La Brigandière Trail

Circular walk to enjoy the countryside. Starts and finishes at the Étangs des Baillys. The route follows mainly rural paths through the hedgerow countryside of the Sologne Bourbonnaise, with sunken lanes that are damp or even wet in places, old oak trees, and wild flora and fauna – keep quiet and observe...
This route becomes technical in winter or after wet weather, which adds to the charm of the old paths...

Details

8465633
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.50 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 56 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 56 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 823 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 764 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Étangs des Baillys car park, near the campsite. There is a sign indicating the route, but it points in the opposite direction.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the path that goes round the ponds.
Cross the small bridge, then follow the path to the embankment.

(1) Continue to the right along the small road, pass the Baillys farm and carry on to the D190.

(2) Turn right towards Aurouër, follow the road for 420 m and turn left off it towards the hamlet of Louages Gravats, then follow the path along the edge of the forest. On leaving the forest, walk alongside the hedgerows for 165 m.

(3) Turn right, walk for 190 m and turn right again.
Follow the edge of the forest until you reach the gas installation, then turn left and walk for 75 m. Cross the D190 with care.

(4) Enter the mysterious Chemin de la Brigandière. Pass the chicanes. Continue along a wide path, which then narrows into a sunken track that may be damp or even muddy depending on the weather. Enjoy the charm of the old trees. Follow the path to the forest and continue, skirting the fields, to the Rachelins farm.

(5) Take the path on the right to avoid crossing through the farm, then turn right and continue straight on to the ponds (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 768 ft - Dornes Campsite
  2. 1 : mi 0.36 - alt. 764 ft - D190 on the right
  3. 2 : mi 0.59 - alt. 771 ft - Junction with the Aurouër road
  4. 3 : mi 1.37 - alt. 797 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 2.03 - alt. 820 ft - Entrance to the Chemin de la Brigandière
  6. 5 : mi 2.89 - alt. 794 ft - Ferme des Rachelins
  7. S/E : mi 3.5 - alt. 768 ft - Dornes Campsite

Notes

Path partly cleared by volunteers. 

Depending on the season, the path can be very wet, so bring wellies!
Wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather.
Drinking water point and toilets at the campsite.
Don’t forget to check for ticks.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
3.5 / 5
paulo58300
paulo58300

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for this beautiful, well-maintained and well-designed route.
Kind regards, Christian

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François KP
François KP

Hello.
Local track, reopened by volunteers in 2020.
Managed and maintained by Dornes Town Hall.
Please do not hesitate to share your feedback with the Town Hall. This will help us continue to preserve our beautiful country lanes and ensure we can continue to enjoy walking along them.
Kind regards, François

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labombardellaz
labombardellaz

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

This walk would be very pleasant if it were better signposted and the paths were better maintained.
The walk around the Baillys ponds is particularly pleasant, with the little bridge separating them and plenty of picnic tables; this idyllic setting is very popular with anglers.
This promising start soon gives way to a route that becomes more difficult and deteriorates:
- between point 2 and the path leading to Louage Gravat, the distance is 400 metres, not the approximately 600 metres indicated in the description, and there is no signpost at the fork, which leads one to continue along the D190 for the incorrect distance
- the sign indicating a right turn at point 3 faces away from the direction of the walk. You then enter a path that is still passable with fairly tall grass, but the sunken track that follows it towards Les Taupins is rutted by deep tracks left by farm machinery and mountain bikes, with increasingly overgrown vegetation
- the sunken track between point 4 and point 5 disappears beneath the tall grass (nettles and brambles, amongst others) for 500–600 metres before emerging onto a wide farm track (the central section covered in vegetation) and then onto the path skirting the Rachelins farm, barely visible beneath the thick grass covering it.
This section is particularly challenging, requiring you to constantly keep an eye out for the path and where to place your feet safely.
The position of the few existing markers seems better suited to walking the route in the opposite direction to that indicated on the route description sheet.
The route is described as covering specific, verified distances of 165 m and 190 m, following an estimate of 600 m that is 200 m off, which is absurd. Is this really serious?
It appears, from reading other reviews, that the volunteers responsible for partially clearing the path have been absent for several years. This is regrettable as this route is largely shaded and would have a certain charm if it were properly restored.
Why keep the signpost for this ‘Chemin de la Brigandière’ walk at the Etangs de Baillys site when it is no longer in good condition and poses a certain danger beyond the usual safety recommendations?
The Moulins Community, the Allier Bourbonnais Department and the Nièvre Department, which sponsor the hiking trails in this region, should be concerned about this situation, which is damaging to their reputation.

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blandin/briat
blandin/briat

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The route is currently IMPASSABLE!!!
When we reached a certain point, we were forced to turn back: it was impossible to get through without wellies...
We had a pond to cross!!!
I even think it would be a good idea to warn people about the state of these paths at the start of the walk
A family with children would find it impossible to do this walk.
Hoping that the weather conditions will improve so that we can go for walks again

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jocian
jocian

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a nice route with some very wet sections

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Remyfatboy
Remyfatboy
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The point (3) no longer exists, so it’s difficult to link it to (4); we found ourselves in fenced-off fields that were hard to access, and some access points had also been closed off by local farmers.
All in all, the walk is still lovely.

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Alcaraz_Yves
Alcaraz_Yves

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please take care at point No. 4 (after passing through the gate) not to enter the horse paddock.
I did so with my dog on a lead, but on that particular day, perhaps because of the presence of a foal, the horses were aggressive.

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