Forges de Varennes and La Nocherie via the Voie Verte and footpaths

A picturesque circular route with no navigation difficulties, ideal for families. The route mainly follows the Flers-Domfront Greenway, passes by the Château de Varenne and its old forges, then climbs up a path towards the Manoir de la Nocherie. It rejoins the Greenway after crossing the Varenne at the Moulin de la Nocherie ford to return to the start.

Details

825125
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.05 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 184 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 197 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 584 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 476 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park at the junction of the D360 road and the Flers-Domfront “Voie Verte” (locality: former Saint-Bômer-les-Forges station).

(S/E) From the car park, cross the road and take the Voie Verte towards Domfront for 1.5 km.

(1) At the former Varenne Forges, cross the road and continue along the Voie Verte.
Pass through gate no. 27 and reach gate no. 29.

(2) Continue for about 1 km until you reach a long bend.

(3) At the end of this bend, turn right onto the path leading up towards the hamlets of La Goudousière and La Nocherie (signposted).

(4) Walk past the Manoir de la Nocherie and, after 150m, turn right onto the tarmac path leading to the Moulin de la Nocherie (signposted).
After 300m, walk past the mill and cross the ford over the Varenne via the footbridge. Continue for a further 200m to rejoin the Voie Verte at barrier no. 29.

(2) Take the Voie Verte to the left and return to the starting car park 3 km away, following the outward route via Les Forges de Varenne (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 574 ft - Voie Verte car park. On the edge of the - Varenne (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.8 - alt. 548 ft - Varenne Castle and former ironworks.
  3. 2 : mi 1.82 - alt. 509 ft - Barrier No. 29
  4. 3 : mi 2.43 - alt. 479 ft - Junction of the Voie Verte and the path to La Nocherie.
  5. 4 : mi 2.9 - alt. 525 ft - Junction towards Moulin de La Nocherie.
  6. S/E : mi 5.05 - alt. 574 ft - Voie Verte car park.

Notes

A mainly shaded route, best enjoyed between spring and autumn.
Other possible starting points are Les Forges (but there are parking issues) or the hamlet of La Chevalerie (take the track heading due south to join the Voie Verte), which reduces the length of the route to 6km.

Worth a visit

Voie Verte, former Domfront-Flers line.
Varenne Castle and former ironworks.
Visits possible.
La Nocherie Manor (inn, farm campsite, stopover lodge, group accommodation, guest rooms, etc.).
La Nocherie Mill (ford on the Varenne).
Domfront, a medieval town.
Dompierre and Champsecret, typical villages of the bocage.
Le Châtellier and St-Clair-de-Halouze: former mining sites.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Mister61
Mister61

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, but nothing special because apart from the castle, there isn't much else to see.

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Fertois61
Fertois61

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk along the River Varenne, with a free and informative tour of the Forges de Varennes site.
Shady and refreshing. Perfect in summer.
Our dogs also enjoyed being able to cool off and drink as they wandered along the meandering banks of the Varenne.

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MarGod
MarGod

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, thoroughly enjoyable route. Beautiful Normandy countryside
Definitely worth doing again

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clel55
clel55

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, mostly out of the sun, through a lovely woodland setting. Perfect for walking my dog, as there’s a stream running almost the entire length of the route, allowing the dog to cool its paws and have a quick drink.

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verodu61100
verodu61100

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

The route is a bit monotonous, but very easy to follow; however, the circular loop is short, so you end up retracing your steps on the way back

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