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Please note! Moderator update on 1 July 2020: A review of this hike states that "The hike is impossible between 15 June and 31 August because the site is fenced off. You cannot access the Roche Ballue M site, a nature reserve reserved for water sports and climbing. There is an admission fee of €3.50 per adult and you cannot exit from the other side."
Departure from the car park in the village of La Motte.
(S/E) Leave the car park and head towards the village (north-west) on Route de la Marche. At the three-way junction, turn left onto Impasse de la Motte, then left again onto Rue de la Motte. After the last house, take the path on the right which leads to the first viewpoint over the Loire.
(1) Take the steps down to the Roche Ballue quarry. At the bottom of the steps, turn right to enter the Roche Ballue site. Head towards the lake and go around it on the left (you can walk all the way around the lake) until you reach the eastern exit of the site.
PLEASE NOTE: From mid-June to the end of August, the Roche Ballue site is only open from point 2.
To reach point 2 during this period, do not go down the steps, but turn right onto the Chemin des Belvédères and continue straight ahead. This will take you to point 2. You can then continue the hike to point 3.
(2) From the exit, quickly take the path to the left. After about 150 metres, take the Chemin de la Mandine, which heads to the right, and follow it to a fork under a power line.
(3) Take Chemin de la Sangle on the left (east) and follow it until you reach a fork with a white path. Continue left towards Rue de Beauvoir until you reach the tarmac road at a place called La Rinière.
(4) Cross Rue du Port Lavigne and immediately turn right (follow theGRP® Pays Nantais markings). Walk along Rue du Port Lavigne to the roundabout. Take Rue Eugène Pottier for 50 metres and turn right onto Rue Phileas Fogg.
Enter the park and continue straight ahead on the dirt track until you reach the Mare aux Canards. Go around it on the right, turn right twice and follow Chemin Jean Valjean to the right until you reach Rue Manon Lescaut. You are now leaving the park.
(5) Turn right onto Rue Manon Lescaut, cross Rue de la Gouretterie, then after 30 metres, follow the path on the left that winds between the houses. This leads to Rue Angélique des Estuaires. Turn right onto Rue de la Gratioles and walk a few metres, then take the small alley on your left. This leads to Rue de la Patience d'Eau. At the end of the street, continue straight ahead on a dirt track until you reach Chemin du Puits.
(6) Continue to the right (west) until you reach the road. Cross Rue des Jauvraie, then turn left onto Chemin de la Caillère until you reach the reservoir.
(7) Turn right onto Chemin de la Pièce Neuve and follow it to the village of La Mouchonnerie. Go around the village by taking the first path on the left.
(8) Cross Rue de la Mouchonnerie, go around the pond on the left, then turn left onto Chemin des Rotis. At the intersection under the power line, continue right onto Chemin de la Pièce Carrée. Cross Rue des Coteaux and return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
