Between the Loire and the vineyards in Drain

Yellow markings

(S/E) Park in the car park next to the municipal campsite in Drain. Head towards Rue des Pêcheurs to start this walk. Walk up this street and continue along Chemin des Tuilots.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin des Dames. You will then pass through the vineyards of Drain. Continue along this dirt track for about 100 m, following it as it curves slightly to the left, then right and left again.
Follow this path to the junction with Rue Guillaume.

(2) There, turn left and continue straight on for 300 m until you reach the D751.

(3) Cross the Croix Brevet, cross a junction and join a wooded dirt track. Follow this path, which runs south of the Nigaudière stream for just over 1 km. Follow it as it turns right, then left, and then right again. Cross the D751 carefully towards the Domaine du Haut Frêne. Walk up the road towards Bas Frêne for about 100 m.

(4) Turn right onto the path through the vineyards for 700 m.

(5) Turn left when you see a small building called "La Pigeonelle". Walk up through the vineyards for about 130 m to rejoin the Moulin Auray path.
Turn left towards Moulin Auray.

(6) Turn right into the hamlet and continue straight on until you reach Rue Bourgautron. Turn left, then immediately right onto Chemin La Poncée. Continue along this path until you reach Chemin des Robinets. After passing Les Gâts, turn right onto the path that crosses the vineyards directly opposite La Coulée des Robinets.

(7) Follow this path for 150 m, turn left then right onto the wooded path towards l’Arcadière.

(8) Cross the Ardacière and then the Plantis. Cross the Route des Rougeries and take the path opposite through fields and vineyards for 400 m until you reach the Chemin de la Mitroisière, where you turn right to rejoin the Chemin du Taillis.

(9) Cross Les Lambardières then continue straight on to cross La Pointe, crossing the Chemin de la Coptière. Continue straight on to La Maison Neuve. Cross the D154 carefully and continue along the Chemin des Colineaux for 800 m to La Vieille Cour.

(10) Turn right at the junction to rejoin the Chemin de la Vieille Cour. Continue straight on for 400 m. When the path splits into four branches, take the^{second one} from the left. Continue straight on to cross La Croix and join the D253 at La Parisière.

(11) Turn left onto the D253 then continue carefully straight on for 700 m to Bréhéry.

(12) Turn right onto Rue de la Béhéry, which continues into a left-hand bend. At the end of the street, at the T-junction, turn right to join a dirt track that leads through fields and then through woods, and follow it for 500 m.

(13) Turn right just before the Champenière stream. Follow the path that runs alongside the stream for about 400 m, then continue along the same path, which gradually moves away from the stream before turning right. After this right-hand bend, at the fork in the path, continue straight ahead along the wooded paths. The path continues, turning left to join a wider track on the right leading out into fields.

(14) Turn left and you will see the Domaine des Galloires, the Chapelle des Galloires and the Vignes et Loire guesthouse on your right. Continue straight on to cross Les Greliers and carefully cross the D751. Then cross the Champenière stream (if the water level is high) or to the left of the stream’s pool (if the water level is low). Continue straight on and, at the junction, continue straight on. The path continues, turning slightly to the left.

(15) At the T-junction, turn right. Continue straight on for 150 m; the path splits into three tracks where it crosses the Boire de la Rompure when the water level is high. You can take the path furthest to the left (if the water level in the Boire is not too high), otherwise take the middle path which crosses a small bridge over a sluice. Continue along this same path through the pastures for about 2 km.

(16) You’ll come to a T-junction. Take the road on the left, towards Les Brevets. Continue along this road for about 450 m, pass the Bed Loire campsite (on your right), then turn right just after the last house in the village of Les Brevets. A few metres further on, stay on this path, which curves slightly to the left and then slightly to the right. Follow this path for about 350 m.

(17) You will come to a T-junction; turn right. You will then see the Boire de la Nigaudière just to your left; follow it for 800 m.

(18) Take the road on the left and follow it for 150 m before taking the path on the right, north of the Boire de la Rompure. Follow the stream for about 1.3 km, then turn left and left again to rejoin the^GR®3(you will therefore go round the stream).
Head due east along the^GR®3for 1 km to the end point, the car park at Drain municipal campsite (S/E).

23% tarmac.

The boires
A regional term used in the Loire region, specifically in Maine-et-Loire and Loire-Atlantique: a ‘boire’ or ‘bouère’ (an archaic pronunciation in the Angevin dialect) is a backwater of the Loire, often silted up or muddied, which is refilled with water in winter during a flood.
The boires of Drain feature varied habitats due to differing water levels and diverse vegetation. This specific habitat supports a unique array of flora and fauna, such as the famous kingfisher, the beaver and the speckled wood butterfly. And recently, the four-leaved water fern (Marcillé) has made a reappearance.
Will you be able to spot them at the edges of the pools along the nature trail?

The beaver:
The European beaver is France’s largest rodent, with an average length of 80 to 120 cm, plus a 40 cm tail. Although it seemed to have disappeared from the region in the 17th century, in recent years it has made a comeback, particularly in the Drain waterholes. It is a mainly nocturnal mammal, but you can spot signs of its presence on the banks, where it strips bark from branches and prunes trees into pencil-like shapes.

The pollarded ash:
It is characteristic of the Loire Valley’s heritage, and you will come across it regularly on hiking trails. It has many qualities, including being excellent firewood. Known for its even cut at the top of the trunk – one might say tousled by the wind – this ‘monument’ of the bocage is very useful for maintaining the riverbanks. It is the victim of widespread felling carried out without consultation, as the growth formed – ‘the burl’ – is a precious wood highly sought after for its veined structure and varied colours. It is ideal for marquetry in the creation of musical instruments, boat fittings or car dashboards.

The Chapel of Sainte-Marguerite aux Galloires:
On the site of the chapel once stood the Château de la Galouère, which was razed to the ground, just like Chateauceaux, in retaliation for the imprisonment of Duke Jean V. This castle housed a ‘court of love’, a sort of tribunal whose jurisdiction extended to all matters of courtship and disputes over love.

The Château de la Turmelière (in Liré):
On the Turmelière estate, three castles have marked history since the 13th century, including the birthplace of Joachim du Bellay (now in ruins). On the site, set amidst the 19th-century château (which serves as a group accommodation and reception venue), three entities coexist: a therapeutic, educational and pedagogical institute, an equestrian centre, and the La Turmelière association, which welcomes numerous primary, secondary and sixth-form pupils and students and offers a sports facility open to all.
You can take a stroll around to discover this place steeped in history and poetry.