The Theil and La Rigaudière forest route

Start from the car park at La Roche aux Fées.

(S/E) Join the D341 and turn left towards the south-east until you reach the hamlet of La Roche.

(1) Just before the “La Court Morel” bus stop, take the path on the right. After about sixty metres, turn left and continue straight on until the first junction with a road. Continue along the path opposite towards La Malécoterie, then La Hupiére. Walk through this hamlet.

(2) At the end of the hamlet, leave the road, take a path on the left and follow it to the next junction with a road near Les Brégeons. Cross the road and continue for about 300 m until you reach the railway line.

(3) Go under the railway bridge and turn left onto the first path. Continue for about 1 km to La Jaunaie and arrive at Rue de la Sablonnière opposite the ESAT Les Ateliers Sévigné.

(4) Turn right onto this street and follow it to the D47.

(5) Continue towards the D173 bridge and carry on for about 500 m until you reach a stony path on the left.

(6) Take this path, pass the hamlet of La Butte des Prés and continue to the second crossroads. Turn right, after the water tower on your left, and join a path on the right.

(7) Turn onto this path and continue to the D47.

(8) Cross it carefully and continue straight ahead along the edge of the Forest of Theil until you reach the edge of the woodland at the end of a bend.

(9) Take the path on the right and head almost straight on for 1.5 km.

(10) If you turn left, you will reach a wayside shrine. Continuing on, you will come out onto a road.

(11) Follow it until you reach the tunnel under the railway line.

(12) Turn immediately left at the exit onto a dirt track through the woods. Follow it until you reach a street, keep left and continue to the junction with the D99.

(13) Turn right towards the church via Rue Amand de Léon des Ormeaux, go past the church and continue on the D99 towards Essè. Pass the wash house park, where you can take a break. Continue on the D99, cross the bridge over the D173 and carry on for about a hundred metres.

(14) Take the first path on the left running parallel to the main road and follow it until you reach a road.

(15) Turn right onto it, go round the Étang de la Rigaudière on the left, keeping the castle of the same name on your left, and rejoin the D99.

(16) Follow it to the right for about 80 m, then turn onto the path on the left, below the road; there are no signposts. Continue along the path which runs alongside the Ruisseau de Ricordel, which is more of a stream in the dry season.

(17) This path forms a half-circular route before turning south; continue on, the path climbs and, further on, joins the hamlet known as Sucé. Take the grassy path north of the farm; it turns due north and then, just as abruptly, due east.

(18) The path joins a road; leave the metal gate on your right and turn left until you reach the crossroads you passed on the way out. Follow the path back in the opposite direction to reach the D341 and “La Court Morel”. Turn left to return to the Roche aux Fées car park (S/E).

You can take a break at the wash house park.

Bakery near the church in Thieil-de-Bretagne.

The Roche aux Fées dolmen.

The Château de la Rigaudière (not open to visitors, EPHAD).

The medieval castle of Marcillé-Robert, 5 km from La Roche aux Fées. (Guided tours available).