Circular via Rilhat Castle

A circular route, mostly on tracks and farm roads, starting from Cognat-L'yonne and passing by Rilhat Castle and Monpensier Golf Course. Beautiful view of the Gannat plain on a clear day, of course.

Details

n°88604289
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.50 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 230 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 207 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,171 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,017 ft

Description of the walk

Parking at the Cognat-Lyonne village hall, Route de Serbannes.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, cross Route de Serbannes (D117) heading west, and follow Rue de l’École.

(1) At the end of the street, turn left onto the cul-de-sac and continue along the track on the left until you reach a junction.

(2) Turn left and continue along the track. Cross the Route de Serbannes (D117) again, and continue along the track opposite, which curves to the right.

(3) Turn left onto a wider track and head towards a crossroads opposite a farm.

(4) Follow a wide path to the right, cross the bridge over the Béron, and head up to Rilhat Castle (private estate).

(5) Turn left towards Monpensier Golf Course and walk round it, staying on the road.

(6) At the right-hand bend, at a place called Le Pied Blanc, turn left, then head down the track on the right, which leads to some houses.

(7) Turn right and cross the D2209 with care. Pass Les Gouets and you’ll come to a stream.

(8) Take the track on the left and stay on the path on the right until you reach a fork before the Vieux Château (no entry).

(9) Turn left, follow the track which veers to the right and joins the one coming from the Vieux Château.

(10) Turn left at the fork to reach the Chemin des Creux.

(11) Turn right onto the tarmac road which joins the D222; follow this to the right for just under 100 metres.

(12) Turn left onto a tarmac track (signposted ‘Chemin des Bois de Derrière’) and continue along the road which bends to the left, leading to the hamlet of Les Retords.

(13) At the junction with the tracks, turn left onto the Chemin des Frênes. Follow the road until you reach the D2209.

(14) Take a left-right turn and cross carefully at the pedestrian crossing. Continue straight ahead and turn left towards the village hall in Cognat-l’Yonne (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,142 ft - Cognat-Lyonne village hall
  2. 1 : mi 0.2 - alt. 1,165 ft - Junction
  3. 2 : mi 0.65 - alt. 1,122 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.66 - alt. 1,070 ft - Chemin des Pâturaux
  5. 4 : mi 2.04 - alt. 1,043 ft - Junction. Path on the right
  6. 5 : mi 2.57 - alt. 1,155 ft - Rilhat Castle
  7. 6 : mi 2.91 - alt. 1,148 ft - A place known as Le Pied Blanc
  8. 7 : mi 3.25 - alt. 1,020 ft - D2209
  9. 8 : mi 3.55 - alt. 1,024 ft - Stream
  10. 9 : mi 3.84 - alt. 1,076 ft - Junction
  11. 10 : mi 4.21 - alt. 1,132 ft - Junction
  12. 11 : mi 4.38 - alt. 1,135 ft - Chemin des Creux
  13. 12 : mi 4.57 - alt. 1,148 ft - Junction. Tarmac path on the left
  14. 13 : mi 5.09 - alt. 1,155 ft - A place known as Les Retords
  15. 14 : mi 5.37 - alt. 1,155 ft - D2209
  16. S/E : mi 5.5 - alt. 1,142 ft - Cognat-Lyonne village hall

Worth a visit

Rilhat Castle (private property).

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

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

What a quick response!!! Thank you, and all the best for the future!

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bernarddemaretz
bernarddemaretz

Great, I was just about to do that – you beat me to it. Thanks
Kind regards

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lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★

Hello ribso
Description updated.

Hello bernarddemaretz
Please let me know if this is OK with you!

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bernarddemaretz
bernarddemaretz

Hello
You are quite right in your comments; I shall amend the description accordingly. The most important thing is that you haven’t got lost.
It strikes me, on reading your comments, that your
methodical approach is a major asset when describing the routes you’ve walked on Visorando.
I strongly encourage you to join us and help expand the database by describing your own routes.
Kind regards.

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ribso
ribso

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

point 4: follow THE PATH to the right (not the road)
point 12: turn left onto a tarmac track (signposted ‘CHEMIN DES BOIS DE DERRIERE’)

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MPAS
MPAS

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route through the cornfields, best avoided during a heatwave.

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