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Park in the car park in front of the water tower.
(S/E) Set off southwards and take the signposted path at the far end of the car park. Carry straight on, ignoring a turn-off to the left (marker 85) and then one to the right (marker 80).
(1) Walk past the access road to Château du Mazeau and, at the Fork in the road, keep to the right. At the junction, follow the D104 to the right. Walk past the wayside cross and join the D65.
(2) Cross with care and continue straight ahead on the D104 towards L’Orbrie.
(3) Turn right onto Rue des Ouchettes. At the end, continue along Chemin des Ouchettes. Further on, ignore Chemin de la Pierrière coming from the left and cross a stream.
(4) At the next junction, take a track on the left. Follow this track to the end. Then turn left.
(5) Follow the Route de Puy Chabot to the right. When the road bends to the right, follow the track opposite which leads into the forest.
(6) Turn onto the first track on the left. At the next junction, keep to the right to stay on this track, which then continues as a path making a sharp bend to the right.
(7) Leave the path by heading down to the left to cross a stream (dry in summer). Continue along the path to the left. Then follow the path as it bends to the right and heads north. Pass a track on your right.
(8) Take a short detour to the left to look out over the Vendée, then retrace your steps a few metres and continue along the path on the left to reach the Allée de Brûleau. Follow this lane to the left, then continue along a path (steep descent) to emerge onto the road leading from the dam.
(9) Turn left and cross the crest of the dam. Just as you come out, on the right, you’ll see the millstone of an old submerged mill on display, along with a metal sculpture depicting the fairy Mélusine. At this point, there’s a panoramic view of the dam with information boards. Continue along the road until you reach the bend.
(10) Take the path on the left which climbs into the forest, following the course of the Vendée from above. Head downhill and rejoin the river. Turn right and head away from it to reach the hamlet of Sauvaget.
(11) Take the footbridge on the left and then immediately turn right onto the path that runs alongside the river. After 250 metres, this path turns left again, heading uphill to leave the woodland and skirt around the fields.
(12) Follow Rue de la Chaume to the left, then carry on straight ahead along Route de Puy Chabot.
(5) Carry on straight ahead and enter the forest (this section was already covered at the start of the walk).
(6) Carry on straight ahead for a good hundred metres. Take the first path on the right, which then heads north-east and joins the junction of the Route Forestière de la Balingue with the Allée de Bruleau (hut).
(13) Cross the forest road and take the path opposite to return to the D65. Turn right and follow the road up to the car park opposite the water tower (S/E).
Association / Club / Walk leader
Difficult 
Visorando Member
