Circular loop around La Chapelle-sur-Erdre

Parking is available on Boulevard de l’Hopitau, located on route 86 at the Gesvrine stop.
Access is also possible via the T1 Tram-Train line, Chapelle-Aulnay station; start your walk from there.

(S/E) Take the path branching off to the left of the castle which runs alongside the sheep enclosure; this is the^GRP® du Pays Nantais, marked in red and yellow. At the bottom of the enclosure, turn left at the yellow signposts and follow the Erdre and Gesvres route. Cross the A11 motorway and head towards Gesvres-Crétinières.

(1) Follow the main path which climbs slightly to the right. At the top of the path, turn left onto the tarmac road. Pass under the Viaduc de la Verrière.

(2) Leave the^GRP® here and take the yellow-marked^PR ®. Immediately afterwards, turn left towards the reservoir, then turn right onto the path running alongside the Ruisseau de Gesvres. Continue on to reach the Pont de Forge in Mazaire.

(3) Take the path on the right, then follow the track opposite that runs alongside the A-road. After about a hundred metres, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing, then cut across the car park to the dirt track; follow this, ignoring the path that descends to the left. You will reach the Buissonnière district.

(4) Cut across via the small path on the right and you’ll come out onto the road at the entrance to the La Coutancière neighbourhood.

(5) Cross the road and the Voie Verte, then turn right onto the street leading to the sports grounds, go round the car parks and take the path running alongside the gymnasium on your right. Leave the^PR® and the yellow markings here. Continue along this small path to reach the Étang du Tertre. Here, you can turn left to take a break by the Étang du Tertre.

(6) Make sure you take the path that climbs up to the right. You will then emerge at the Mouline roundabout junction.

(7) Turn right and, 600 m further on, you will reach the junction with the D 69 road. Turn right onto the shared footpath and cycle path to follow the road. You will soon come to another roundabout.

(8) Cross the road carefully at the pedestrian crossing before the roundabout, enter the housing estate and then take the street on the right. After the basketball hoop, take the small path on the left and continue straight on until you reach the railway line.

(9) Note: you can start the circular loop here at La Chapelle Aulnay station.
Go under the railway line, then take the path with the hairpin bend on the left. Here, join the^PR® (Yellow) trail. Follow it and, after a right-hand bend, you’ll reach the left bank of the Erdre at La Gandonnière.

(10) Continue along the path running alongside the Erdre. You will arrive at the sailing school car park.

(11) Return to the banks of the Erdre and continue to the Belle Roche crossroads.

(12) Turn right onto Chemin de la Loire, then right again onto Chemin du Porteau. Then turn left onto Rue du Cotalard and left again onto Chemin de la Poterie. You will then come to a crossroads.

(13) Take this path on the right, still following the yellow markings, walk past the Château de la Poterie and you will come out onto Avenue des Prairies.

(14) Leave the yellow markings here, turn left and, about 100 metres further on, take the path on the right. Stay on this path, go under the power line, and you’ll come out onto Chemin du Meslier, then turn right onto Rue du Petit Portric. You’ll come to a 90° bend.

(15) Here, rejoin the yellow-marked^{PR® trail}; take it by turning left onto the path and cross the bridge on the right. Be careful here: once you have crossed the bridge, take the path that runs to the left of the stone wall; once at the top, turn left. Head towards the Erdre and reach the bridge over the A11 motorway.

(16) Go under the bridge, veer right and follow the signposting to the Château de la Desnerie crossroads.

(17) Take the semi-tarmac path on the right, then turn immediately left to follow the right bank of the Erdre again. You will then reach the Pont Barbe crossroads, which is also the junction with^{the GRP®} du Pays Nantais.

(18) Turn right onto the^GRP® marked in red and yellow. Cross the bridge over the railway line. You will then find the D39 road opposite the stadium.

(19) Cross it carefully at the pedestrian crossing, follow the cycle path for about 50 metres towards La Chapelle-Centre, then turn left onto the Promenade de l’Hopitau. Continue straight on towards the castle and the car park (S/E).

There are several shops available in the village of La Chapelle-sur-Erdre.

During your walk, you will be able to see numerous châteaux: in order, those of Hopitau, La Gascherie, La Poterie and finally La Desnerie.