From Saint-Hilaire-du-Bois to La Martinière

The car park is located on the square behind the church and the town hall of Saint-Hilaire-du-Bois.

(S/E) Head west to cross La Rochette via a small footbridge. Join Rue de l'Étang to pass in front of the old dairy. At the end of the street, turn right onto Rue de la Laiterie and, after about 100 metres, turn right again onto Rue Principale, which slopes downwards. Pass the ^first street on the right and continue to the crossroads.

(1) Pass Route des Grosses Pierres on your left, which you will take on the way back, and continue straight on Rue Principale (D252), which leaves Saint-Hilaire-du-Bois and runs alongside La Rochette. At the crossroads, turn right onto the D699 and cross it with caution.

(2) Take the path opposite, which gradually heads east. Continue straight on until you reach the D253. Cross it carefully and take the small road opposite, known as Chemin de Mont Garnier. Cross the hamlet of the same name and continue to the crossroads.

(3) Turn right onto a street that turns into a path as soon as you pass the last house. Continue straight ahead on this path, which winds between fields and vineyards before crossing a small wood and coming out onto a small road. Follow it to the right and pass the place called Chez Boulinaud until you reach the left-hand bend.

(4) Immediately after a house, take the grassy path on the right that heads east towards a wood. Enter the wood and you will come to a clearing (vineyard plot) and a crossroads. Take the path on the left, which crosses a wood and then runs along its edge. You will arrive at the corner of a vineyard plot.

(5) Take the path on the left and walk along this plot (on your right) before entering the Bois Grelet. At the end of the path, you will reach the D699. Cross it carefully and continue straight ahead along a path. You will soon come to a road; follow it to the right.

(6) At a place called La Garde, turn left. When the road turns left, continue straight ahead along a path. You will come to a T-junction; turn left. Then turn right and walk along a vineyard on your right. Shortly before the end of the vineyard, at a crossroads, turn left. Then turn right and you will reach the D252. Turn left and carefully follow the road for about 150 metres.

(7) Then turn right onto a path that crosses the Bois des Genêts. At the crossroads (elevation 65), go straight ahead. After leaving the woods, take the^first path on the right. Walk along a vineyard on your left until you reach La Martinière. When you arrive, the path turns into a road. Cross the hamlet of La Martinière, continuing straight ahead along Rue du Château d'Eau until you reach the junction with Rue des Vignes.

(8) Leave Rue des Vignes on your left and exit the hamlet via Route de la Martinière opposite. Pass La Chaume on your left and arrive at Route de Saint-Hilaire (D253) south of Guitinières.

(9) Cross the road carefully and continue almost opposite on a path which, shortly afterwards, turns left and runs parallel to the D253. At the next crossroads, turn right.

(10) Take the^first path on the left and cross the locality of Grave du Pré Robin. Join the D253E4 and cross it carefully. Continue along the path opposite. Continue straight ahead, south-east, until you reach the Route de Picoulade. Follow it straight ahead for about 100 metres until you reach a right-hand bend.

(11) Leave the road and take the path on the left. Follow it until you reach Route de Chez Giraudeau. Carefully follow it, turning left, then right onto Route des Grosses Pierres (D252). You will come back to the crossroads you passed on the way to Saint-Hilaire-du-Bois.

(1) Turn right and then immediately left onto Place de la Mairie and return to the car park (S/E).

This hike covers varied terrain and requires suitable footwear.

This route is not marked in sections. It is therefore advisable to follow the directions in the description and on the map, while also paying close attention to the landscape. The waypoints (with their GPS coordinates and distance from the starting point) are helpful for hikers who are new to the route.

There are toilets in a small building that can be reached by crossing the La Rochette river via a small bridge and turning left (south of the dairy).

Hike completed by the author on 29 November 2022.

Saint-Hilaire du Bois
The commune is watered by the Maine, a sub-tributary of the Charente via the Seugne.
Founded in Carolingian times, it bears the name of one of the first bishops (303-367) of the diocese of Poitiers, to which it belonged. In the 11th century, the building consisted of a large single nave (characteristic of the Angevin Romanesque style), a flat chevet and oriented chapels with open passages to the choir. In the 18th century, the vaults of the bay under the bell tower were restored. Burned down in 1794, the church was repaired in 1800 and, shortly afterwards, a sacristy and a transept were added. The last phase of work was carried out in 1864 by Simon, an architect from Meslay. Two bays were added to the nave and two chapels to the new transept.
During the restoration of the plasterwork in the choir of the church, ancient frescoes from the 14th and 17th centuries were discovered. They were restored in 1993. The church has been listed as a historic monument since 2000.
Sources: Wikipedia (excerpts) and Heritage Days