Fougeré (Vendée) walks

A walk through the Forêt de la Chaise, passing by the small Château de la Ricotière. In the forest, you can see ancient oaks, gigantic pines and Douglas firs; listen carefully to hear the tapping of woodpeckers on the tree trunks as you pass the end of the Étang du Ruisseau des Noailles. You might be lucky enough to spot a few fallow deer in the deer park on the right, or perhaps see a mallard take flight.

A walk through a charming little valley. The start has a medieval feel, as you walk along the old ramparts and the fortified church of Saint-Nicolas. Once you reach the valley, nature quickly takes over, with numerous dragonflies accompanying you on your journey, including damselflies with metallic blue wings, scarlet dragonflies and other cordulégastres.

A hike immersed in nature, with varied bocage, this hike has no shortage of relief, small climbs, large descents, and small streams, giving you the feeling of being far away from everything. Be careful of muddy sections in winter.

This is a beautiful 3-hour walk along the banks of the Vouraie reservoir. The path is very easy to follow.

This is a pleasant hike that will take you through the Bois des Girondins and the outskirts of Moulin Papon. There are two more challenging sections: after crossing the bridge at Bertheliére and crossing the ford at Ruisseau des Coux. See Practical Information.

A hike starting from a charming village, passing through La Gerbaudière with its old farms and the ruins of an ancient castle tower (the leaning tower). Nature is not to be outdone with the passage through the Yon valley and charming sites such as Boutet and the ford at La Roussière. A few megaliths are visible, such as the Pierre qui Vire, and in the village of Le Tablier, some house walls are built on granite blocks.

In a steep-sided valley. A hike along the Lay River at a place called "Le Grand Bateau". The Lay River flows through part of the Poitevin Marshes and empties into the Atlantic Ocean between La Faute-sur-Mer and L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer.

The village of Mareuil-sur-Lay-Dissais, crossed by the River Lay, is a stopover for hiking in this wooded valley. Fauna and flora are abundant.

Tour of the northern part of Lake Moulin Papon, which is wilder and more rugged than the southern part. It is not uncommon to see kingfishers, a few mallards, coots and, more rarely, geese. A detour to the hamlet of La Berthelière allows you to admire the renovated old houses, which are truly wonderful. The tour starts in the commune of La Ferrière and continues throughout the commune of Dompierre-sur-Yon.

Path around Nesmy along the Yon. You will discover the village of Nesmy, the Rambourg mill and some superb landscapes.

A walk along the Yon, with the option of visiting the Moulin de Rambourg (in summer) and the Nesmy pottery. This route starts at the "Brancaire" bus stop on line 14, but it is possible to park your car in the car park by the Yon and do the walk there and back.

A circular route for walkers using the bus to explore the La Roche-sur-Yon area. Starting from the “Berthelière” stop on route 10 between La Roche-sur-Yon and Dompierre-sur-Yon. You’ll visit the old village before completing the loop around the lake. Access: bus route 10 – Berthelière stop

"Bessay Animations" invites you to discover the history and riches of the village of Bessay at your own pace, in a friendly, family atmosphere.

Two unique and very different valleys: Piquet with its granite chaos and the darker and more peaceful Pierre aux Fées.

A round trip to visit the two tourist sites in Nesmy: the pottery, the legacy of over a hundred years of family expertise, with guided tours organised during the school holidays; and Rambourg Mill, the last intact watermill in the Yon Valley, a magnificent mechanical world worthy of Jules Verne, which can be visited every summer and during special events. It is also possible to visit the gardens of Nesmy Castle in the summer. For visits, see practical information: La Roche-sur-Yon Tourist Office

Discover the Yon Valley at L'Aubonnière.

Located at the intersection of the D137 and D160 roads, near the Quatre Chemins de l'Oie crossroads, the Hérbergement forest offers pleasant trails where you can explore the undergrowth with its variety of tree species. With a bit of luck, you may even spot a deer. Three-quarters of the route follows a trail that is clearly marked by the ONF (numbered markers).

A 13 km circuit along the edge of Lake Graon allows you to enjoy the local flora and fauna. A very varied circuit with narrow paths and woodland trails... A real treat. The circuit can be extended by small loops of around 2 km (La Renardière and Les Petites Touches).