Route of the holm oaks in Puymoyen

A major protected natural site, the Eaux-Claires Valley is a popular walking destination, remarkable for its limestone cliffs and biodiversity.

Details

30692016
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.18 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 101 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 106 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 139 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 62 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the Salle des Fêtes car park.

Red markings

(S/E) Head towards the roundabout where the shops and town hall are located. Turn right onto Rue d'Angoulême, cross at the pedestrian crossing and take Rue du Verger. Ignore Rue du Souvenir on your right and then Chemin des Prauds on your left. In the bend, look for the cross in front of the house and continue straight ahead onto Rue du Bois Jamain.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin des Grandes Vignes. At the bend, take the road that is closed to vehicles and descends into the valley. Turn right at the bottom and you will reach Route de la Vallée des Eaux-Claires.

(2) Follow it to the left, cross the Eaux-Claires stream and turn right at the bend, at the corner of the house. Follow this pleasant path to the next intersection. See the restored wash house and then the spring and its aqueduct in the bend.

(3) Turn left to climb Mont Riant. Pass the deer farm and the equestrian centre. At the crossroads, ignore the road that descends to the left and follow the one that climbs opposite. Turn right before the houses.

(4) At the bend, go down the path on the left alongside a fenced park. At the bottom, follow the road to the right to the cliffs. Continue along the road and turn left at the junction.

(5) Take the "voie Iculisma" on the left, which climbs towards Puymoyen: see the marker at the bottom of the path.

(6) Turn left onto Rue du Bourg, see the Church of Saint-Vincent and continue towards the roundabout. Turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 139 m - Parking: Salle des Fêtes
  2. 1 : km 0.76 - alt. 133 m - Chemin des Grandes Vignes
  3. 2 : km 1.6 - alt. 66 m - Route de la Vallée des Eaux-Claires
  4. 3 : km 3.04 - alt. 83 m - Turn left at the fork.
  5. 4 : km 4.52 - alt. 96 m - Abandoning the route
  6. 5 : km 5.22 - alt. 92 m - Iculisma route
  7. 6 : km 5.72 - alt. 134 m - Crossroads - Église Saint-Vincent (Puymoyen)
  8. S/E : km 6.18 - alt. 138 m - Parking: Salle des Fêtes

Notes

Contact the Pays d'Angoulême Tourist Office: +33 (0)5 45 95 16 84.

Worth a visit

(3) The valley is dotted with old underground stone quarries (Angoulême stone), often converted into mushroom farms and then abandoned. See the sculpture off the trail on the small road leading up to Giget.

(4) The Eaux-Claires valley climbing site is world-renowned. See the wash house. Off the trail, 300 metres to the left is the Moulin du Verger, known for its traditional handmade paper and also famous thanks to the saga of Marie-Bernadette Dupuy.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 1046430

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk through the streams and gardens around Puymoyen. Suitable for children (good walkers), who will love the deer farm and the equestrian centre. Sturdy footwear recommended.

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passion rando
passion rando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Short, easy, pleasant route, but nothing particularly interesting to discover.

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guirou
guirou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting hike, well described on Visorando, passing by a deer farm. It is advisable to wear good walking shoes.

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Office de tourisme Angoulême
Office de tourisme Angoulême

Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
See you soon on our trails.
Chantal

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Julien Bo
Julien Bo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, well marked. I enjoyed the sections through the woods, very charming.

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Office de tourisme Angoulême
Office de tourisme Angoulême

Hello,
Thank you for your comment. Have a wonderful holiday season!
See you soon on our trails.
Chantal

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matmarlulu
matmarlulu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little varied and undulating route.

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Office de tourisme Angoulême
Office de tourisme Angoulême

Hello,
Thank you for your kind comments. Indeed, this beautiful course near Angoulême has plenty to offer.
See you soon on our trails.
Chantal

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GuiguiVava
GuiguiVava

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike with varied scenery!
You'll encounter horses, deer, ponies, etc. The cliff scenery is an added bonus! The gardens and paths are pleasant and easy to walk on, and above all, the route is very well marked, with lots of other walkers along the way. We loved it!

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Office de tourisme Angoulême
Office de tourisme Angoulême

Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
See you soon on our trails!
Chantal

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bertrandcaza
bertrandcaza

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An excellent hike to do with the family.

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Office de tourisme Angoulême
Office de tourisme Angoulême

Hello Philippe, thank you for your comment. Indeed, when the weather starts to improve, the Eaux-Claires valley, so close to Angoulême, becomes very busy.
Kind regards,
Chantal

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Philippe4916
Philippe4916

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
A beautiful hike combining open and shaded sections for the end of May. Wearing suitable footwear is essential for comfortable walking. The description is well written, thanks to its author.

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Office de tourisme Angoulême
Office de tourisme Angoulême

Hello,
Thank you, Joël, for reminding me that the tagging is complete. I have updated the file accordingly.
Kind regards,
Chantal

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joel 16
joel 16

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, you can report that it is marked in red.

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