The Sologne forest from Ligny-le-Ribault via La Bretèche and La Couvrée

Once you leave the pretty village of Ligny-le-Ribault, the route follows shaded forest paths in the heart of the game-rich Sologne region, offering an opportunity to observe the flora and fauna characteristic of this environment.

Details

11005789
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.51 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 19 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 19 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 111 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 88 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park located on the square in front of the church in Ligny-le-Ribault

(S/E). From the car park, take the path leading to the eco-museum (on the side of the church opposite the bell tower). Turn right onto the path, pass the eco-museum, then the Cosson river. Continue along the side of the main road, pass the communal pond, cross the Cosson, then follow the signs for La Ferté-Saint-Aubin via the D61.

(1) Shortly before leaving the village of La Bléterie, turn left onto Chemin de la Bretèche. This is followed by a forest track.

(2) Keep right at the fork, pass the Château de la Bretèche, visible from the path on the left. The forest path curves to the right as it approaches the Domaine du Tertre (la Jijitière), which is bordered by a fence. Continue to the D61.

(3) Turn right onto the road to La Ferté Saint Aubin, taking care. Ride along the hard shoulder for 250 metres.

(4) Leave the tarmac road and take a forest track on the left, opposite the entrance to a private estate. The deciduous forest, mainly planted with oak and chestnut trees, gives way to a pine forest on the right. The path eventually intersects with a wide crossroads.

White-red markings (GR® 3C,GR® de Pays de Sologne)

(5) Turn right onto the stabilised lane, leaving the private road to La Couvrée opposite. Stay on the busiest path until you cross the road to La Ferté Saint Aubin. Walk carefully along the hard shoulder you took on the way there, heading towards the village.

(1) Leave the turn-off on the right that you took on the way there. The departmental road curves to the right, then crosses the Cosson. Take the path on the right that leads to the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 92 m - Parking is available at the church square in Ligny-le-Ribault. - Cosson (rivière) - Affluent du Beuvron
  2. 1 : km 0.71 - alt. 93 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.78 - alt. 94 m - Turn right at the fork
  4. 3 : km 4.67 - alt. 111 m - Head towards Ligny le Ribault via La Couvrée.
  5. 4 : km 4.95 - alt. 109 m - Forest track
  6. 5 : km 6.84 - alt. 103 m - Turn right onto the stabilised lane
  7. S/E : km 10.51 - alt. 92 m - Parking is available at the church square in Ligny-le-Ribault.

Notes

The route is almost entirely shaded, except for the sections along the Ferté-Saint-Aubin road.

The route is not difficult as it follows wide paths with few junctions.

Worth a visit

Things to see during the walk:

  • the pretty village of Ligny-le-Ribault, which has preserved some of its old houses
  • theeco-museum

Nearby, the Bretèche tile factory, which is still in working order.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thanks, bionat, still a fan of Sologne!
Jean-Louis

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bionat
bionat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After point 1 (leaving the village), the hike continues along forest trails. As everywhere else in Sologne, there are a few fenced-off areas and lots of signs saying "private property, CCTV surveillance"! In short, an easy, shaded and peaceful route

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Asfalis
Asfalis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk on mainly sandy paths through wooded areas. Very little mud. Very easy and very enjoyable.

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pierre1er
pierre1er

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, always in the shade. Birds fill the land, or rather the sky.
What's more, in Sologne, all the forests are generally fenced off with wire mesh, so that by the end of the hike, you feel like a chicken looking for the exit.
On this hike, there are no fences, thank goodness, and cock-a-doodle-doo!

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for these comments.
It's unfortunate that you didn't see any animals, as this part of the Sologne region is rich in wildlife. Perhaps it has been disturbed since the recent opening of the hunting season.
As for the fencing off of the Sologne, we all hope that it will end as soon as possible, despite the reluctance of bad hunters who practise clay pigeon shooting on live targets.
Have a good day, and here's hoping for better days ahead.
Jean-Louis

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v.m.BlR.rando
v.m.BlR.rando
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Reliable description.
Hike without much interest: all in the undergrowth (except for the sections on the road), little variety in vegetation, terrain, wildlife, trail type... Very few animals despite the low number of visitors (only two people encountered). No access to the lakes mentioned in the area. Walking along fences was tedious (especially when we could see ponds). We couldn't wait to finish...
The pine forest (4) no longer exists; only the smell of wood remains. The trees have been cut down.

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for your loyalty, Anne.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Louis

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AnneBihan
AnneBihan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk that allows you to discover varied landscapes and environments. The return via the GR is a bit monotonous, however. The description is perfect, as usual!

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marylgo
marylgo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route taken on a summer morning. Lovely shaded paths with varied landscapes. I recommend it. The route description is perfect. Thank you for this lovely route!

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