accessible to all (even children), with very little tarmac on the route, which was passable as it hadn't rained much in the previous days. The Château de Cantepie overlooking Monbadon is majestic, and the light at this time of year is sublime.
At the starting point, behind the church, there is a very nice picnic area with clean and well-equipped toilets.
The starting point is MONBADON, easy to find with GPS (note that Puisseguin is listed on the map, and you may be tempted to follow this direction on your satnav or road signs).
There is a slight difficulty with orientation at point 2, as you really have to follow the edge to the end before turning left, as well as at point 8 (the middle of the third plot is not easy to determine). We used the GPS track to help us.
We plan to do this again in summer and autumn to see the colours of the vineyards.
Thank you for this beautiful route.

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Date of your route : Feb 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Thanks to the hikers' mail, we were warned about the difficulties in finding our way, especially at point 2.
We were careful, and the start of the trail has since been cleared.
A beautiful hike without any difficulties.
Thank you, Bruno.

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Date of your route : Jun 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Everyone loved it, well done!

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Date of your route : Jun 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

On Friday 22nd, my group Les Chevreuils and I were on the island of Aix for an 8 km group walk, followed by lunch at a restaurant and free time in the afternoon. It was a beautiful day and a very enjoyable route with superb views from north to south and east to west. Thank you, Visorando, for all these wonderful walks!

See you soon

Bimbo

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You're right, it's not always easy in an area without landmarks, and the vegetation changes with the seasons and the weather...
But that's also how you can discover the "adventure" side of things.
Bruno 33500

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Date of your route : Feb 01, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,

We enjoyed this hike, even though we had to "find our own way" just once, which wasn't unpleasant at all.

Thanks to Bruno.

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Hello,
You're right, but I'm not talking about marked trails. I have no choice but to "blaze my own trail." The same goes for walking through the vineyards...
I'm very often off the beaten track!
This has its drawbacks, which I accept, but also its rewards, which are well deserved and not always easy to come by...
It's true that I hike with the Visorando app, which guides me with precision.
Bruno 33500

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