Étang des Landes

A family walk around this lake, which is classified as a National Nature Reserve.

Details

n°796

Creation:
29 May 2011

Last update:
13 Jan 2023

Last review:
30 Oct 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 6.09 km
Average duration: 1h 45
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 13 m
Descent: - 12 m
Highest point: 392 m
Lowest point: 378 m

Country: France
District: Lussat (23170)
Start/End: N 46.180863° / E 2.324437°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2329O
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Maison de la Réserve car park.

(S/E) From the road facing the pond, take the path on the left for 200 metres until you reach the Petit Étang de la Grande Chaume.

(1) Turn right and follow the path, which turns 90° to the left and joins the Route de l'Ermite (D55).

(2) Follow it to the right and turn right at the first road towards the pond.

(3) After the small bridge, take the path on the right and keep right at each junction, following the discovery trail until you reach a road.

(4) At the Observatoire du Genévrier, turn right onto the path that runs alongside the meadows for 700 metres.

(5) Turn right onto the path that leads to the edge of the pond and back to the road at the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 379 m - Car park at the Maison de la Réserve
1 : km 0.39 - alt. 380 m - Petit Étang de la Grande Chaume
2 : km 1.44 - alt. 392 m - Intersection with the Route de l'Ermite
3 : km 2.7 - alt. 379 m - Fontaine de l'Ermite
4 : km 4.45 - alt. 379 m - Génévrier Observatory
5 : km 5.07 - alt. 380 m - Bifurcation
S/E : km 6.09 - alt. 380 m - Car park at the Maison de la Réserve

Worth a visit

On the way:
This 120-hectare pond is the remnant of a lake from the Tertiary period. An exceptional site and classified as a National Nature Reserve, it is the only natural pond in Limousin. You can observe many birds there in all seasons, as well as areas with unique vegetation. A unique habitat for dragonflies, it is home to no fewer than 38 species.
Hermit's Fountain - Heron Hide - Juniper Hide - Large Hide - Three Birch Hide - Old Eel Trap.

In the region:
Chambon-sur-Voueize with its Sainte-Valérie abbey church.
Evaux-les-Bains (the only spa resort in Limousin) with its thermal baths, wellness centre, casino and Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Abbey.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4.1 / 5

sweetyyoyo

30 Oct 2024 at 10:56 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk with superb views of the lake and from the bird observatories.

Machine-translated

Patemp/91

27 Nov 2023 at 16:14 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Just be aware that the pond is barely visible if you're looking for a walk around a body of water. The walk is very well signposted and quick.

Machine-translated

preric

05 Oct 2022 at 19:28 7200

This is a nature reserve, so if you move away from the water, it is to preserve the nesting areas.

Machine-translated

DaDoRando14

05 Oct 2022 at 19:14 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Undoubtedly a very interesting hike for keen birdwatchers, but much less so for ordinary hikers, even though the "Grand affût" is well documented. You rarely walk along the water's edge and too often the pond is not even visible, which is a bit disappointing...

Machine-translated

jeannette vallet

17 Jul 2020 at 19:20 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The four birdwatching hides are very well made. We were lucky enough to meet a well-equipped enthusiast who showed us a reed warbler. The path rarely runs close to the pond to preserve the tranquillity of the birds that nest there. The reserve's visitor centre was closed, which was a shame (Covid-19?). Thank you for this wonderful discovery.

Machine-translated

Coutur

22 Jun 2020 at 10:34 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Superb observatories, very well equipped and with lots of information. Best visited in spring during the nesting season.

Machine-translated

Bulle03

01 Apr 2019 at 08:54 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Many birds. Bring binoculars for better viewing.

Machine-translated

bibi01

23 Apr 2018 at 16:13 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant, easy hike, but best done during drier periods as the paths were quite wet due to recent rainfall.
In addition, the reserve's visitor centre was closed during this period. What a shame!

Machine-translated

marlened@club-internet.fr

28 Nov 2016 at 08:20 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Birds of all kinds and wonderful tranquillity. A magnificent nature walk.

Machine-translated

JBPapou

28 Sep 2015 at 10:24 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Unfortunately, the lake is almost never visible from the trail. That's a shame!
Fortunately, there are a few hides where you can observe the many birds.

Machine-translated

valou03

14 Sep 2015 at 21:07 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Machine-translated

papypatrick

21 Oct 2013 at 21:39 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Indeed, you can see many birds (herons, egrets, swans, coots and various ducks) as well as a wide variety of dragonflies. However, the hike quickly becomes tedious because you stray too far from the water to walk through pastures and vegetative areas which (as someone who is used to the countryside) I did not find very interesting. Nevertheless, it is worth highlighting the beauty and comfort of two hides, the tranquillity of the site and the relative ease of the route.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.

Author

preric
3 Walks

Visorando member

Machine-translated walk - Original version

Walk map

Bigger map and chart