The ridge of Mont Saint-Michel from Les Ferres

A short hike that will take you off the beaten track through a relatively easy-to-navigate forest to the summit of Mont Saint-Michel. The summit offers a beautiful view of the village below. The return trail passes through an easy area wooded with chestnut trees.

This hike is reserved for off-trail enthusiasts.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 271 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 275 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 789 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 540 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on the right-hand side of the road, just before the cemetery, which is our starting point. At this point, you will see marker 46.

(S/E) Follow the signs for "Le village". Take Chemin de la Paved Slanting Street and enter the village, passing under a building with a rounded porch.

Yellow markings.

(1) At marker 48, follow the signs for "Brèche du Mont Saint-Michel" via the stone steps. Walk past the Church of Saint-Jacques and its small square. Turn left onto Rue Joseph Amiel, then Rue Longue, at the end of which you will find the start of the trail. Continue on to the 17th-century Sainte-Julie Chapel, with its barrel vault and open façade.

(2) Continue climbing until you reach the Brèche du Mont Saint-Michel.

(3) At marker 117,turn left towards the Tour du Mont Saint-Michel. After about ten metres, take a barely visible path on the left. Use the Visorando app.

Off the trail

The path is not obvious. The elevation gain is significant and the vegetation is dense. Approach the rocky ridge that you will follow. Beautiful vertical views of the village. Arrive at the summit, which is marked by a square geodetic marker.

(4) Continue as close as possible to the ridge, while remaining cautious, and reach the second summit marked by a stone wall, an excellent place for a well-deserved break.

(5) From this point, begin the descent via a small path through a beautiful, sparse forest. Follow the trail, or the north-west direction, to findthe Tour du Mont Saint-Michel path below the forest.

Yellow markings.

(6) Turn left and follow the beautiful forest path of the Grande Auzière massif. You will arrive at a D.F.C.I. carriage road called Piste de l'Ubac des Ferres.

(7) Turn left and continue to marker 120.

(8) Turn left onto the road and continue towards Les Ferres. Halfway along, this road becomes tarmac. Pass a beautiful spring and the restored Saint-Valentin Chapel before arriving at the cemetery, where you can park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 598 m - Parking before the cemetery.
  2. 1 : km 0.19 - alt. 634 m - Staircase leading into the village.
  3. 2 : km 0.56 - alt. 659 m - Chapelle Sainte-Julie - Chapelle Sainte-Julie (Les Ferres)
  4. 3 : km 0.97 - alt. 696 m - Breach of Mont Saint-Michel - Brèche du Mont Saint-Michel (694 m)
  5. 4 : km 1.5 - alt. 773 m - Summit of Mont Saint-Michel - Mont Saint-Michel (798 m)
  6. 5 : km 1.63 - alt. 789 m - Second summit
  7. 6 : km 1.91 - alt. 677 m - Trail
  8. 7 : km 2.94 - alt. 558 m - Road suitable for vehicles
  9. 8 : km 3.14 - alt. 547 m - Crossroads - trail - Chapelle Saint-Valentin (Les Serres)
  10. S/E : km 5.01 - alt. 598 m - Parking before the cemetery.

Notes

Hiking boots and walking sticks are very useful off the trail.

Bring secateurs.

Worth a visit

The narrow streets of Les Ferres, then the village seen from above.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.