From the Gaudinière Forest to the Gratteloup Valley

Starting from the centre of Ville-aux-Clercs, set off to explore the ruins of the Château de la Gaudinière and the estate of the Duke of La Rochefoucault as you cross its woodland. Continue along the Gratteloup valley before returning to the village lake after catching a glimpse of the Chapel of Sainte-Radegonde.

Details

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  • Mountain biking
    Activity: Mountain biking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.07 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 4 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 318 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 328 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 581 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 381 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: La Ville-aux-Clercs (41160)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.918405° / E 1.085603°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1919SB, 2019SB

  • ◶
    Type of surface: Not specified
  • ⇧
    Bike carrying: Not specified
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Not specified
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the route

The route starts in the village centre, at the car park in front of the church.

(S) Head down Rue du Vieux Moulin (east-north-east), keeping the church and the town hall on your left. You’ll reach the three-way junction 300 metres further on.

(1) Turn right onto Rue du Docteur Moussarou and follow it all the way, leaving the village behind until you reach the last farm. When you reach the farm, take a sharp left towards the water tower.

(2) In front of the water tower, turn right towards the Forêt de la Gaudinière, which you can see in the distance. Pass the pond on your right; at this point you will see a ruined gatehouse on your left, at the far end of a field.
Carry on along the track as you enter the forest and continue straight on (north-east) until you reach the clearing where the castle ruins lie, partially overgrown with vegetation.

(3) Pass to the right of the ruins, continuing along the same path, and carry on through the forest. There is a geocache near the ruins (The ruins of Gaudinière Castle). The route continues straight on until it joins the D19 (it is not possible to take the perpendicular paths, as they are private and often blocked by barriers).

(4) Once you reach the D19, turn sharply right and follow the road as it winds downhill to a crossroads.

(5) Turn right towards the Ragot Valley. When you reach the three-way junction, continue uphill to the right towards Toulourin and then Bellevue. Carry on straight ahead, heading into the forest until you reach the T-junction.

(6) Turn left at a right angle and carry on out of the forest until you reach the next junction. Turn right onto the road that runs between the fields to return to the shade of the forest on a gentle descent. You will then be back in the forest for several kilometres. At the end of the woodland, the road bends to the left. You’ll then leave the woodland behind, heading towards the hamlet of Bellegarde, followed by the hamlet of Beauregard.

(7) In this hamlet, at the stop sign, turn right and continue through it. Begin a descent of two to three hundred metres.

(8) At the bottom of the descent, turn right and continue straight on, passing a poplar grove on your left and the road leading to La Pichotterie on your right. The road now runs alongside the Gratte-Loup stream, which is on your left. When you reach the hamlet of Les Barres, begin an ascent followed by a short descent leading to the Sainte-Radegonde Chapel. (There isa geocache near the chapel; for more information, click on the link below for the ‘miraculous fountain’.

(9) Take the road towards the hamlet of Corbigny and pass through it. The road will curve twice to the right and climb up through the trees to become the Route de Busloup. Walk alongside a pond partly hidden by the vegetation and continue uphill until you come to a clearing on the left in the woods, about 200 metres from the first houses.

(10) Turn left onto the path through the woods to reach the stream and its pond. Follow the path along the right-hand side of the pond. At the end of the pond, turn left for a few dozen metres and join Rue Françoise de Lorraine.

(11) Turn right into the street and take the first left (Rue de la Panouse). At the first bend, leave the street and follow the path directly ahead of you, which leads out onto a small tarmac-surfaced square. After the bench, turn immediately right into the passageway. Go through the small archway (height 1.60m) to find yourself in the garage courtyard (open to the public). The church is directly in front of you; this is your destination.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 466 ft - Church car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.24 - alt. 453 ft - Three-way junction, Rue du Docteur Moussarou
  3. 2 : mi 0.83 - alt. 505 ft - Turn right opposite the water tower
  4. 3 : mi 2.7 - alt. 581 ft - Ruins of La Gaudinière
  5. 4 : mi 5.51 - alt. 476 ft - Junction with the D19
  6. 5 : mi 6.02 - alt. 420 ft - Junction at elevation 127
  7. 6 : mi 7.06 - alt. 522 ft - End of the route at the T-junction
  8. 7 : mi 9.88 - alt. 479 ft - Stop at the hamlet of Bellegarde
  9. 8 : mi 10.54 - alt. 407 ft - Junction at elevation 124
  10. 9 : mi 11.21 - alt. 410 ft - Sainte-Radegonde Chapel
  11. 10 : mi 12.47 - alt. 463 ft - Clearing leading to the path through the woods
  12. 11 : mi 12.76 - alt. 430 ft - Turn right onto Rue Françoise de Lorraine
  13. S/E : mi 13.07 - alt. 469 ft - Church car park

Notes

- Parking available in the square at the starting point.
- The route can be completed by hybrid bike or, if necessary, on foot.
- In the forest, only the route itself is authorised (local council path); all other paths are restricted or private.
- Cyclists should bring basic cycling kit.
- Food and refreshments available on arrival.
(Geocaching along this route).

Worth a visit

Ruins of the Gaudinière estate (risk of rockfall: entry to the interior is prohibited).
The forest and its wildlife, particularly large game (deer, wild boar, roe deer).
The Gratte-Loup Valley, with hamlets typical of the region.
The Sainte-Radegonde Chapel, with a nearby geocache called‘the miraculous fountain’.
Near waypoint 11: Geocache: La Porte du Fort Girard (GC6NHZT).

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
3.5 / 5
labbe45
labbe45

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Lots of straight stretches through the woods that aren’t particularly interesting. The end of the route is very pleasant, but it’s a bit short to make the whole walk enjoyable. The feeling of walking between the two ‘walls’ of a private estate becomes tedious.

Machine-translated

labbe45
labbe45

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The very enjoyable ending makes up for the slightly drawn-out sections in the woods;

Machine-translated

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