Vauban Cabin and Lude Valley from Saint-Jean-le-Thomas

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Walk from Saint-Jean-le-Thomas to Cabane Vauban, along the coastal path and then back inland.

Details

n°9277041
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.29 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 194 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 193 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 85 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 10 m
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Photos

Vauban hut and view of the cliffs

Description of the walk

Park in the Cale Saint-Michel car park in Saint-Jean-le-Thomas

(S/E) From the car park, take theGR®® 223 trail located on Allée des Mimosas and continue to the start of the coastal path.

(1) Turn left onto the coastal path, which continues along Route de la Corniche. Ignore Route du Sol Roc on the left, then enter the car park and follow the pedestrian path on the right-hand side. At the main road, turn left and walk about ten metres.

(2) Take Chemin de la Cabane Vauban on the left, then continue along the coastal path, following the markings to Cabane Vauban.

(3) At Cabane Vauban, admire the landscape, then continue onthe GR®® 223 to Rocher du Sard.

(4) At the intersection, turn right towards the Lude river and walk upstream along Chemin du Lude.

(5) Leave Chemin du Lude and its markings and continue up the river to the Chemin du Costil Morin junction.
(6) At this intersection with two paths, turn left and head up towards Carolles via Rue Jacques Simon. Leave Rue de la Croix on your left and take Rue de la Poste on your left until you reach the church.

(7) Leave the church on your left and continue along the Route de Grouessey. Go through a chicane.

(8) Immediately after the chicane, take the path called Chemin de la Manouillere. At the next intersection, turn right. A little further on, you will cross theGRP®® Les Bélvédères path, but resist the temptation to take it and continue straight ahead.

(9) Facing a field, keep right on Chemin de la Rocque au Maire. Go around the cemetery and continue on Guerinière, after crossing the D 61. At the junction on Le Lude, head towards La Hoguelle and continue until you reach it.

(10) Continue along the path on the left, cross the Ourière and the village of Ès Gosse and turn right into Rue Godet.

(11) This is a slightly difficult junction, so take care when joining the main road leading downhill. After the right-hand bend (downhill), take the path leading back down towards the cliffs.

(1) Take the same route back to arrive at the Cale Saint-Michel car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 10 m - Cale Saint-Michel car park - Cale St Michel
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 41 m - Coastal path
  3. 2 : km 1.61 - alt. 80 m - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : km 3.88 - alt. 68 m - Vauban hut - Cabane Vauban
  5. 4 : km 4.47 - alt. 47 m - Rocher du Sard
  6. 5 : km 5.03 - alt. 26 m - Rive du Lude
  7. 6 : km 5.3 - alt. 30 m - Chemin du Costil Morin junction
  8. 7 : km 6.23 - alt. 57 m - Saint-Vigor Church - Carolles
  9. 8 : km 6.4 - alt. 60 m - Chemin de la Manouillere
  10. 9 : km 7.2 - alt. 70 m - Chemin de la Rocque au Maire
  11. 10 : km 9.13 - alt. 76 m - La Hoguelle
  12. 11 : km 10.4 - alt. 85 m - Crossing the railway station
  13. S/E : km 11.29 - alt. 10 m - Cale Saint-Michel car park

Notes

The first part of the walk is along the coastal path, where there are a few crossings to negotiate: nothing insurmountable, but make sure you wear good shoes. The second part is inland, so the paths may be muddy in wet weather. The route includes some steep climbs.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you, BADIA, for pointing that out. I have just modified the hike accordingly.

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BADIA
BADIA

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hike took place in mild temperatures, but between sun and clouds, which did not detract from the beauty of the site.
One problem was encountered because access to the small path at point 2 is blocked by a padlocked gate. You therefore have to rejoin the coastal path at the car park of the restaurant "La Grange de Tom" without taking the road that goes downhill.
The site is quite busy at the Cabane Vauban, but the rest is fairly empty of tourists and very enjoyable.
From Carolles, apart from a few small side roads, the rest of the route is on tarmac and close to traffic, but if you're careful, there's no problem.
In Carolles, a former presbytery converted into a Logis restaurant is a must for a gourmet break. The welcome is very warm and the ice creams are divine.

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DidierBea76160
DidierBea76160

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, especially the first part along the cliffs. The return leg, inland, is a little less interesting as it is mostly paved.
This route, in reverse, would certainly be just as good, as the view of the cliffs is more beautiful in that direction.

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Natacha91
Natacha91

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. The coastal path is magical but not suitable for children. Hiking equipment is essential as the terrain can be slippery. Part of the path was closed due to a landslide, but we were quickly able to turn back and bypass it to continue our hike. The section through the woods was magical (the stream was very lively with lots of small waterfalls and pools). The end of the route through the fields after Carolles was chaotic because the path was extremely muddy and even flooded. It's a very nice hike that we will happily do again when the weather is nice. Thank you for the very reliable directions, as always.

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Caillou04
Caillou04

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike under bright sunshine. Setting off at high tide and returning at low tide: the contrast is striking and the bay is magnificent!

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zumba
zumba

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I did the route in reverse. I started from the car park at Le Lude in Carolles and headed for the Vauban hut, following the Champeaux cliffs to St Jean le Thomas. A magnificent route under a blazing sun with views of Mont St Michel. You need to be well equipped for this part (hiking boots are essential), as there are some challenging ascents and descents. You need to take care! The second part was much easier but less attractive in terms of scenery.

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Jean-Michel 50
Jean-Michel 50

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Circular completed on 31/10/2023
Hello everyone, a very beautiful circular that starts with a steep slope at the beginning of the route. The route runs along the sea from the top of the Champeaux cliffs towards the Vauban hut and the Lude valley. On the way to the Vauban hut, you will have the opportunity to turn around and see Mont Saint Michel. This route is not recommended for people who are prone to vertigo.With many steep sections, both uphill and downhill, you'll need to wear sturdy footwear, not trainers like some of the walkers we came across. On the way back, you'll take paths that take you through the countryside, where, like me, you may be lucky enough to encounter, cross paths with or catch a glimpse of deer, hares, sparrowhawks or buzzards around a bend or behind a hedge. You will then return to the coast to reach the starting point.

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jean91
jean91

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

While the first two-thirds of the route are very good, from Carolles onwards, starting at the cemetery, you take a boring tarmac road for the entire last third of the route. I am surprised that this is not mentioned in the description and that it even refers to a path (point 10) when it is actually the D221!
It should be noted that there were a few people on the first two sections, but we didn't meet a single soul
soul on the last third.

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RandoRosy
RandoRosy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, perfectly described. As lovers of the sea, we chose to do the route in reverse, ending with the coast. In this direction, the difficulties are at the end of the route, with the coastal route going up and down all the time - with the heat and fatigue on top of that! But hey, we can handle it.
Be careful between markers 8 and 9, as the path is very narrow and, when we walked it, it was not well maintained. There was tall grass, brambles and nettles. We wondered if we had taken a wrong turn, but the app confirmed that we were on the right track.
This is a must-do hike, really great. Thank you to the author.
Best regards, RandoRosy

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visorandojocelyne50720
visorandojocelyne50720

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, which requires good physical condition among the cliffs.

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maryse14290
maryse14290

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It would be advisable to emphasise the dangers associated with the technical aspects. Some people may find themselves in difficulty.

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Mumu et Arl
Mumu et Arl

Not yet completed.

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AR&Ré
AR&Ré

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

In fact, a walk starting from Carolles with a gentle descent towards Le Lude and access to the nice Triés beach.
The route was perfect. We did the hike on a Sunday in early September, so it was busy but very acceptable.
Thank you and Visorando for offering us safe walks in such beautiful places
so far from home (Normandy and Brittany are a long way away for people from the Tarn region...🤪🤪

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