Circular Route of the Streams from Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain

The village of Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain is the starting point for two circular walks that will take you through unspoilt hedgerow countryside. Both routes follow dirt tracks for 90 per cent of the way. Here is one of these circular walks. The second: The ‘Boucle des herbages’ circular walk from Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain

Details

20352837
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.85 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 285 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 292 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 643 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 456 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the main square in Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain.
Follow the yellow No. 5 markings on the PR® trail.

(S/E) From the main square in Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain, head towards Javron-les-Chapelles. At the wayside cross, follow the small road to the right.

(1) At La Ratterie, turn left onto a narrow lane which continues as a dirt track, then a very rutted track leading up to the D242.

(2) Cross the departmental road and join a dirt track which leads onto the D3. Follow the road to the left, taking care, then immediately turn right onto a grassy path, which becomes rutted and stony, leading to La Hérissière.

(3) Pass under the old railway bridge and head up to the right along a local track. After about 500 m, turn right onto a grassy track, then follow a track lined with hedges which leads to La Tremblaie.

(4) Turn left, before the junction with the D3, onto a grassy track.

(5) Take a stony track on the right until you rejoin the D3. Cross the departmental road with care and continue straight ahead to a junction where two tracks meet.

(6) Leave the Dreurie on your left and follow the yellow and redGRP® markings. Carry straight on, down a path paved with natural schist slabs. Take care in wet weather as they can be slippery.

(7) When you reach the D242, turn right for 200 m, then leave the road by turning left towards the hamlet of La Malherbière. At the end of this track, take a footpath for 150 m to the next crossroads.

(8) Leave the track on the left and follow the yellow and redGRP® markings towards the Grotte des Chapelles. Head along the shaded path opposite and follow the yellow No. 5 PR® markings.

(9) When you reach La Monnerie, turn right. Make your way to the village of Saint-Aignan via La Haute Chabossière on the left, then La Basse Chabossière (with its beautiful slate walls).

(10) After Basse Chabossière, turn left and continue towards La Ratterie.

(1) Follow the route back in the opposite direction to reach the main square in Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 581 ft - Grande Place in Saint Aignan-de-Couptrain
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 554 ft - Ratterie
  3. 2 : mi 0.74 - alt. 587 ft - First section: D242
  4. 3 : mi 1.53 - alt. 591 ft - La Hérissière
  5. 4 : mi 2.36 - alt. 636 ft - La Tremblaie
  6. 5 : mi 2.75 - alt. 607 ft - Stony path
  7. 6 : mi 3.23 - alt. 604 ft - La Dreurie
  8. 7 : mi 4.04 - alt. 489 ft - Second section: D242 - Aisne (l')
  9. 8 : mi 4.36 - alt. 505 ft - Chemin de la Grotte des Chapelles
  10. 9 : mi 5.15 - alt. 463 ft - La Monnerie
  11. 10 : mi 6.19 - alt. 509 ft - La Basse Chabossière
  12. S/E : mi 6.85 - alt. 581 ft - Grande Place in Saint Aignan-de-Couptrain

Notes

Route hiking in the Mont des Avaloirs Community of Communes (Mayenne). Full details are available at http://randomontdesavaloirs.free.fr/

Please note: to protect the environment, some trails are closed to motorised vehicles either all year round or at certain times: from 1 October to 31 March and on Sundays, and all year round from 1 pm to midnight.

Worth a visit

Nearby: Grotte des Chapelles.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
3.3 / 5
benoitrando
benoitrando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for this wonderful review of the Mont-des-Avaloirs tourist office.
The name of the trail, designed for experienced hikers, already gives a little impression of the route. Next time, Fertois61, stay on the road, oh dear, watch out for cars!

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Fertois61
Fertois61

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

It really is a disgrace!
No maintenance whatsoever, overrun with tall grass and nettles a metre and a half high.
Even our dogs wanted to avoid the sunken paths!
Very muddy for 50 per cent of the route, but that’s nobody’s fault, apart from the machinery that passes through in places and creates deep ruts.
I can’t see how anyone could suggest such routes without a minimum of maintenance… What a reflection on the Mayenne countryside!

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MARTDomi
MARTDomi

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route

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JM-Epinard
JM-Epinard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

risk of muddy paths during wet weather

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.