Domfront (Orne) walks

The landscapes and views to the east serve as a reminder that the Alpes Mancelles are not far away. Consequently, some sections involve elevation changes which may present a few difficulties for those who are not used to them. At the (5), do pop into the Chapelle du Cerisier for a short break.

Passing through a marshland to discover this natural wonder – a gorge over 70 metres high, carved out by a river which, at this point, is more like a torrent – come and explore the Sonce and walk a short section ofthe GR® trail that links France’s two most spectacular sites: Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey.

A picturesque circular route with no navigation difficulties, ideal for families. The route mainly follows the Flers-Domfront Greenway, passes by the Château de Varenne and its old forges, then climbs up a path towards the Manoir de la Nocherie. It rejoins the Greenway after crossing the Varenne at the Moulin de la Nocherie ford to return to the start.

This easy hike allows you to discover the Fosse Arthour. It is a geological fault called a cluse, which gives the landscape an exceptional appeal. This cluse forms a narrow, 70-metre-deep gorge carved into a rocky ridge and strewn with large boulders on its sides. The area is ideal for walking and climbing.

During this hike, you will discover surprising mining remains: iron mine shafts, calcination furnaces from before and after 1938, and a mining town. The hike begins along a Way of the Cross that will take you to the Calvary of Mont Brûlé. The hike winds through the undergrowth and follows a few sections of road. During your journey, you will discover a castle and an old watermill nestled in a green setting.

A beautiful walk that runs alongside the Village du Cheval and then enters the forest via a path offering beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. It then crosses the Saint-Ortaire priory and returns to the centre of Bagnoles-de-l'Orne, passing by the lake and the casino on the way back to the car park.

A 6 km route starting from the Ceramics Museum – Ger Creative Centre. You can park in the museum car park when the museum is closed. Otherwise, please park in the field opposite to leave the car park for museum visitors (coaches). Woodland, sunken lanes and old pottery hamlets.

A small hill in the Mortainais region can be explored from Le Teilleul via a unique path, an ancient pilgrimage route once used by pilgrims coming from Burgundy. From the top of this hill, the view stretches towards Domfront and Mortain.

A walk through the ages, surrounded by nature. You’ll discover reproductions of Impressionist works by Ludovic Piette and Camille Pissarro, as well as megaliths including the Menhir de la Pierre Robert and a dolmen. Finally, the beautiful Bignon manor house and its hamlet.

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful walks in the Lassay-les-Châteaux area. Lots of sunken paths, some woodland and a stream.

A superb circular walk starting from the ‘Petite Cité de Caractère’ of Lassay-les-Châteaux, voted France’s third favourite village in 2023. 94 per cent dirt tracks and some wonderful heritage sites to discover along the way: Lassay Castle, Bois Thibault Castle and the ruins of Bois Frou.An interpretative trail based on the legend of Lancelot du Lac enhances this route with several stops featuring information panels on themes from Arthurian legend. The Château de Bois Thibault, open during the tourist season (weekends and public holidays only), features a magnificent round table and a comic strip depicting the legend of the famous knight Lancelot.

In the northern Mayenne countryside, Lassay-les-Châteaux is a small town that is well worth a visit. As you walk along the surrounding paths, a few signposts invite you to follow in the footsteps of Lancelot through meadows, forests and the remains of three castles. An easy walk on well-maintained paths and a few country roads.

Circling Mont Secret with an off-centre start at the car park near L’Aufrairie, this more challenging route climbs towards Mont de Cerisy along the section belonging to the commune of Montsecret. Between two hills, will Mont Secret perhaps reveal itself?

The Lac de Haute Mayenne, artificially created by the Saint-Fraimbault dam, will charm you with its rich and varied flora and fauna. But this route will also allow you to discover the confluence of two rivers that feed into the Mayenne: the Varenne and the Colmont.

A family walk in the largest wetland area in the Orne department. Located in the Houlme region, at the heart of the Normandy bocage, the Grand Hazé is a landscape of 200 hectares of ponds, peat bogs, reed beds and peaty woods.

Although "Belle Eau" is the name of a hamlet located at the northernmost point of this route, hikers will be amazed from the outset by the water gushing through the rocks in magnificent waterfalls. The route continues along wide paths, often bathed by runoff water from the various branches of the Cance, and ends on a high note with the panorama offered at altitude 314, famous not only for its small chapel but also for the battles that took place there in August 1944.

The route passes along both sides of the Diane valley and offers a view of the canton of Tinchebray from Sainte-Radegonde Chapel.

The organisations Familles Rurales Briouze, Environnement et Vie en Pays de Briouze and the municipality of Craménil have put together a family trail for you to discover the flora, fauna and typical landscapes of our bocage. Some sections are damp, so make sure you wear sturdy shoes! The route described includes a 3.2 km alternative route; you can also complete the 4 km circular route.

A short walk of about 4km through the village of Roullours and its mill.

A very lovely walk in the Buttes d’Hardanges, a Sensitive Natural Area, between the villages of Ribay and Hardanges. This former military zone is now a true haven of peace and offers a vast array of natural meadows, wet heathland, dry heathland, peat bogs and valley floors.

Hike through woods, countryside, villages and rivers, from Roches d'Oëtre to Méandre de Rouvrou. From Roches d'Oëtre, follow a well-marked path that will take you through the meanders of La Rouvre.

If there were a paradise for hiking, the Roche d'Oëtre Sensitive Natural Area and the Rouvre Gorges would certainly be well placed! A listed site and Sensitive Natural Area in the Orne department, La Roche d'Oëtre, located in the heart of the Normandy Mountains, is a must-see site and a meeting place for lovers of wild nature and hiking.