La Dorée walks

The Mayenne is a land of pastures where plots of land remain small. There are numerous sunken lanes here, and you are invited to explore several of them. One slight drawback: due to their nature, there is no continuity. Walkers will therefore have to accept walking some distances on tarmac roads.

A short hike in the Fougères National Forest, through varied landscapes, culminating in a beautiful megalithic alignment, the Cordon des Druides. Route developed and maintained by the ONF.

There are only two old mills, no longer in operation, on this route, but it will also allow you to explore the woods and moors of the Gastinais region.

An urban walk offering various panoramic views of Fougères Castle, the belfry, and the churches of Saint-Léonard and Saint-Sulpice.

All the special features of the town of Fougères unfold before you throughout this urban walk: of course, you will walk around the castle with its 11 towers, but you will also discover it from the panoramic view of the Rocher Coupé or the Jardin Public. Speaking of gardens, the Parc des Orières, the Val Nançon and the Voie Verte are also on the programme. Finally, the upper town with its belfry, theatre and museums will allow you to explore the city centre.

Although "Belle Eau" is the name of a hamlet located at the northernmost point of this route, hikers will be amazed from the outset by the water gushing through the rocks in magnificent waterfalls. The route continues along wide paths, often bathed by runoff water from the various branches of the Cance, and ends on a high note with the panorama offered at altitude 314, famous not only for its small chapel but also for the battles that took place there in August 1944.

Saint-Germain-en-Coglès, God and Satan regularly meet here as soon as granite appears in a field or water gushes from the stone. With Le Châtellier hidden behind the woods, the commune of Saint-Germain offers some of the most beautiful stories in the region, which this walk allows you to hear as you wander along the paths. But beware, these legends are drawn as much from local imagination as from historical truths.

The legend of the Smoking Stone, also known as the Devil's Rock, says that when the Devil is hungry, he makes the stone smoke by baking his cake between the enormous blocks of rock that form a cave. This circular loop will take you from legendary places to sacred sites. It would be the devil's work if you didn't reach the gates of the Domaine de la Foltière, the kingdom of flowers in the Parc Floral de Haute-Bretagne.

This easy hike allows you to discover the Fosse Arthour. It is a geological fault called a cluse, which gives the landscape an exceptional appeal. This cluse forms a narrow, 70-metre-deep gorge carved into a rocky ridge and strewn with large boulders on its sides. The area is ideal for walking and climbing.

On the edge of the Coglais, a charming route combining a walk along a stream with paths through green hills and sunken lanes.

The Lac de Haute Mayenne, artificially created by the Saint-Fraimbault dam, will charm you with its rich and varied flora and fauna. But this route will also allow you to discover the confluence of two rivers that feed into the Mayenne: the Varenne and the Colmont.

Une rabine désignait autrefois un chemin large et bordé d'arbres. Le circuit en emprunte à plusieurs reprises. Il suit également un petit ruisseau et permet d'apercevoir plusieurs châteaux car il emprunte des sentiers communs à une autre randonnée décrite sur le site au départ de Saint-Brice-en-Coglès.

Route from the bar "l'Autre Café" in Bardet, then return to the bar car park via the village of communal lodges "le Bel Orient".

This easy and very pleasant route along the banks of the Beuvron was suggested by the Saint-James Children's Municipal Council. It also passes close to the American military cemetery, allowing for a short extension to the walk.

This loop will take you through the countryside of Châtillon-en-Vendelais and Montautour.Can be done on foot or by mountain bike.

Fontaine-Daniel, with its picturesque village and beautiful lake, is one of the best-known places in the Mayenne area, but there is only one busy road to get there and the hiking opportunities around it are limited. This route, which can be done by bike or on foot in a day, connects the town to the village via a greenway through the town of Mayenne, then crosses the rolling countryside of Saint-Georges-Buttavent. It also covers a large part of the Salair forest near Fontaine-Daniel. To shorten the route, you can skip Mayenne and start elsewhere to make a loop around Fontaine-Daniel.

Visit Andouillé and its countryside with its gentle hills and cross the Ernée via its stepping stones.

A short detour to Rochefort, a charming hamlet on the banks of the Mayenne, is highly recommended to admire the river. You can quench your thirst at La Guinguette before continuing your journey.

A short route along the sunken paths of the small village of Sacé, passing by the River Mayenne.

This route gives pride of place to the River Mayenne, following its course for over four kilometres. As you travel upstream, you will pass five lock-and-dam complexes, some of which are linked to a small power station.

A short walk starting from Saint-Brice near Avranches with lovely views over the Sée valley.