Circular route around the Étangs du Jard in Saint-Barthélémy-de-Bellegarde

A lovely circular route exploring the Double Forest, with some elevation changes. The beautiful Jard ponds are well worth a visit.

Details

4656032
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 76 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 78 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 124 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 73 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the church.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the signpost at Place de l’Église, follow the D40 towards Saint-Laurent-des-Hommes and Saint-Michel-de-Double. On leaving the village, turn left, staying on the D40 towards Saint-Michel-de-Double, and keep left about 50 metres further on.

(1) At a place called Les Taillis, turn right towards Les Vias. Pass through the hamlet, enter the woods and follow the path, which becomes winding, whilst continuing north-east.

(2) When you reach a wider path, turn right. Further on, this path turns sharply right, crosses the Ruisseau de Belair and eventually leads onto a road at Dreille.

(3) Follow this road to the right until you reach the Chez Charretou junction.

(4) Turn left and walk past two ponds on your right as you enter a small wood. Go round the second pond and, once you reach a junction facing a large field, turn left. Here you can enjoy some lovely views of the countryside.

(5) Cross the small tarmac road to follow the white track opposite. Head straight on to the Lagorce junction, with two ponds on your left: the Étang des Quatre Fontaines and the Étang de Lagorce.

(6) Continue straight ahead on the dirt track to the end, then turn right. Pass the hamlet of Le Grand Bost and walk past three more small ponds on the left before reaching a three-way junction.

(7) Leave the road and take the path on the right, even though there is a no entry sign there. You will come out onto the main road; continue to the right to reach the church car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 120 m - Church car park
  2. 1 : km 0.73 - alt. 108 m - Les Taillis, on the right
  3. 2 : km 2.01 - alt. 81 m - Crossroads, on the right
  4. 3 : km 3.38 - alt. 94 m - Dreille, on the right
  5. 4 : km 4.12 - alt. 84 m - At Charretou, on the left
  6. 5 : km 5.1 - alt. 103 m - Tarmac road, opposite
  7. 6 : km 6.13 - alt. 93 m - Lagorce, straight ahead
  8. 7 : km 7.74 - alt. 102 m - Three-way junction, turn right
  9. S/E : km 8 - alt. 120 m - Church car park.

Notes

Hiking boots recommended.

Worth a visit

Ponds of the Double Forest.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.3 / 5
Quelfenec
Quelfenec

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

It is impossible to approach the ponds, which are all private. One owner made sure to point this out to us in a rather unfriendly manner, even though we just wanted to get closer to one of the ponds. There were aggressive dogs, not all of which were kept on a leash. In short, there was little of interest.

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kalouAmWalking
kalouAmWalking

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The description is very accurate.
A walk that is indeed easy.
Pleasant

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BERNARDLAB
BERNARDLAB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route I found on another website; it isn’t described in detail, but it’s easy to follow with a GPS. A pleasant walk, almost entirely through woodland. I was lucky enough to see a flock of storks – more than fifty of them – on the banks of one of the ponds at a place called Les Jards, where they clearly nest. A wonderful sight.
I combined it with another 6 km route north-west of St Barthélémy, passing through Chabrouille and Gounaud. Same starting point, a bit more tarmac, but very little traffic.

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Roots
Roots

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Too much of the journey is on tarmac roads; the scenery is uninspiring; there is a lot of litter and fly-tipping along the route.

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OT Montpon
OT Montpon

Thank you for your feedback.

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JoséBis
JoséBis

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
This circular walk is very well signposted and easy to follow.
Beautiful woodland, lovely views, even at this time of year.
There’s not much tarmac, and the paths and tracks are well maintained.
Go ahead with confidence.

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dlorent008
dlorent008

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk completed on 16 August 2021. A pleasant walk with no difficulties and very well signposted.

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