Walking trails in La Ville-aux-Clercs: Red route

(S/E) From the starting point, walk along the left side of the lake and take the footbridge over the spillway.

(1) Turn left and follow the Route Françoise de Lorraine leading to the Manoir de la Forêt (a former boutique hotel and restaurant). On the climb, you will see the renovated gate of Fort Girard on your left. At the top of the climb, turn right and follow the path running alongside the woods, straight ahead, leaving the manor on your left.

(2) At the end of the woods, turn left and continue along the path until you reach the bottom of the small descent. At the junction, take the middle path between the fields and continue straight on, leaving the Petit Grand Champ farm on your right.
At the next junction, head left.

(3) At the edge of the woods, turn right to reach and cross the small river, the Gratte-Loup, and rejoin the road linking La Ville-aux-Clercs to Busloup. Once on the road, turn left towards the Sainte-Radegonde Chapel.

(5) In front of the chapel, leave the road and take the path on the right that leads uphill. As you climb, you will see Château de la Blotterie on your right.

(5) When you reach the hamlet of L’Écotière, turn left and walk through the hamlet. After the last house, take the path on the left, then the first on the right to rejoin the Route de la Ville-aux-Clercs to Busloup.

(6) Turn right and follow the road for about 500 m, then take the dirt track at the edge of the woods on your right. Walk along the Bois de Bel-Air until you reach the tarmac road.

(7) Follow this road to the left towards the water tower. Pass it on your left, continue straight ahead and cross the D24, Route de Cloyes.

(8) Take the Chemin du Marchais d’Auvergne, which then becomes the Chemin de la Petite Borne; follow it to the junction and turn sharply left to go down to the ford.

(9). Do not cross the Gratte-Loup river; instead, head up the Chemin des Aubépines on your left. Follow this path to the housing estate and pass the veterinary clinic.

(10) At the corner of the clinic, turn immediately right onto the D24 to return to your starting point (S/E)

- No particular difficulty, slightly more elevation gain than the Green and Blue routes; basic hiking gear (shoes, some snacks) recommended.
- Parking available at the starting point.
- Toilets and electric vehicle charging point in the village near the church.
(Geocaching on this route).

- The gate of Fort Girard (200-metre detour)
- Sainte-Radegonde Chapel and its geocaching.
- Houses in the hamlet of L'Ecotière (traditional farmhouses).
- The valley of the Gratte-Loup stream.