The marsh

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The Breton marsh... a magnificently wild and little-known land for walkers.
This route will take you through its vast expanses, among herons and little egrets!
The croaking of frogs will accompany you in summer and you will be surprised by the transformation of the landscape in winter.
In spring, life is reborn and explodes in this particularly rich aquatic environment.

Details

n°705560
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m
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Photos

The marsh

Description of the walk

Starting point: the hamlet of Four à Chaux, south-west of Machecoul.

(S/E) Continue straight ahead, leaving Four à Chaud behind you, and continue straight on until you reach the crossroads at Le Vivier.

(1) When you reach the four roads at Le Vivier, turn right towards La Vacheresse/Plusquepoix (Plusquepois on the map).

(2) Turn left towards Plusquepoix, pass L'Épée, then Le Four à l'Abbé and La Vacheresse, staying on the same road.

(3) Turn left and drive to Le Bout du Monde and back.

(4) Retrace your steps.

(3) Once back, continue straight ahead and follow the charrau (a path through the marshes that turns right towards Les Chagnoux).

(5) Turn right and follow the road to Hucheloup.

(6) Pass this hamlet and continue straight ahead, following the road. Cross the Étier de la Gravelle and pass under a power line.

(7) At the three-way junction, after the hamlet of La Pajotière, turn right towards Le Goulet and continue straight ahead following the road.

(8) At Les Ormeaux, turn right towards the hamlet of Four à Chaux (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Lime kiln
  2. 1 : km 1.23 - alt. 5 m - Carrefour du Vivier
  3. 2 : km 1.64 - alt. 4 m - Three-way junction towards La Vacheresse
  4. 3 : km 3.48 - alt. 3 m - Fork in the road
  5. 4 : km 4.34 - alt. 3 m - The End of the World
  6. 5 : km 6.37 - alt. 3 m - Les Chagnoux
  7. 6 : km 7.15 - alt. 4 m - Hucheloup
  8. 7 : km 7.94 - alt. 5 m - Towards the market gardens
  9. 8 : km 8.73 - alt. 4 m - Les Ormeaux
  10. S/E : km 9.07 - alt. 4 m - Lime kiln

Notes

Open from May to October.
If you wish to walk the trail in winter, please wear boots.

Worth a visit

There is also an interpretive trail along the same route.
At the 10 stops along the trail, marked by posts numbered from 1 to 10, you can discover the origins of the landscape, the flora and fauna, the history and the customs and traditions of this part of the Breton marshes.
To obtain a leaflet about the interpretive trail, please contact the Machecoul Tourist Office.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
RANDO NATURE DECOUVERTE
RANDO NATURE DECOUVERTE
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As mentioned in other reviews, there is "A LOT OF ASPHALT" from the start at point 4 and from point 5 to the finish.
The only grassy section is on the return from 3 to 5; it is also the only section where you need to wear boots in winter.
This inconvenience is offset by the tranquillity of the route, the beauty of the landscape before the hay is cut and the accompanying flora, and the presence of birds, including storks.

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mendes2744
mendes2744

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike in the Breton marshes. Observation of storks, herons and marsh birds. It's a shame that 80% of the route is on tarmac. These roads are not very busy, we didn't see any vehicles.

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JPBellocq
JPBellocq

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through the marshes: wild scenery, storks, nutria. Unfortunately, there is a lot of tarmac and long stretches between tall, opaque hedges.

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herguedevouille
herguedevouille

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

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emmanuel perrot
emmanuel perrot

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

An easy, generally pleasant hike, although a little too much on tarmac for my liking (admittedly on quiet minor roads). Classic marshland scenery (a little early in the season to appreciate the flora). Lots of nutria , a few storks, common shelducks, egrets, herons and a few mallards.

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thaliero@yahoo.fr
thaliero@yahoo.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk, completely exotic, with a surprising trip back in time for me, who now lives in the city: Proust's madeleine, donkeys hidden behind hay, cows among peaceful people, little gates in gardens.
A wonderful breath of fresh air!

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chantal.plati
chantal.plati

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great walk in the marshes and countryside. Very well signposted, it's a very pleasant walk! Highly recommended and worth repeating!!!

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