From one castle to another, starting from Le Tranger

From the village of Le Tranger, take the D18 towards Préaux. At the top of a hill, after about a kilometre, take the^first road on the right, towards La Guichonnerie. Stop about a hundred metres further on at the reservoir.

(S/E) Head east along the road, i.e. continuing along the route you took by car if you arrived from Le Tranger. Go straight on and ignore a road branching off to the left.

(1) At the sharp right-hand bend, leave the road and take the^second path on the left (follow the^GR®46marked in red and white). Ignore a path on the left (elevation 147) and head downhill.

(2) Cross the D28K with care and take the path opposite. Keep going straight on (south-east).

(3) You’ll come out onto a road near Ranger and take a first turn left then right to head downhill, still following the^GR®. The tarmac soon gives way to a path that passes under a high-voltage power line. At the crossroads, continue straight on along an uphill track (viewpoint over Palluau Castle).

(4) You’ll come out onto the D28f; follow it to the right for about twenty metres until you reach a cross, then turn left onto a path towards La Vix. Climb up and enter the hamlet of La Vix.

(5) At the crossroads, take the road on the left (let the^GR® head off to the right). Pass the hamlet of La Finassière and reach a crossroads with a cross.

(6) Cross the road at right angles and follow the one opposite. At the next junction, take the path opposite (towards Le Bas Village). Ignore a turn-off on the right (marker 145) and continue along the shaded path (you are below Paray Castle). Pass the hamlet of Le Bas Village and you will immediately come to a crossroads.

(7) Take the D28k to the right, uphill, with care. Pass La Chaumette.

(8) At the pylon, in a right-hand bend in the road, leave the road and take the path on the left. Ignore a turn-off on the left and cross a small wood. Continue along the edge of the wood and ignore a path on the left. At the three-way junction (elevation 172), turn left. Go straight on along the edge of the woods and ignore a path on the left.

(9) At the T-junction, turn right towards Neu Port. Head downhill, ignore a path on the right, cross a barely visible stream and reach the abandoned farm at Neu Port.

(10) Look out for a small path through the woods on the left. Ignore a track on the right, continue westwards through the woods and reach the hamlet of Les Caves.

(11) Continue along a small road. At the T-junction, turn right and head for the next junction.

(12) Follow the D18 to the left with care and, after about a hundred metres, take the^first path on the right. Walk alongside a wood on your left and ignore all the turnings on the right. You will arrive at the entrance to Château de la Mardelle.

(13) Follow the small road and take the^first path on the right, going downhill. You will come to a road; follow it to the right until the next junction (cross).

(14) Turn sharply left (follow the^GR®46again). You will come out onto the access road to La Chaptière; follow it to the right for a few metres.

(15) Immediately take a path on the left (let the^GR® continue along the road). Cross a stream via a bridge and follow the path uphill to a fork.

(16) Take the path on the left. Ignore a path coming from the right, cross the D18 with care and return to the starting point (S/E).

The section after (15) is often muddy.