Circular route via Lannoué and Parc de la Higourdais from Epiniac

Start at the junction of Rue des Douets des Roches and the D10.

(S/E) Head straight ahead and pass an old bakery, take the first street on the right then the next on the left to reach Rue des Artisans.

(1) Take the uphill street on the right, which becomes a dirt track. Keep to the left. At the top of the hill, continue along the trees until you reach the road.

(2) Continue a little to the left and take the road on the right, then the one on the left, until you find a dirt track on the right.

(3) Take this track and follow it to a road (D8) after passing through the hamlet of La Luzardière. Turn right onto the D8 and continue to the hamlet of Bel-Air, with a farm on your right.

(4) Take the path on the left. After 150 m, take the path on the right marked with yellow signposts. Pass the playground on your left and continue to the right towards the hamlet known as La Chaussis Veillard.

(5) Take the path on the left which leads into the woodland and joins the Landes crossroads with the cross of the same name.

(6) Turn onto the track on the right and follow it to the sharp bend on the right. Leave the track and take a path leading to the Lannoué farm.

(7) When you come out onto the road, keep to the left and continue until you reach the end of the yellow markings. Pass the entrance to the Lannoué farm, Ker Lannoué, and continue straight on along the road that winds between the farms. Go straight on at the Haute Fresnais junction and turn left at the next junction. After about 120 m, head towards La Madrelle on the left.

(8) At the fork, take the dirt track on the right. Continue for 800 m until you reach a crossroads with a recent stone cross: the Croix de Saint-Ménas. Take the path on the right downhill to the D85.

(9) Cross the road to reach a car park. Take the path on the right, pass the thatched cottage and follow the path through the woodland. Walk alongside the two ponds to reach the dam with the old mill below.

(10) Turn right and head downhill. Do not cross the stream but keep to the left to climb back up towards the edge of the woods. At the junction of the paths, take the one on the right and join a road, leaving the yellow markings. Turn right then immediately left and continue straight on to the hamlet of Raingo.

(11) Continue left along the road uphill towards the forest. Shortly after entering the undergrowth, take the path on the right downhill and emerge onto a meadow. The path is barely visible. Follow the edge of the woods to reach the hamlet known as Le Rocher aux Bœufs. Take the road on the left uphill to the junction with another road.

(12) Turn right onto this road (a stone cross is hidden beneath the branches) and head downhill to pass the hamlet of La Ville Jean.

(13) At the crossroads, turn left onto the road heading west to reach Epiniac. The church is about 950 m away.

(14) Pass the church on your right; at the crossroads, take the street on the right, then the one on the left. Walk past the town hall and head towards the (S/E).

Take care when crossing roads and when walking alongside roads.

You can park in the small car park at the starting point or at the Salle des Fêtes: 48.51066, -1.697599

Picnic area at Parc de la Higourdais.

Epiniac Church: bas-relief listed as a historic monument
The ‘Le Diable’ family, who lived at the Château de la Higourdais, are said to have donated a bas-relief depicting the Death of the Virgin to the parish. It can be seen beneath the altar of the Blessed Virgin. It dates from^{the 14th} century. It depicts the apostles administering the last rites to the Virgin. Outside, note the rose window (south façade) and the gargoyles.

The Moulin de la Higourdais: a decommissioned watermill, the lower sections of which still retain the dressed stones of an original structure, likely altered during the 19th century. The mill has been restored by the department. It is home to a colony of bats: the lesser horseshoe bat. It is closed to the public to ensure their peace and quiet.

The bakehouse: at the entrance to the park, near the car park, a former thatched bakehouse has been restored by the department.

Note: both the mill and the bakehouse were part of the outbuildings of the Manoir de la Higourdais. In^{the 15th} century, the ‘Le Diable’ family lived in this manor house, which no longer exists. They changed their name to ‘Marie de la Higourdais’. It’s easy to see why!

The crosses along the route:
- the Croix des Landes: it is made of wood and dates from the^20th century.
- Croix du Bahut: a simple but beautiful 16th-century cross bearing a name in Gothic script, just beyond the (8).
- Croix de Saint-Menas: erected in 2005 to replace an old wooden cross that has since disappeared. Saint Menas, the healing saint, was venerated by the local people for his healing powers. It stands at the crossroads before the descent towards Parc de la Higourdais.
- Le Rocher aux Bœufs wayside cross: a monolithic granite cross with chamfered corners. A fine 17th-century cross.