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The starting point is on the Route Forestière du Parterre, where you can park on the side of the road. The entrance to this forest road is on the right of the D10 coming from Beaussais, in a bend near the drinking water reservoir (on the right of the forest road). Opposite this forest road is a small road leading to La Couarde.
(S/E) Return to the D10, cross it and take the road leading to La Couarde. Two hundred metres further on, turn right onto the path, which later becomes a farm track. This path leads back to the La Couarde road; turn right.
(1) At the crossroads, turn right. The road quickly turns into a farm track. At the first junction with a track, turn left. The track leads to a road near another entrance to the village of La Couarde, close to a triangular pond. At the crossroads, turn right onto the road heading north. Leave the road leading to Mareuil on your right.
(2) At the next crossroads, turn left. The road winds its way uphill between houses and sheds. At the next crossroads, turn left. The climb continues.
Just after the last house in the hamlet, turn right onto a path. This path descends slightly to an area of ponds and springs. Pass the first path on the right. At the T-junction, take the right-hand path and a little further on, pass a path on the left.
(3) At this crossroads, take the path on the right, which climbs slightly.
(4) At the T-junction with a road, turn right. At this junction is the fountain near La Fontauzelière. Further on, ignore a farm track on the left and immediately after, at the crossroads, turn left. The road then leads to the D10 (Route de Beaussais to Saint-Maixent-l'Ecole).
(5) Cross it (this is a busy road but visibility is very good due to the long straight stretch; however, beware of cars, which tend to drive very fast in this area!). Take the path opposite, slightly to the right, which will quickly join the Route Forestière de Chambrille.
(6) Turn right onto this forest road, away from the D10. At the junction with the Route Forestière de l'Hermitain, turn left. Continue along this road to the edge of the forest.
(7) Turn right and take the path at the edge of the forest, which joins the end of the Route Forestière de Chambrille.
(8) Continue straight ahead on the path at the edge of the forest. Shortly afterwards, turn left onto a path in the middle of the forest that leads straight towards the D10.
(9) A sign in the middle of the forest indicates the presence of the "Patriarch", a remarkable oak tree located a few metres off the path on the right. The density of the forest often means that it can only be seen at the very last moment, especially if the trees still have their leaves.
Continue the hike by returning to the path, still heading towards the D10.
At the next crossroads, turn left. Do the same at the next crossroads. This path will take you back to the one at the edge of the forest.
When you reach the edge of the forest, turn right and follow the path, which winds its way through the woods, offering occasional views of the fields.
A little further on, the path leads to the Savrelle line. Take this slightly downhill path opposite, leaving the Ligne du Rivaud path on your right.
(10) At the end of this slight descent, a small path on the left leads to the Font Querré fountain (after passing three forest paths perpendicular to the Ligne de Saverelle from the start of the path). The fountain is signposted about a hundred metres from the path.
Return to the Ligne de Savrelle path and continue the hike by turning left. At the end of this line, a large right-hand bend leads to the Route Forestière de Font Querré. Two hundred and fifty metres further on, turn left onto the path that appears.
About 150 metres further on, at a Y-junction, take the left-hand path to the Fontmorte line.
When you get there, turn left. A good hundred metres further on, turn right onto a path that leads to the Ligne de Fontmorte, which forms a circular route. Turn right.
(11) A little further on, on the left, you will see the Stele du Parterre (see the section "During the hike").
Continue along the Ligne de Fontmorte and turn left onto the second path that leads to the Route Forestière du Parterre. Turn right and follow it towards the D10.
At the end of this forest road, you will arrive at the drinking water reservoir where this hike began (S/E).
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