Grande Cazine Pond

The Cazine ponds walking guide was produced in partnership with the Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels and the local association A4P. It highlights the exceptional heritage around two ponds currently undergoing ecological conversion. The pleasant route alternates between distant views and the immediate surroundings of these wetlands. If possible, bring a smartphone with you to access the information provided along the route.

Details

3644887
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.64 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 74 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 74 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 390 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 354 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the school car park (opposite the restaurant).

From the car park, head towards the information board. Two "randoguide" routes are marked: follow the one marked "randoguide A".

(S/E) Take the road towards Saint-Léger and follow it for about 150 m. Leave the road and take the clearly visible path on the right, which you follow downhill for about 1 km. At the end, walk along a pond, cross the road and then climb back up until you emerge in the middle of a small hamlet.

(1) Follow the road to the left for about 250 metres. Watch out for cars coming around the bend! At the three-way junction, take the road on the left that descends towards Le Voudy. At the three-way junction, continue to the right, and after 100 metres, take the path that appears on the left. Follow this path, cross the stream and enter the village. At the crossroads, take the road on the right that descends towards the pond. Join the road leading to the pond.

(2) Follow the road to the right to reach and follow the Grande Cazine road. At the crossroads, leave the road and go down to the bank of the pond, which you will follow parallel to the road until you reach the building and the area set aside for fishermen. Then continue to the left along the track that runs along the northern shore of the Grande Cazine pond for about a kilometre. Then head back up towards a village, ignoring a path that appears on your left.

(3) At Le Serrier, go around the first house on a path that branches off to the left and then turns off onto a new street. Follow this street to the left and, at the next three-way junction, continue to the left. In a bend just before the village exit, take the path on the left that descends to a small wood.

(4) Pass the wash house and continue through the woods. The path passes through a wet area and, pending development, may be muddy if it has rained recently. When you emerge from the woods, follow the track to the right, walk alongside the farm, then turn left onto a path through the woods.

(5) Leave the woods and continue along the wide path to the left. At the three-way junction, continue to the right, leaving the farm behind you. At the next intersection, take the path on the left down towards the buildings, which you will pass. The path turns into a road, which you follow downhill to a new fork. Then follow the track to the left.

(6) Shortly afterwards, you will emerge from the undergrowth and reach the Petite Cazine road. Leave the track and take a path on the left that leads into the undergrowth. Walk along the Étang de la Grande Cazine and you will come to a ruined building, then reach another junction. You can either turn left to reach a viewpoint over the lake, 100 metres away, or continue the route along the track on the right.

(7) Follow this track to rejoin the previous lane, which you continue along to the left. At the next junction, continue straight ahead, ignoring the path on the right. After 300 metres, you will see the hamlet of Beaulieu. Just before you reach it, you will once again have the option of accessing an observation point overlooking the pond by following the shaded path that descends to the left (approximately 150 m) or continuing along the track until you reach the hamlet.

(8) At the crossroads, continue along the track opposite, which descends towards a small private pond. The track becomes a road as you approach the village of Noth and takes you back to the village centre.

(9) At the crossroads opposite a small market hall, follow the road to the left to return to your starting point, passing the town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 383 m - School car park
  2. 1 : km 1.15 - alt. 384 m - Le Puymerlin
  3. 2 : km 2.58 - alt. 363 m - Route de la chaussée de l'étang
  4. 3 : km 4.39 - alt. 376 m - Village of Serrier
  5. 4 : km 4.74 - alt. 368 m - Bois du Serrier
  6. 5 : km 5.37 - alt. 385 m - Chemin de la Barde
  7. 6 : km 6.54 - alt. 367 m - Petite Cazine pond
  8. 7 : km 6.87 - alt. 365 m - Towards the pond observatory
  9. 8 : km 7.48 - alt. 369 m - Village of Beaulieu
  10. 9 : km 8.32 - alt. 389 m - Village of Noth
  11. S/E : km 8.64 - alt. 383 m - School car park

Notes

If possible, bring a pair of binoculars with you, which are particularly recommended for bird watching.
Also remember to bring a smartphone, as this hiking route is linked to an audio-guided interpretation trail that can be downloaded free of charge from the starting point.
Certain areas of the route require silence so as not to disturb the wildlife present: these are indicated by signs.
Please note: currently and throughout the winter period, the footbridge over the wetland after the Serrier wash house (POI no. 4) is very slippery. We recommend that you turn back at the wp (4) and follow the small village road on the left to rejoin the trail 100 metres further on (detour signs in place).

Worth a visit

Near the route: Saint-Paul Church has a unique fortification with its east gable featuring corner turrets, resembling a small castle.
Next to the church: a Gallo-Roman cippus topped with a carved and figurative cross dating back to the 19th century.
Towards the Château de la Cazine: the Fôt arboretum and its Terra Aventura geocaching trail, where you can play at getting lost in the woods.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Jean-Pierre Déchoz
Jean-Pierre Déchoz
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy route. Well marked "Randoguide A". For once, no need for GPS guidance.
At 7, go to the observation point, which is beautifully laid out.
At this time of year (May), this path is a magnificent route, with all kinds of wild flowers.
It is also worth noting that the church in Noth is open, which is not usually the case.

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eric.m
eric.m

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, long hike with a few points of interest, but nothing more.
Easy to access, with few difficulties along the route.
Suitable for families.

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waiwaite
waiwaite

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful nature hike.
No difficulty, the sections of road you take are not busy (we only saw one car in total).
Don't miss the woven or plaited willow observatories.
There are few birds on the pond, but it is very peaceful.
Also worth seeing is the picturesque church of Noth.

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gilloua73
gilloua73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Finally, you can walk along a pond... a very nice little walk. Didn't see anyone. In the forest, lots of chestnuts on the ground!!!
We had a great time.

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DaDoRando14
DaDoRando14

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but it doesn't strictly follow the edge of the lake. You can start from Bungalow des Pêcheurs. Didn't see a single sign that could be used with a smartphone? The yellow markings are impeccable. For those who want to camp at the campsite, you're out of luck, it's closed!

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Maminouxe
Maminouxe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A bit too much driving, but otherwise pleasant. No difficulties.

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JoséBernard
JoséBernard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent route, very well signposted and maintained. Peaceful and relaxing surroundings, definitely worth discovering!

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Muriel PG
Muriel PG

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very well marked route

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Andrée Carment
Andrée Carment
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, very well marked./
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