Fougères Forest - La Pierre Courcoulée

Park at the Carrefour du Poulailler, on the D108 between Fougères and Parigné.

From (1) to (3), this walk follows a section of the Route de la Pierre Courcoulé, developed by the ONF, where you take paths that do not appear on the IGN base map.

Unmarked

(S/E) From the Carrefour du Poulailler, head south-west along the Route Forestière des Courbes (signposted), a small tarmac road that starts after a forest gate. Pass an old stone cross on the left, climb slightly and then descend again until you reach a bend in the road on the left.

Yellow markings

(1) At the bend and before a path branches off to the right, turn left onto a path through the undergrowth (signpost). Descend a little and, at the fork that follows shortly afterwards (forest plot no. 37), ignore the path leading down to the right and continue straight ahead, climbing. Take a left-hand bend, cross a perpendicular path and continue straight ahead. Stay roughly level in a copse of young beech trees.

Yellow markings + yellow ‘4’ mountain bike markings

At a T-junction, turn right, head down a well-marked path and come out onto a road.

(2) Cross the road and continue straight ahead down a path. At the T-junction immediately after, turn left onto a good track with a stream on your right. Pass a house by a pond on the right. Continue eastwards then veer left. Very soon after, at a fork (not shown on the map), take the left-hand path.

Red and white + yellow markings

At a junction, the mountain bike signpost suggests turning right: continue straight ahead (north-north-west) and follow the^GR®34to the Pierre Courcoulé dolmen.

Red and white markings

(3) After the dolmen, turn immediately left into a forest track, ignore the trail junctions to the left or right and return to the starting point (S/E).

In dry weather, good trainers are sufficient for this walk. In wet weather, wear walking boots (potentially muddy sections).

During the hunting season (October to February), avoid Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as these are the days when driven hunts are organised.

No water source identified. Picnic tables at the starting point.

A 1:25,000 map is essential (at the very least the one accompanying this description). A compass may be useful.

Possible extension:
This walk can be combined with another walk in the Fougères National Forest described on the website, requiring a short drive:
- Les Vieux Châteaux and the Cordon des Druides: start at the Carrefour du Père Tacot, about 4km away.
- Les Celliers de Landéan: start at Carrefour de Chênedet, approximately 3km away.

Hike completed by the author on 29 August 2015.

The first part of the walk, before (1), is situated on the site of an ancient oppidum. For further information, see the website of the Société d’Histoire et d’Archéologie du Pays de Fougères.

At (3), the Pierre Courcoulée, a dolmen dating from the Neolithic period. For further information, see the website of the Société d'Histoire et d'Archéologie du Pays de Fougères.