Circular route via the Domaine de Rivaulde

To reach the start of this walk: From Souesmes town centre, take Avenue du 11 Novembre (D724) towards Salbris, reach Rue des Grands Sables on the left just before the Zone d’Activité des Plaines and park near the picnic area

(S/E) From the picnic area, head towards the D724 and cross it carefully at the pedestrian crossing. Head towards the town centre and walk for about 20 metres. Then turn left and follow the yellow-marked trail (the route of the old Le Blanc-Argent railway line), passing the old Souesmes station. At the first junction, first turn left then right and, 20 metres further on, join the^GR®31.

(1) Turn left and follow the^GR® (red and white markings). Continue due west until you reach a junction with a wide path. Carry straight on, following the clearly visible red and white markings (supplemented by yellow markings). Ignore all side paths.

(2) Pass under a power line and continue along the GR^®.

(3) First turn left then right and continue along the GR®31 (ignore the yellow markings branching off to the left). At the next junction with a wider path, continue straight ahead along the GR®31 (grassy path) until you reach a T-junction

(4) Turn right and pass in front of the gate at a place called Le Petit Puits. Continue straight on along the path that descends towards a pond, then take a left-hand bend to walk alongside the pond. A little further on, pass a gate on your right. Continue westwards on the^GR®, ignoring the side paths until you reach the D142 road.

(5) Turn left and follow the road signposted “Rivaulde Route”. Cross the D724 ( with care) and then the Chemin du Blanc-Argent. Continue through the forest, ignoring a Yellow Cross. A little further on, you will come across white signposts, some of which are marked CR. These signposts are pointing in the wrong direction.

(6) At the crossroads, take the middle path. Cross a wide lane (Allée du Centre) and continue straight ahead into the forest. Ignore a turn-off on the right and proceed to an X-junction.

(7) Then take a slight left-right turn and follow the path signposted CR (the sign is on the ground). At the next junction, continue straight ahead.

(8) At the five-way junction, take the first path on the left (CR signposted). Follow the path closest to the forest along the clearing. Continue north-north-east, ignoring all side paths.
At the end of this lane, you can make out the words ‘Allée de (la) Résane’ on a sign.

(9) Cross the Allée du Centre again and continue along the grassy path opposite, veering slightly to the right. Cross a path and join a lane at the edge of a clearing.

(10) First turn right then left, then go straight on along a grassy path. Cross the Allée de la Prée and continue straight on (north-east), ignoring the side paths.

(11) At the junction, turn left (the paths on the right and opposite are blocked by a Yellow Cross). Pass a pond and then the Montant stream.

(12) At the junction, turn right. Cross the access path to the Château de Vernon le Bas, then pass under a power line. At the next junction, go straight on, following the yellow markings.

(13) About 200m further on, turn left, leaving a path blocked by a chain straight ahead and a path leading to a meadow on the left. Continue straight ahead (north-east). Pass a path on your left, then, at the Y-junction, take the left-hand branch marked in yellow. You will reach the picnic area (S/E).