From one spring to another between Lambon and Sèvre Niortaise

A pleasant hike on a plateau between Melle and Saint-Maixent, leading to the sources of the Lambon, one of the sources of the Sèvre Niortaise. This route across varied terrain allows you to enjoy the green, calm and relaxing countryside and discover many examples of the ancient architectural heritage of Poitou-Charentes through a number of well-restored houses and wash houses such as those in Goux and Grandes Fontaines.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 61 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 52 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 188 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 152 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: La Couarde (79800)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.306255° / W 0.120598°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1628SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park next to the Couarde cemetery in Goux.

(S/E) Leave the car park by taking the path that heads south-west (with your back to the cemetery).

(1) At the first crossroads, just before reaching a small road, take the grassy path on the right, which climbs slightly. The path heads north and joins the houses of the hamlet of Goux. Continue to the D737 road from Beaussais to La Mothe Saint-Héray.

Cross the D737 with great caution. Continue straight ahead down the path. Shortly afterwards, you will see the source of the Lambon stream with a pretty wash house on your left.
If the path is flooded – which is common during rainy periods – cross the field on the right, which is higher than the path, and walk along the crops to the corner of the field to rejoin the path.

The path climbs gently to a crossroads of farm tracks.
When you reach it, turn left and follow the new farm track to a T-junction. You may see deer grazing in the pasture opposite the junction. Turn left onto a path that descends to the Lambon before climbing back up to a place called La Fontaine and crossing the stream over an old stone bridge.

Shortly before you reach it, admire the covered wash house at La Fontaine on the left side of the path.
From there, the path gives way to a tarmac road leading to La Fontaine. Continue straight ahead along a slightly uphill path until you reach a small road. Cross the road carefully and continue along the farm track, which veers to the left and joins the D737 road.

Cross it with great caution and take the road opposite, which runs along the west side of La Tricherie and then, at the corner of the house, the path opposite. Further on, the path joins a small road. When you reach it, continue straight ahead towards the south until you reach the next crossroads of roads and paths.

(2) Continue along the path almost opposite (the second on the left).
Continue straight ahead, especially at the next "X" crossroads (for about 50 metres). At the next crossroads, take the path on the left, which becomes Rue du Champ du Lac when you reach Pillac. Continue to the T-junction.

(3) Turn left and about 150 metres further on, at a right-angle bend in the road to the right, take the path on the left which slopes slightly downwards.
Continue straight ahead northwards until you reach the second crossroads.

(4) Turn right onto a beautiful grassy and well-shaded farm track that heads south-east. Follow it until it meets the road from Pillac to Fonbedoire, known as Rue des Grandes Fontaines.

When you get there, check out the covered wash house of the Grandes Fontaines on the left, which is one of the sources of the Sèvre Niortaise.

(5). Another masonry spring of the Sèvre Niortaise is located on the other side of the road, following the path opposite for about a hundred metres (off the route). There is a picnic table there.

(6) Carefully follow Rue des Grandes Fontaines north towards Fonbedoire. Continue to the first road on the left. Crossroads Rue de Berthelot - Rue du Petit Village. Turn left and cross Fonbedoire until you reach a Y-shaped crossroads after the last houses.

(7) Turn left onto Rue du Bois Bourdin. Follow it until you reach a T-junction. Turn right. Further on, the road turns into a track after a farm. Continue for another 50 metres until you reach a crossroads.

(8) Turn right onto the path heading north towards La Trémeillère. When you get there, the path turns into a small road (which serves the hamlet on the right) and joins the road from Fonbedoire to Bois de Circé. Carefully follow the road on the left-hand side.

(9) At the corner of a house on the left just before the hamlet of Bois de Circé, turn left onto a grassy path that heads west. The path winds first through the forest and then across open ground. Continue to the end of the small road serving the hamlet of Le Clapier.

(10) At this point, turn left and follow the path heading west. The path begins by climbing up to the edge of a small wood on the right, then descends gently and reaches the cemetery of La Couarde (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 177 m - Car park at La Couarde cemetery in Goux
  2. 1 : km 0.44 - alt. 165 m - Crossroads towards the source of the - Lambon (rivière) à finaliser
  3. 2 : km 3.17 - alt. 174 m - Crossroads of roads and paths
  4. 3 : km 4.8 - alt. 188 m - Junction with Rue de Bellegarde
  5. 4 : km 6 - alt. 158 m - Crossroads (in an X shape)
  6. 5 : km 6.33 - alt. 154 m - Source of the > - Sèvre Niortaise (fleuve)
  7. 6 : km 6.35 - alt. 152 m - Crossroads between the path and Rue des Grandes Fontaines - Lavoir des Grandes Fontaines
  8. 7 : km 7.14 - alt. 176 m - Crossroads (inverted Y)
  9. 8 : km 7.67 - alt. 174 m - Crossroads
  10. 9 : km 8.31 - alt. 173 m - Road junction - grassy path
  11. 10 : km 9.29 - alt. 171 m - T-junction
  12. S/E : km 9.99 - alt. 177 m - Car park at La Couarde cemetery in Goux

Notes

The parking area is located next to the Couarde cemetery in Goux. The municipal cemetery is located in a place called Goux and can be accessed from the D737 road (Melle-Beaussais – La Mothe Saint-Héray) via the 17 municipal road.

This hike takes place on varied terrain and requires suitable footwear.

The route is not marked, but does not present any real difficulties in terms of orientation. It is therefore advisable to follow the route on the map and the description, while also taking in the landscape.

Hike completed by the author on 12 June 2019.

Worth a visit

The Lambon
Le Lambon, approximately 40 km long, is a river that rises in Deux-Sèvres (at La Couarde) and flows into the Sèvre Niortaise (at Niort).
Source: L'Eau en Poitou-Charentes

The Sèvre Niortaise
The Sèvre Niortaise flows for more than 150 km from its source in Sepvret, in Deux-Sèvres, to the Bay of Aiguillon, in Charente-Maritime. Two-thirds of its length runs through the Marais Poitevin, France's second largest wetland area, of which it is the structuring axis. Its banks are home to much of the ecological, historical and heritage wealth of the Marais.
Source: Inventory of New Aquitaine

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
randonneurs.DS
randonneurs.DS

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike.
Some paths were quite muddy at this time of year.
Very little walking on tarmac.
No difficulty.
Deer grazing in a field. 👍 🙂

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GILMIC79
GILMIC79

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful hike where you encounter elves, fairies, gnomes and goblins (at point 6). Very well shaded (in the early morning) and almost entirely on paths (except around Fonbedoire - point 7).
I can't wait to discover its twin, which heads north ("into the lion's den") and then eventually complete both together...

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nicolenm
nicolenm
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
I modified the route slightly because the group wanted to walk less than 9 km and I didn't really like the section from Fonbedoire to the car park at Goux cemetery. I also walked it in the opposite direction, starting at the source of the Sèvre and ending at the source of the Lambon.
From point 6, I returned to point 4 and continued opposite along the path that runs alongside the Bois de la Roche.
I think it would be interesting to extend the route beyond point 6 to reach the Baptistant fountain, if there were another path than the road to return to Fonbedoire or the Grandes Fontaines.

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pgetrochon
pgetrochon

Thank you for your comment. I wish you wonderful hikes.

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berdum
berdum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk through varied landscapes, on easy, well-lit paths. Added to this is the pleasure of discovering the Springs.
Thanks to the author
Bertrand

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pgetrochon
pgetrochon

Thank you for your comment.
Happy hiking!

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philouis
philouis
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A truly beautiful walk, practically no tarmac, shaded paths, beautiful heritage.

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