Countryside and vineyards in Lye

Park at Place de l’Église.
Most of the walk follows an old route marked in yellow.

(S/E) Head north, following the^GRP® du Pays de Valençay (which merges with the new “Benjamin Rabier” discovery trail), then west, turning left onto Rue des Ponts. Pass Le Mondon, then continue straight on at the next junction onto Route de Faverolles.

(1) Turn right towards Les Blanchardières; the tarmac road gives way to a farm track.
Shortly after a sign for the “Benjamin Rabier” discovery trail, turn left and then immediately right. The track descends onto a small road; follow it to the right for a few tens of metres.

(2) At the road junction, turn left onto the bridge over the Traîne-Feuilles and continue to the first crossroads you come to.

(3) Turn left, following the^GRP® signposts along a wide path from which you can see the dovecote at Saray Castle on your right. Continue straight on towards the south-west until you reach a small road.

(4) Leave the^GRP® by turning left whilst crossing the Traîne-Feuilles again via a bridge. Turn left again onto a farm track.

(5) At the next junction, turn right and head up to the Chenevières mushroom farm. Then follow the small road to a road junction (cross).

(6) Carry on along the road to the left, then take the road on the right leading to Les Aubruns. Continue along the path on the right into the hamlet. After a steep descent, follow the small road to the right until you reach a T-junction.

(7) Carry on along the road to the right, then take a gravel track to the left, once again following the^GRP® du Pays de Valençay. 300 metres further on, at a bench bearing a sign for the “Benjamin Rabier” discovery trail, turn left and leave the GRP^®. After passing a pond on the left, follow a stream passing under a road bridge and turn left onto a path between the D33 and some gardens.

(8) Turn right onto the small road and head towards L’Époncay. At the road junction, turn left.

(9) At the junction with a cross-road, carry on straight ahead north-east along a grassy track. Cross the first track, then turn left at the second. Then turn right onto a wide farm track that winds through the vineyards. At the following junctions, carry on straight ahead northwards until you reach a small road (elevation 131).

(10) Carry on straight ahead to rejoin the^GRP® du Pays de Valençay, which you should follow to the left. Then take the road on the right for about 50 metres.

(11) At the cross, leave the^GRP® by taking a white gravel track to the right, then enter the woods by heading down the path to the left.

(12) Cross the D33a with care and continue along the path opposite, then turn left. Take a small road on the left.

(13) At the junction, carry on straight ahead along Rue de la Maison Locquin. Walk down to the D33, which you follow to the left. Turn right onto Rue du Commerce and carry on straight ahead to the church (S/E).

Make sure you wear good walking shoes as there are different types of surface.
This section may be tricky after heavy rain, under the bridge along the stream before the (8).

Notre-Dame de Lye Church

Saray Castle (private)

La Loge de Perrin

Villentrois Castle

Valençay Castle