From the forest to the Layon near Beaulieu-sur-Layon

A pleasant walk, starting from Beaulieu-sur-Layon, heading towards the Beaulieu Forest. Along the way, discover the Château de l’Orée. In the forest, the route follows various types of paths, from a wide avenue to a narrow track. The rest of the route offers breathtaking views of the Layon hillsides as it descends to the village of Rablay-sur-Layon via the steep Sillanderie path. On the way back to Beaulieu-sur-Layon, the route passes the Château de la Mulonnière, then takes the Rue du Moulin des Cinq, which offers magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 121 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 126 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 109 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 26 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The parking spot is on Rue Saint-Vincent, on the left-hand side, along the pavement, just before the Post Office. For cars, there is a car park near the stadium, slightly lower down on the left.

(S/E) Take Rue Saint-Vincent heading south-east. Cross Rue du Square on the right-hand side and note the Logis de la Pinsonnière.

(1) At the junction, turn right into Rue du Moulin des Cinq, then left into Rue de la Mairie. Continue straight on, passing a Romanesque chapel, then the town hall, which is a former 17th-century priory. At the end of the street, turn right to reach the foot of the church.

(2) Go round the church on the right, taking Rue Rabelais. At the corner, turn left and walk past the church’s apse. Cross Rue du Dolmen (D55) at the pedestrian crossing and follow Rue de l’Orée.

(3) Turn onto the path just after No. 18. Immediately turn right onto a perpendicular path. Cross Rue de l’Origan and continue along the path. You’ll come out onto Rue de l’Armoise; first turn right then left to take another path. At the T-junction, turn right onto Rue de la Chapelle, which quickly gives way to a path between two vineyard plots. You’ll reach a small road; follow it to the right for about thirty metres.

(4) At the crossroads, follow the D204 to the left, known as the Quatre Chemins. Admire the beautiful Croix Dorée estate on your right. Go round the next crossroads on the left and take the Chemin Rural de l'Étang opposite, which leads into the Forest of Beaulieu. Continue straight on, north-north-east.

(5) At a junction, just as you leave the woods, turn right (east). Follow this winding path, staying on the edge of the woods, until you reach the D204.

(6) Follow it to the right for about twenty metres. Take the farm track on the left, heading south, on the left-hand side of the road. The track, running along the edge of the woods, overlooks the hamlets of La Fraudière and La Tabourderie, with a pond between them

(7) When the main track turns right, leave it and continue straight on (south-east) along another track. At the junction shortly afterwards, go straight on. Walk south, then south and south-west, through the forest. Leave the forest and pass between plots of vines.

(8) You will come out onto the D55; cross it carefully and follow it to the right for a good hundred metres. Then turn left to see the dolmen known as Pierre Couverte Mont-Benault.

(9) Head back to the previous junction.

(8) Then turn right onto a path that climbs a hillside planted with vines. Go straight on, ignoring all the side paths. At the top, cross a small road and continue straight ahead onto a path leading to the D54.

(10) First turn left then right to follow a small road (Route de la Mulonnière) heading west. Note the Layon below, on the left.

(11) At the junction (castle on the left), turn right, then immediately left onto a path. At the T-junction, at a place called La Mulonnière, follow a small road to the right for about 200 m.

(12) Then turn left onto a small road going uphill. When the road turns left at a 90° angle, continue straight ahead onto a path that immediately turns right, then left. Return to the road and follow it as it continues.

(13) At the T-junction, follow a small road to the left and pass the hamlet of La Mine. Take the second road on the right. Cross the D204 road with care and continue along the small road straight ahead.

(14) Take the first path on the right, cross a short wooded area, and climb a hillside planted with vines. Pass in front of the Moulin des Cinq, and continue along the street of the same name.

(15) Turn left onto Chemin des Douze. When the road immediately bends left, continue straight ahead along a path. Take the first path on the right.

(16) Join Rue du Martinet and turn left onto the path that continues from it. At the next junction (calvary), first turn right then left to follow another path. Go straight on to reach Rue Saint-Vincent (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 78 m - Rue Saint-Vincent
  2. 1 : km 0.38 - alt. 84 m - Rue Saint-Vincent x Rue du Moulin des Cinq
  3. 2 : km 0.63 - alt. 88 m - Église Notre-Dame (Beaulieu-sur-Lignon)
  4. 3 : km 0.93 - alt. 89 m - Junction
  5. 4 : km 1.5 - alt. 101 m - Road junction
  6. 5 : km 2.94 - alt. 92 m - Crossroads. Forest edge
  7. 6 : km 4.02 - alt. 89 m - Cross the D204
  8. 7 : km 4.51 - alt. 94 m - Start of the path
  9. 8 : km 6.34 - alt. 68 m - Crossroads. Return to the dolmen
  10. 9 : km 6.54 - alt. 70 m - Pierre Couverte Mont-Benault
  11. 10 : km 7.72 - alt. 30 m - D54 road - Layon (rivière) à compléter
  12. 11 : km 8.36 - alt. 30 m - Crossroads - Château de la Mulonnière
  13. 12 : km 9.05 - alt. 47 m - Crossroads
  14. 13 : km 9.7 - alt. 48 m - T-junction
  15. 14 : km 10.31 - alt. 26 m - Start of the path
  16. 15 : km 11.09 - alt. 82 m - Crossroads
  17. 16 : km 11.39 - alt. 78 m - T-junction
  18. S/E : km 11.78 - alt. 78 m - Rue Saint-Vincent

Notes

This hike over varied terrain requires suitable footwear.

This hike is only partially signposted.

Alternative route (omitting the section through Beaulieu Forest)
At point (3), in front of the house at number 18 on the left, turn right into the small street opposite the house leading towards Rue du Fourneau. Follow it to the left until the next junction. Turn right into Rue du Moulin Beleau, which is soon lined with vineyards on the left, then on both sides once you have passed the last house. The tarmac road gives way to a good path. The path winds its way through two small wooded areas and comes to a junction with a path on the right. Turn onto this path, which heads east until it joins a small road running almost north-south. Turn right to rejoin the original route towards (8). The route is then approximately 8 km long.

Hike completed by the author on 14 May 2022

Worth a visit

Beaulieu-sur-Layon

Le Logis de la Pinsonnière (rue Saint Vincent) has been a listed historic building since 1984 for its façade, roof, entrance gate and wrought-iron grilles. It bears witness to the history of the village.

12th-century Romanesque chapel
The chapel is the chancel of the former church of Beaulieu, dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1853, part of it was demolished and the materials sold to build the new church. Only the chancel remains. 

Town Hall (former 17th-century priory).
This was the residence of the Fermier Général, who was responsible for administering the properties owned by the Abbess of Ronceray in Beaulieu. 

Notre-Dame Church (19th century)
Built on the site of the old cemetery, this Neo-Gothic church was consecrated on 22 November 1845. The bells were blessed in 1862. 

Mont-Benault Dolmen
The Pierre-Couverte dolmen is a polygonal dolmen of the Angevin type. It consists of five stones, a sixth having been destroyed. Its chamber measures 2.45 metres by 1.35 metres.
It takes its name from the nearby hamlet, but is also known as the Loncheneau dolmen.
Source: the municipality’s official website

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 12173055

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes and a slight elevation gain, and an interesting stop at the dolmen.
The route is marked in blue and the description is good. Due to the rain, we took the shortest route at the end. The hike took 2½ hours.

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User 4062403

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, peaceful route. Lovely autumn colours in the forest and vineyards. The beautiful Layon hillside valley. A varied walk in terms of landscapes and heritage.

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rando
rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good route with little tarmac and well-maintained paths.

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SManno
SManno

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful views of the vineyards and forest. Highly recommended.

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