Raboliot route from Brinon-sur-Sauldre

The route starts at the car park near the church in Brinon-sur-Sauldre.

Signposting: Raboliot Route and Yellow/Red (^GR® de Pays de Sologne)

(S/E) Walk past the church’s bell tower and go round the church via the Place de l’Eglise (D77E) towards Isdes. Leave the Rue de la Coudre on your right and stay on the main road until you reach the Fork in the road.

(1) Turn onto the left-hand track, ‘le Vivier’, signposted ‘Isdes 12km’. Ignore the various turn-offs and pass the cemetery.

(2) At the crossroads, take the CR42 on the right, which leads back to the D77E; follow this to the left for 600 metres.

(3) Turn right onto the CR3. Follow this lane, ignoring the side roads, and pass through the hamlet of Les Richoudières.

(4) Cross the bridge over the Sauldre Canal and head along the left-hand bank. Follow the canal along the towpath to the next bridge.

(5) Leave the canal by taking the path on the right until you reach the D77E. Follow it to the left for 300 metres.

(6) Leave the D77E and take the first path on the right, the CR85. This takes you round the Monteaux estate. Turn left when you reach the cross-path.

End of the yellow-red markings

(7) At the three-way junction, leave the^GR® de Pays de Sologne and continue straight ahead. Pass the ponds.

(8) At the next crossroads, turn right at a right angle onto the CR90. This lane runs alongside a pond. At the fork in the road, take the small road on the left – the only public access.

(9) At the junction, continue along the small tarmac road to the left for nearly 3 km.

(10) Once past the Étangs des Brosses, turn right onto the CR55, signposted ‘les Landes’. Follow this track until you come to a crossroads.

(11) Turn left onto the CR11, then carry on along the small tarmac road, taking the left-hand lane at the Fork in the road. This crosses the Sauldre Canal and leads to the hamlet of La Bergerie.

(12) Once past the first houses in Brinon, keep left onto the D77, which leads to the village church, the starting point of the walk (S/E).

The route is well-marked and presents no difficulties. It can be enjoyed in all seasons.

It should be noted, however, that the banks of the Sauldre Canal are unstable and closed to motorised vehicles. However, they do not pose any particular danger to walkers provided they stay at least one metre away from the canal (follow the towpath).

• Look out for birds (ducks in particular) on the ponds, as well as the wildlife along the Sauldre Canal.

• The Church of Saint Barthelemy, typical of the Sologne region, with its ‘caquetoire’.