Combleux walks

A family walk between the Loire and the Canal de la Loire. Alternating between woodland, fields and canal banks. The canal banks and locks welcome us with open arms. We can see barges moored on the banks of the Loire, the bird island with the different species of our region and, if we are there at the right time of year, we will be lucky enough to see them nesting. Sandy beaches welcome us for a short break. And finally, we can enjoy the tranquillity of the canal banks.

A stroll between the Loire and former gravel pits where nature has quietly reclaimed its rights. The water bodies have gradually been colonised by a diverse range of wildlife, making the Bois de l'Île a rich nature reserve. The ruins of the Château de l'Isle, witness to the wrath of the Loire, are sure to amaze you.

Starting from Charbonnières Park in the Orléans Forest, also known for its château, the route leads along the banks of the Bionne, a pretty stream with silvery reflections, and to the gates of the Château de Plissay, built in the pure Restoration style.

A walk under the canopy of majestic trees, following the greenway through the grounds of the remarkable Château de Charbonnière and the national forest.

A lovely shaded walk where you can discover the mills lining the Loiret river and Lake Saint Pryvé. Several restaurants welcome you on the riverbank.

This walk begins at Morchêne Park in Saint-Cyr-en-Val, with its château, tennis courts, pétanque and beach volleyball courts, and fitness trail, then follows the stream of the same name. A tree-lined route, very pleasant for a family walk south of the Orléans conurbation.

This circular will take you along the left bank of the Loire to Châteauneuf-sur-Loire. You will cross the castle grounds and its arboretum. The return to Jargeau is via the right bank. This circular route is known as thePR® des deux ponts (Two BridgesPR® ), modified to include access to the Loire Marine Museum and a stroll through the arboretum and the pretty Rhododendron Avenue.

Well known to the people of Loiret, the charming, shaded walkway of the mills of the Loiret never fails to surprise those who discover it, a place shaped by milling activities that continued for centuries. It is an opportunity to enjoy the calm, cool waters of the river, explore the network of Olivet's narrow streets and appreciate the Donjon and Poutyl parks.

A pleasant and easy hike offering varied landscapes. We walk along the Loire for over a kilometre before turning away from it to enter the forest, admire the beautiful Château de Chenailles, then return to Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel via the ponds.

Located in the Saint-Mesmin nature reserve, at the confluence of the Loire and Loiret rivers, the Pointe de Courpain is known for its cool climate and exceptionally diverse wildlife. You will never tire of admiring the mills on the Loiret river as they change with the seasons.

The hike first follows the towpath of the Canal d'Orléans and then returns to Fay-aux-Loges via the Orléans National Forest. You will enjoy the still waters of the canal and its many reflections, its locks, its wildlife, then the wide forest paths, and finally the stone bell tower of the church as you approach the village. Please note that on 19 February 2023, I was informed that part of the route along the canal is closed for works for an indefinite period (no end date displayed).

The Loiret river conceals a few secrets hidden in the greenery. To see for yourself, simply follow the trail that runs along its left bank at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Mesmin, upstream from where it meets the Loire.

Nature and culture go hand in hand on the banks of the Loire, between Fourneaux-Plage and Saint-Ay. The landscapes of the Loire, both at water level and higher up, are so beautiful, sometimes breathtaking, that it is easy to understand why the bishops of Orléans and famous men of letters came here on holiday.

It is mainly a forest route that recalls the major development work carried out in Sologne, which began in the second half of the 19th century when marl was extracted and then transported by horse-drawn carts to improve the acidic soil.

A circular leading from the Basilica of Cléry-Saint-André, known for its architecture and history, to the enigmatic Butte des Élus, a burial mound dating back to the Iron Age. It is ideal for a family walk in the Val d'Ardoux.

A varied route, starting with a winding path along the Cosson, then a forest lane, ending in a maze of narrow streets and then a wooded area with contemporary statues near the Cosson.

The path taken on the way out of the hike, which crosses the Bois du Bignon and then the Bois Brûlé, offers exceptional views due to the slight relief (30m difference in altitude) and undergrowth illuminated by heather, whose purple flowers bloom from late summer to autumn. The dense or sparse vegetation, consisting mainly of deciduous trees, streams and ponds, provides ideal habitats for birds and large wild animals.

This route is called "West of Chilleurs-aux-Bois - Route No. 5". This circuit takes you on a tour of the western part of the commune and its main hamlets, starting from the centre of the village and the Lavau district: La Noue Glaçon, Le Coudray, Le Charme, L'Etang, Marcilly, Olivet, Ronville, Le Moulin de Pierre, La Fosse Aux Morts and Les Sapins. Return to the centre of the village via La Grande Gervaise. You will pass close to the sites of two of the five grain mills that once stood in Chilleur-aux-Bois. In Ronville, you will pass the boundary of the commune of Neuville-aux-Bois. You will walk along the "fosse aux morts" (dead man's ditch), which reminds us that the 1870 war was very deadly in our region. You will then reach the village and Saint-Pierre Church, a historic monument built between the13th and14th centuries. The route is not particularly difficult and is mainly on roads.

This circular route is very representative of the Sologne region, with its forests covered in moss, heather and ferns, its paths that are sometimes wide and straight, sometimes winding, grassy or muddy, its ponds and its brick houses, all of which contribute to its charm.