Route de la Fée from Gratot

Park in the castle car park.

Blue signposting

(S/E) With your back to the car park, head left towards Le Pavement on the D244. Then turn left, continue along a footpath and follow the small road to reach La Georgeoiserie. Continue for a few more metres along the Route de l'Ermitage

(1) Turn right and, at the bend, turn left onto a path then go round the buildings. Cross the Ruisseau de Chanteloup via this path which leads to the D57. Cross this road carefully and continue straight on along a road then a path.

(2) After crossing the Ruisseau du Maudouit, turn left onto the path and head towards Mousley.

(3) Here, turn left to reach La Sourcinière. Continue along the Route du Gros Frêne to reach the D57.

(4) On this road, turn right and continue to the roundabout. Go round it and carry on straight ahead towards Le Gros Frêne.

(5) Then take the first road on the left leading to Les Landes, then continue straight on towards L'Hôtel Robin.

(6) Before reaching this point, turn left onto the D605 until you reach the junction with the D2. Here, turn left towards Le Pelley, then take the first right onto a long road until the next junction.

(7) At the junction, turn left onto Rue au Sieur. Pass through Le Sieur, La Feuferme, then the outskirts of Le Mière and finally arrive at Le Soleil Levant on the D244.

(8) There, turn right then take the first road on the left towards La Mauricerie. Then take the road on the left and then right towards La Fouberdière. Follow the path, take the second right, still on a path, and pass by the Ruisseau de Chanteloup.

(9) Finally, head up towards La Pitonnerie de Bas and then La Pitonnerie de Haut. Continue straight on to reach Le Pavement. Turn left and return to the castle car park (S/E).

Difficulty: possible wet patch near the hamlet of Le Mauduit; two crossings of the D2 and D244

Le Tourne Bride Restaurant
Bakery in the village
Public toilets and drinking water point at the château
Picnic table in the village

Gratot Castle
Gratot Castle is an exceptional site built between the 13th and 18th centuries by the d’Argouges family, who lived there for sixteen generations. Originally a medieval castle, it was remodelled over the centuries before eventually falling into ruin. Surrounded by a moat, this castle boasts a varied architectural style thanks to the contributions of the different eras that make up its history. Twenty years of voluntary restoration work have gradually brought it back to life. Every summer, the castle hosts temporary art exhibitions and open-air performances for everyone to enjoy. As you explore the castle, discover the legend of the fairy and the various places associated with it.
Further information at: https://www.chateaugratot.com

The Saint Gerbold Hermitage
The Saint Gerbold Hermitage was built between the 15th and 17th centuries, commissioned by the d’Argouges family. Originally a chapel dedicated to the Bishop of Bayeux (7th century), it later became a hermitage (a place where a hermit lives).
Outside, information boards, accessible all year round, help visitors understand the history and architecture, and discover the legend of the saint and the life of the hermits.
Nestled in the heart of the bocage, it is a surprising and exceptional place, one of the few remaining examples of hermitages in France.

Carrefour du Gros Frêne
There’s no doubt about it: you’re right in the heart of the Coutances bocage. Narrow lanes, hedgerows on embankments and small patches of pasture make up the landscape around Gratot and the Vendelée.
On the slopes, three layers can be distinguished: the herbaceous layer with grasses and other curiosities such as Venus’s navel; the shrub layer of hazel, hawthorn, dogwood, spindle and others; and the tree layer with majestic ash, beech, oak, maple and wild cherry trees. Each has its own importance and purpose: some for their medicinal, nutritional and culinary properties, others for the quality of their timber or as firewood.