Country:
City:
There are several parking options in Boyardville: the market square (except in the mornings – depending on the route chosen), or behind the square; a large car park on Avenue de l’Océan (or Avenue Pierre Loti); or near the tennis courts and along the adjacent road.
(S/E) Head north-east along Avenue de l’Océan towards the beach.
(1) At the junction by the tennis court, turn left onto the path that runs behind the houses and follow it for about 150 m.
(2) Turn onto a forest track and take the one furthest to the right. This fairly wide path veers to the left after a fallen tree trunk lying across it. It narrows and leads to a cycle path running alongside the Route des Saumonards. Continue left along the cycle path, turn right at the roundabout and go past the barrier.
(3) Just after the barrier, take the forest path on the left: marked with a yellow line or white dot. The path runs parallel to the Route des Saumonards, then veers away from it at the campsite before finally heading towards the beach.
(4) Turn right to stay as close as possible to the sea and follow the coast to Plage des Saumonards after passing the fort.
(5) Cross the car park and, heading south, follow a wide forest track for a short distance before turning west (to the right) onto a straight forest path that leads to the sea.
:6:: Continue to the left, staying on the path which begins to wind before reaching Plage de la Gautrelle.
(7) Carry on along the beach to Plaisance Beach.
(8) Go straight on to Port du Douhet.
(9) To reach the harbour from the beach, climb over a few rocks: it’s not difficult. Follow the road alongside the harbour basin.
(10) Before the channel, turn left onto a track that runs between the basins and joins the cycle path at the next junction.
(11) Follow it south-east (to the left). At the junction at the end of the straight stretch, continue along the edge of the marsh, keeping to the left.
(12) At the next junction, turn right towards the south-west, crossing the area of gardens and houses. Join the local road and turn left. At the next junction, turn left again to reach the entrance to Saint-Georges-d’Oléron.
(13) With your back to the village, turn left onto Rue de l’Océan in Foulerot. Then turn right onto Rue du Caillochis: this allows you to admire the many gardens and typical Oléron-style houses in Foulerot. Continue straight on along Rue du Foulerot until you reach the end.
(14) Turn left onto Rue de la Marotte and, after about 300 metres, turn right towards the forest. Cross an open space and head down a wide forest track.
(15) Leave this very soon after, at a place called Bretagne, and take a path veering off to the left; follow it until you reach a wide track. Take this track eastwards to cross straight through the Forêt des Saumonards. The terrain follows that of the dunes, with a succession of ascents and descents.
(16) After a ride of around 3.5 km, turn off onto a path on the right, heading south-east towards the Cabanes Martin. This well-marked path winds its way to the cycle path.
(17) Turn right onto it towards the Boyardville salt marshes and join the D126, which marks the end of the cycle path. Turn left onto the departmental road and follow it to Rue des Hirondelles.
(18) Turn left again to follow this street, then take Rue des Albatros on the right and Avenue de l’Océan on the left to reach the market square (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Moderate 
