Eawy Forest, Site V1 of the Val Ygot

A long walk through the magnificent Eawy Forest with its remarkable beech trees. The walk begins with a visit to the Val Ygot V1 site, a remnant of the Second World War, followed by a walk along the Limousin Forest Road, which runs through the forest for 14 km.

Details

449514
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.60 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 311 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 312 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 201 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 102 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the V1 site.

(S/E) Take the D99 on the left. After 200 m, follow the Chemin du Val Ygot on the right (between plots 227 and 234). Continue along this path to the D97 (Route des Longs Vallons) and follow it for about 20 metres to the left.

(1) Then follow the path on the right which climbs between plots 242 and 243. Stay on this path for about 500 m, until you reach the junction at the ridge with a main track (Chemin du Faîte).

(2) Turn right. Continue along the path which follows the ridge and descends to the Route Forestière des Ventes Saint-Rémy.

(3) Turn sharply left. After 200 m, take the path on the right between plots nos. 254 and 255. Follow the path straight on to reach the Route des Limousins at the top.

(4) Turn right and, at the bend 200 m further on, continue straight ahead along the path that descends. When you reach the D97, cross over to join the path opposite. Cross the small road and take the path opposite, which climbs very steeply. At the top of the hill, before the small road, take the path on the left. Continue straight ahead along this path.

(5) At the junction with the road, turn right towards the houses of La Heuze. Follow the road to the Saint-Christophe roundabout and, at the next junction, continue straight ahead: the Château de la Grande Heuze is on your right.

(6) At the wayside shrine at the junction with the D99, take the Chemin du Télégraphe opposite, slightly to the right (to the left of the Heuze forest house). Follow Chemin du Télégraphe, leaving theGR® on your right as you round the bend, continue and turn onto the path on the right 100m further on, at the gate of the first house. Follow this path down to the D48.

(7) Turn left and continue to the junction with the D98 120 m further on. Take the Chemin du Verdier on the right (south-west), which runs alongside the D48 (Route d’Ardouval) for approximately 1.8 km.

(8) At the junction, turn right (blue 5 signpost). Follow the main path to the junction with the Route Forestière des Limousins, ignoring all side paths.

(9) Turn onto the path on the right (blue marker 5), go downhill, cross the D98 and follow the path opposite. Continue to join the small road below, turn left then immediately leave this small road to take the Chemin des Ravins opposite (heading north between plots nos. 199 and 200 – Blue 5 markings). Follow the path to the end.

(10) At the T-junction, turn right (leaving route 5 there). At the end of the path, leave the tarmac road towards Ardouval on your left and continue along the path opposite. At the junction, continue along the path opposite and, after 200 m, take the path on the right. 30 m further on, before the house, take the small path on the right which descends steeply towards the D48.

(11) Follow the D48 to the left, then immediately take the path on the right (marking 7 Red) which climbs uphill. At the junction 400 m further on, turn right, then at the next junction, turn left to join the D99. At the D99, turn left to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 201 m - Site V1 du Val d'Ygot
  2. 1 : km 1.29 - alt. 135 m - Junction with the D97
  3. 2 : km 1.67 - alt. 175 m - Chemin du Faîte
  4. 3 : km 2.73 - alt. 119 m - Forest Road at Les Ventes Saint-Rémy
  5. 4 : km 3.69 - alt. 179 m - Elevation 184 - Route forestières des Limousins
  6. 5 : km 5.12 - alt. 191 m - La Grande Heuze
  7. 6 : km 6.06 - alt. 182 m - Opposite on the Chemin du Télégraphe
  8. 7 : km 7.12 - alt. 104 m - D48 junction
  9. 8 : km 8.71 - alt. 139 m - Crossroads
  10. 9 : km 11.42 - alt. 180 m - Crossroads - Route forestières des Limousins
  11. 10 : km 12.95 - alt. 181 m - Plantations Forest Road
  12. 11 : km 14.11 - alt. 164 m - D48 junction
  13. S/E : km 15.6 - alt. 201 m - Site V1 du Val d'Ygot

Notes

Good walking boots are essential; walking poles may be useful.

Worth a visit

The Château de la Heuze and the Château de la Petite Heuze.
The bison and wolves at Muchedent.
The King of Rome’s Garden at Ventes Saint-Rémy.
Golf in Saint-Saens and its famous cabbage.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Mirapepsi
Mirapepsi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike accompanied by our five dogs on a dog-led trek 😁.
A lovely hike with a great elevation gain.
A mix of forest tracks and single tracks, very enjoyable for keen walkers!
Very clear instructions.
⚠️ Around point number 5, you’ll pass through a small village of about ten houses, La Heuze...
There’s a house at the end of the village on the right with no gate and a very aggressive dog (white, griffon-type) which came out and attacked one of our dogs… there was no one at home… please be careful.
⚠️ Around points 7 and 8, we found ourselves in a hunting area... So we shortened the route by about 1 km by taking a different path...
We finished with a very informative visit to the V1 site.

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Fabien.Cash
Fabien.Cash

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike undertaken after 15 days of constant rain in the region and in the midst of showers.
Make sure you have a good pair of shoes for this; in the first section, the ground is very muddy, churned up by horses and farm machinery, with mud up to your calves if you’re not careful where you step.
Otherwise, nothing to report; between 4 and 5, the paths are well cleared, and I was able to follow the route without any problems.

Take the time to have a look around the V1 site when you arrive.

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jmarc76
jmarc76
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note: between points (4) and (5), the path is impassable as it has been left to nature, with fallen trees and branches in the grass. It is best to take the road as far as the Limousins forest track, which you should also follow to reach the D99 and rejoin the route at the forest house at point (6).
Enjoy this lovely walk, which is now 20.5 km long (up from 17 km) following these changes.

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Sylvy-rando
Sylvy-rando
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, peaceful walk through Eawy Forest, during which we were lucky enough to spot a deer. Please note that after point 4, when we turned right, it is no longer possible to continue straight ahead along the path leading downhill, as numerous trees have been felled and are blocking the way. We therefore took the road all the way down. Also, just before point 8, there is a tree across the path, but you can still get through by squeezing between the branches. Thank you very much for sharing this lovely walk

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