Circular Préchats: wading through the water at Ménétréol-sur-Sauldre

A very pretty circular walk through the Petite Sauldre Valley and the vast pine forest of the Domaine de Landeroyne. What makes this circular walk special? It takes you across a ford just past the hamlet of Les Préchats. There’s no footbridge here, and no facilities to help you cross. You’ll need to take your shoes off.

Details

n°1611993

Creation:
08 Nov 2018

Last update:
11 Jul 2022

Last review:
12 Nov 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 6.69 mi
Average duration: 3h 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 69 ft
Descent: - 66 ft
Highest point: 545 ft
Lowest point: 459 ft

Country: France
Area: Sologne
City: Ménétréol-sur-Sauldre (18700)
Start/End: N 47.447886° / E 2.307857°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2322SB
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Description of the walk

Park at Place de l’Église.

(S/E) Start on the D79 towards Souesmes, crossing the bridge over the Petite Sauldre.

(1) Turn right and follow the path that runs between the Municipal Campsite and the Petite Sauldre.
At the end of this path, cross a ditch via the designated crossing and join the embankment of the Petit Étang Communal (no signposting).

Follow the embankment to the right, then straight on along a path marked with a yellow arrow on a blue background, No. 7.
Reach the embankment of the Grand Étang Communal, follow the yellow arrow on a blue background No. 7 to the right, then take a wide path (there is a picnic area on your left).

(2) Turn right and continue along this long path, ignoring all side paths. At a place called Les Bernards, carry on straight ahead along the CR10. At a place called Les Préchats, pass two sheds on your right.

(3) Just after the second shed, turn right, then keep left and follow a path downhill (no signposting). Cross a stream and continue straight on along the path signposted CR; this path is very damp and poorly maintained – you may wish to take a parallel path on the left.

At the next junction, follow the path diagonally to the left; a red and white sign indicates the direction to take (this path is poorly maintained). Head for the ford.

(4) Cross the ford towards a small channel (no facilities for crossing). After crossing, continue slightly diagonally to the right, then follow a stony path; at the end of this, turn left and follow the clearly visible red-and-white signposting.

Cross the CR31 and continue straight on, following the CR signpost. Reach a small road at a place called Le Rond-Point.

(5) Turn right, follow the road for about 450m, then leave it on the left, following the CR signposts. Walk for about 70m until you reach a path slanting off to the right.

(6) Turn right and follow the CR18. This long track crosses a vast pine forest. Ignore all side tracks until you reach the D79.

(7) Cross the D79 carefully and continue straight on along the CR18, ignoring all side paths. You’ll reach a four-way junction.

(8) Turn right, follow the CR18 signposts, ignore the various paths to the right and left, and continue until you reach the D924.

(9) Cross the road carefully and continue along the path opposite (CR15) towards La Roche.

(10) At the next junction, turn right, follow the sign for the D924 to Ménétréol, and join the D924.

(11) Turn left and follow the D924 towards Ménétréol. Continue to Place de L’Église (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 509 ft - Place de l’Église
1 : mi 0.21 - alt. 495 ft - On the right after the bridge over the - Petite Sauldre (rivière) - Affluent de la Sauldre
2 : mi 0.9 - alt. 482 ft - Turn right onto the path
3 : mi 1.72 - alt. 476 ft - On the right after the second shed
4 : mi 2.01 - alt. 463 ft - Straight on across the ford
5 : mi 2.79 - alt. 512 ft - Turn right onto the road
6 : mi 3.11 - alt. 515 ft - Turn right onto the CR 18
7 : mi 4.49 - alt. 531 ft - Crossing the road
8 : mi 5.25 - alt. 538 ft - Turn right onto the CR 18
9 : mi 5.48 - alt. 545 ft - Crossing the road
10 : mi 5.72 - alt. 538 ft - Turn right towards the D 924, Ménétréol
11 : mi 6.17 - alt. 538 ft - Turn left onto the D 924
S/E : mi 6.69 - alt. 509 ft - Place de l’Église

Notes

Shortly after the hamlet of Les Préchats, you’ll need to cross a ford to get across the Petite Saudre. Wellies don’t seem like a good option. When I crossed, the water came up to my knees.
It’s better to take off your shoes and roll up the legs of your trousers. Remember to bring a small terry towel.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5

Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5

Route interest
4 / 5

Claudiousse

12 Nov 2025 at 16:47 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Unfortunately, we were unable to complete this circular.
When we reached point three, it was impossible to cross the stream, as there was far too much water and we couldn't find a way across. The surrounding area was waterlogged, with the risk of sinking into mud up to our calves.
It should be noted that the weather in the preceding days had not been particularly rainy.

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Annie Blanc

29 Jun 2023 at 11:25 7200

This route is not recommended! According to Ménétréol Town Hall, the section between point 3 and point 5 is impassable: there is too much water to ‘ford’, and the path is not maintained.
We decided not to go hiking in the Ménétréol area: we’d hoped to combine the “Circular Faye” and the “Circular Préchats”… but the section we tried was a let-down: vast private estates… long stretches of the route running in a “straight line”, making it rather monotonous… sections of small roads in the sun…
This is just our opinion, and we can’t comment on the western and south-western sections of the “Route de la Faye”!

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minash

04 Apr 2021 at 10:23 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The weather was lovely and we had a very pleasant start to the walk. After signpost No. 3 and crossing the ford, the path disappeared. At the next junction, the route was supposed to veer left and follow signposts which we couldn’t find. The description states that the path is not maintained; in fact, it no longer exists. We were in a forest and, after numerous detours and attempts, we were unable to continue the walk. So we turned back. What a shame!

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22 Aug 2020 at 17:26 7200

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

Soffinette

25 May 2020 at 09:59 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
this route is very pleasant and allows us to explore the Sologne forest. The directions provided are very clear.
We shortened the route by taking the GR 31 between points 4 and 5 (which still makes for a 6.4 km circular route)
My children loved wading through the ford, with their feet in the water.
Be careful, however, after the hamlet of Les Préchats: after the first stream you cross, the CR signposts have disappeared and it’s very difficult to find the path as it isn’t maintained (you have to make your way through the brambles). Similarly, after leaving the ford, the path leading to the ‘stony track’ is tricky to follow.
Fortunately, the route on the map is very precise and allows you to orientate yourself using the river’s circular bends.

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