From La Ferté-Vidame to Senonches

Yellow markings

(S) From the town hall in La Ferté-Vidame, follow Rue de Laborde to the park entrance. Follow Route de Senonches D941, first on the pedestrian crossing, then cross the road carefully and walk on the wider right-hand verge along the wall. Continue to the junction with the D15.

(1) Turn right, continuing to follow the wall.

(2) Turn left towards La Floudière, then right towards La Bêchetière. Continue on the D318.5 towards La Pommarié and continue to the D318.3.

(3) After crossing the D318.3, proceed with caution and continue straight ahead to enter the woods.

(4) At the fork, turn left onto Chemin du Maupas, which continues straight ahead to Rond des Hussards.

(5) Then take the third lane on the left for about 100 metres. Leave it and turn right onto a bridle path at the edge of the national forest and private woods. Stay close to the embankment and ditch and do not cross them.

(6) Further on, the path turns east but remains in the national forest. You will come out onto a paved forest road.

(7) Follow it to the left. Cross the Rond de la Rachée and continue on the tarmac. Pass in front of the Chêne d'Hériché, a remarkable tree that towers over its neighbours, and continue for about a hundred metres.

(8) Then turn right onto a narrow track between plots 143 and 144.

(9) At the end, turn left. Ignore a layon on the left (plots no. 143 and no. 142). Pass another remarkable tree (a few metres to the right of the layon): Le Hêtre du Haut Cornet. Continue to the tarmac forest road and follow it to the left until you reach the Grand Rond (picnic table).

(10) Turn right at an acute angle onto the gravel lane that descends gently towards the Rond de Feularde. Cross it and continue straight ahead for about 300 m.

(11) Then turn left onto the path that branches off diagonally and crosses a first crossroads. Continue straight ahead to the crossroads near the Étang de Tardais.

Yellow and red markings

(12) Continue straight ahead until you reach the D941. Turn right. Walk along the right-hand side of the road. Then cross the D941 carefully before the bend. At the entrance to Tardais, take the Rue du Gué au Chéron opposite.

(13) After 100 m, turn right onto a path to descend into the communal wood. Cross the Blaise river on the footbridge and follow it to the left. The path climbs back up towards the church (wash house on the left). At the stop sign, turn right onto the D941. Cross it at the pedestrian crossing in front of the town hall and continue to the crossroads (bus shelter). Take Rue de la Guilletière opposite to pass between the pond and the castle. Enter the forest.

(14) Turn left into the large lane. Follow it to the junction with the Ligne des Trois Pierres.

No signposts

(15) Continue straight ahead. At the edge of the forest, follow the path along the stream (sometimes flooded). The path leads to Rue Chemin de Paris. Turn left until you reach the roundabout with the social housing complex.

(16) Keep right on the footpath along Rue de la Ferté-Vidame and continue to the bridge.

(17) Turn right onto the path between the old railway line and the gardens. At the end, turn left, go under the Rue de la Libération bridge, then immediately turn right. You will arrive at the Champ de Foire.

(18) Cross it and continue towards the town centre along Rue de Verdun, which runs alongside the Town Hall. At the post office, continue along Rue Louis Peuret, pass in front of the church and arrive at Place des Halles. Turn right into the alley just after the market halls. You will come out in front of the castle museum (recommended visit). Opposite the castle, turn left. At the crossroads, follow Avenue des Evés on the right. Pass the Lavoir des Evés and follow the edge of Lac Arthur Rémy until you reach Rond de Battenberg (E).

The paths can be very wet, so wear suitable footwear.
During hunting season, check the hunting days at the town hall in La Ferté-Vidame or Senonches or at the Perche Forest Tourist Office.

The Chemin du Maupas crosses and runs alongside private woods. If you encounter a hunt, it is best to stay on the Ligne de La Rachée from the Rond des Hussards.
There is no hunting in the national forest on Sundays.
Between the points (3) and (8), the path can sometimes be difficult in wet weather or dangerous if hunting is taking place in the private woods. In this case, follow the beautiful stone-paved lane leading directly from the Rond des Hussards to the Grand Rond.

There are no refreshments along the route. There is a bus shelter in Tardais.

In La Ferté-Vidame: park and ruined castle. Insect trail - House of Saint-Simon, chronicler of the Court of Versailles. Fishing in the Mousseuse ponds - Discovery trail through the Mousseuses rainforest - Picnic area - campsite - Arboretum.

In Senonches: Castle Museum
Perche Forest Tourist Office - Huttopia holiday village - Motorhome parking area - Orée du Bois sensory trail - Fishing in Lake Arthur Rémy - La Hutte equestrian centre - Children's games in the Square du Petit Bossard -
6 km away in Fontaine-Simon: Perche Water Park: indoor swimming pool - Water skiing.
6 km away in Manou: Froux bog discovery trail.