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Leaving Cestas via Avenue du Baron Hausmann, you can't miss Lac Vert, a former gravel pit converted into a lake, just before the RN10. Go through the gate and park in the large car park.
(S/E) Leave the car park through a gate leading to Avenue du Baron Hausmann and cross the RN10 at the roundabout to reach the start of the forest track.
(1) Take this forest track, called Chemin de la Braneyre. It is straight at first, then curves to the left before becoming straight again.
(2) After about 1.5 km of track and a slight curve to the left, follow a path on the right that first runs alongside a small estey (drainage canal), before crossing it and heading south. It soon reaches the Cestas-Léognan road, which you have to follow a little to the right before crossing the ditch to cross it. Walk about 200 m towards Cestas, following the cycle path that runs alongside this road until you find the entrance to the Bois de l'Hermitage housing estate on the left.
(3) Enter this housing estate and follow the path that crosses it towards the south. You will soon walk alongside a vineyard on your left and a housing estate on your right.
(4) At the southern end of the housing estate, you will find a path blocked by a chain. Follow this path, which branches off to the left towards the west, between the housing estate on the right and a wood on the left. You will reach the western end of the housing estate, where a chain blocks the path.
(5) After this chain, continue along the path, turning left, leaving a path on your right that runs along the housing estate to the west and a vague path opposite.
On this sandy track, ignore a poorly maintained path on the right after 300 metres and continue. The track first curves to the right and then to the left; leave a good straight track on the right and continue straight ahead for about 250 metres.
(6) Facing a grove of trees, take a nice sandy path on the left and continue straight ahead for almost a kilometre until you reach a wide track that runs alongside the vineyards of the Chevalier estate, whose château you can see opposite.
(7) Take the track on the left and follow it until you reach the housing estate on the left.
(4) Head in the opposite direction to the one you took previously, turning right onto a path that runs alongside the vineyards along a stream used by the small Hermitage brook. After crossing a copse at the end of the vineyards, the path leads to a hamlet of wooden houses. Turn left and walk less than 100 metres.
(8) On the right, several paths lead into the pine forest towards Lac Bleu. Follow one of them and head east to the lake, which you will skirt around on the right. After walking along the lake, you will find some huts, including a restaurant, at the side of the road. Follow this road to the left, cross the roundabout and continue straight ahead for about a hundred metres.
(9) On the left, you will see a pretty sandy path that slopes away from the road. Unfortunately, it is currently blocked by a fence, which means we are deprived of a pleasant shortcut.
Leave this path and continue along the road, taking the first left for 350 metres.
(10) Continue straight ahead on this small road until you come to another road, which you cross to reach a large track: the Chemin de la Braneyre, which you follow for about 400 metres.
(11) Take the second dirt track on the right, perpendicular to the track, at the entrance to which there is a chain. This track leads straight to the large track that follows the high-voltage power line and acts as a firebreak. If this path is not accessible, there are other options a little further on for crossing this plot and reaching the high-voltage power line track, which is easy to locate.
(12) Turn left and follow this track until you cross an estey (canal). At this point, you will see the Braneyres retirement home on your left. Continue straight ahead until you reach the road (RN10 or D1010).
(13) Cross carefully (no protected crossing) and take the street opposite (Chemin des Gahets).
(14) At the crossroads just after an old building with a blue sign saying "Place des Bricoleurs", turn left and continue through the vineyards until you reach the forest.
(15) Leave the entrance to the private property opposite and follow the path that branches off at a right angle to the left. Cross the woods to the lake. When you reach the lake, take the path that runs along the shore, going around it on the right.
After going around the lake and passing the entrance, you will find the car park between the buildings and the perimeter fence (S/E).
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