Between the Loire Valley and Sologne via the Chemin des Cochons

An easy walk through fields and woods. This is an opportunity to discover some beautiful ancient oak trees as well as a sinkhole – a collapse caused by the dissolution of limestone by groundwater – which is a curiosity of northern Sologne.

Details

1674012
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.97 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 15 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 15 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 102 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 87 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Sologne
  • ⚐ City: Dry (45370)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.798389° / E 1.714244°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2120E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park located 50m from Dry church on the road towards Meung-sur-Loire (Rue de Meung).

(S/E) From the car park, follow Rue Raymond Jésus, passing in front of the church porch and then turning left in front of the café. This street turns right and then climbs slightly towards the D951. Ignore the side streets, cross the main road (take care) and continue straight ahead along the small road to Jouy-le-Potier, with the farm on your left. Pass the silage area on your left.

(1) At the cross, take the forest track on the right, just before the path leading to Concyr, and keep to the right, following the edge of the forest. This straight path eventually meets a cross-track.

(2) Take the path on the left. This well-marked path turns right then left. At the entrance to the forest, go through the gate, taking care to close it behind you.

(3) At the crossroads, take the Chemin des Cochons on the right, signpostedGRP® Sentier Historique de la Vallée des Rois. Ignore the adjacent private paths.

(4) At the fork, turn right until you reach the Chemin des Bœufs.

(5) At the junction, let theGRP® continue towards the D19, and take the Chemin des Bœufs on the right. The sinkhole, visible from the path, is on the left about fifty metres into the fields, roughly 200m before the Villenouan farm.

(6) At the fork, turn right towards the cross at the foot of a large oak tree, pass Le Petit Ardoux and then the Fontaine de l’Aune at the foot of another equally large oak tree. Continue along this well-marked path which crosses a stabilised track.

(7) Turn left onto the wide cross-road as you approach the dairy farm business park. Cross the D951 (take care) and continue along Rue du Beau Soleil.

(8) Take the grassy path on the right. Turn left onto Rue de la Potasserie, then right after about thirty metres. Turn left again at the junction with Rue de la Verronnerie. This road takes a first bend to the right, then a second to the left.

(9) At the second bend, leave the street and take the path on the right leading to Rue Raymond Jésus, which you took on the way out. Turn left onto this street to return to the church, then to the car park at our starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 87 m - Car park 50m from the church
  2. 1 : km 1.56 - alt. 98 m - At the crossroads, take the forest track on the right
  3. 2 : km 2.47 - alt. 96 m - Crossing path to the left
  4. 3 : km 4.51 - alt. 101 m - GR de Pays on the right
  5. 4 : km 5.56 - alt. 100 m - Turn right at the fork
  6. 5 : km 6.22 - alt. 101 m - Chemin des Bœufs on the right
  7. 6 : km 7.53 - alt. 94 m - Turn right towards the cross at the foot of a large oak tree
  8. 7 : km 9.12 - alt. 96 m - Turn left onto the wide cross-path
  9. 8 : km 9.8 - alt. 95 m - Grassy path on the right
  10. 9 : km 10.6 - alt. 90 m - At the second bend, take the path on the right
  11. S/E : km 10.97 - alt. 87 m - Car park 50m from the church

Notes

The hiking trail is accessible all year round.

Please take care on the Chemin des Cochons during the hunting season. Big game hunting takes place one or two days a year near the path.

Worth a visit

Former station on a narrow-gauge railway line linking Orléans to Blois, at the junction of the D951 and Rue Raymond Jésus. It was once home to a renowned potter, who has since passed away.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.3 / 5
pierre1er
pierre1er

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

As with many hikes in Sologne, the paths are marked by fences, so that by the end of the hike you feel like a chicken. These fences, erected by the mostly Parisian owners of the 16th arrondissement, contribute to depriving the people of the Loire region of walks worthy of the name. You have to walk at least 100 km to get out of this trap.
The future looks bleak.

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Le Did
Le Did

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A walk in bright sunshine along clear paths or quiet country lanes. No particular difficulty or major points of interest. Pleasant, but nothing more.

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A girodet
A girodet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied route taking in the verges of narrow roads, compacted tracks, grassy paths and the GR trail deep in the forest.
Places of interest: the old DRY tram station, the Alder Fountain, the sinkhole.
There may be too many long stretches in open country, so bring a hat if it’s hot...

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gtlma
gtlma

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I absolutely loved this walk, which takes you right into the heart of Sologne and its woodlands! Peace and quiet guaranteed for those seeking it!

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saranaise
saranaise

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk through fields and woods (with some beautiful oak trees)
The Fontaine oak has been badly damaged by bad weather; it has been snapped off at a height of 2 metres.

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dampierre
dampierre

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A lovely walk, especially through the wooded sections.

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