Passing through La Motte Longuet

The start of the walk is at the car park next to the cemetery at La Ferté-Saint-Cyr, on the Route de Bonneville (D925).

(S/E) Follow the Route de Bonneville (D925) towards the village to the north. Pass the Route de Dhuizon, then the Route de Chambord, on your left, and turn right onto the Route de Saint-Cyr at the junction. Pass the road leading to the housing estate shortly after the fire station on your right.

(1) Turn right onto the CR27 or Chemin de Villeny. Continue along the forest track where the tarmac ends. Pass under a power line.

Old red-and-white markings

(2) At the crossroads, ignore the CR27 on the right and take the CR23, or^GR®3C, on the left. This north-east-bound path crosses the Route de Saint Cyr. Ignore all side turnings leading to private roads.

(3) Leave the CR32 on your right and stay on the CR23 or^GR® de Pays de Sologne heading north-east. Ignore the paths on the right. Opposite the Château de la Motte-Longuet, the lane turns right.

(4) At the crossroads, turn right onto the CR5 towards Les Mottets, turning your back on the VC11 towards Ligny-le-Ribault. This lane heads mainly south-west. Again, ignore the various side lanes.

(5) Pass the CR32 towards Lauray on your right and head towards the hamlet of Saint-Cyr on your left. At the crossroads, follow the sign for ‘La Brosse CR35’ by veering left.

(6) Ignore the CR36 on the left and stay on the CR35, which turns right; pass La Brosse, then Le Cordon on your right. You can just make out the Étang du Bout du Monde behind the vegetation on your left.

(7) At the crossroads, turn right onto the CR27 or^GR®31(^GR® de Pays de Sologne), pass an old barrier, then the hamlet of La Fosse and a pond on your right.

(8) At the Croix Gérat, continue along the CR27 or^GR®31heading north-west, ignoring the CR40. Ignore the various side lanes.

(2) At the crossroads, pass through the old barrier then turn onto the CR23, the left-hand-most road, which runs alongside some ponds. A commemorative plaque marks the spot where a fighter aircraft was shot down on 1 July 1944.

(9) At the crossroads, turn right onto the D925, Route de Bonneville, which leads to the village via the cemetery (S/E).

The paths taken are mainly forest tracks.

Avoid this route in wet weather and during the hunting season.

Watch out for signs indicating private property. There are many of them and their placement is often confusing. Stick to the route and do not take any shortcuts.

Alternative route: you can shorten the route by taking the cross-country path between (3) and (8) (distance = 7.86 km)

(3) Turn right onto the CR32, which heads due south.

(5) At the junction, ignore the lane on the left, then turn right onto the Clos de Saint-Cyr. At the crossroads in the hamlet of Saint-Cyr, take the Chemin de la Croix Gérat on the left (CR40), which heads due south.

(8) At the Croix Gérat, turn onto the CR27, or^GR®31, heading north-west.

You’ll see numerous ponds in a wooded area consisting of deciduous trees and a few pine groves.

Nearby: Chambord Castle, about 15 km to the west.