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Park in the car park in the centre of the village opposite the Saint-Trojan market.
(S/E) Cross Boulevard de la Plage and walk past the modern market hall. Head towards the church and turn left onto Rue de la République. Walk past the church (interesting ex-voto in the form of a model boat) and turn into the first street on the right, Rue de Maumusson.
Cross Rue Omer Charlet and climb the five steps opposite. Continue straight on to the terminus of the Saint-Trojan mini train.
Turn right onto the path that enters the forest, passing in front of the station buffet.
Further on, turn left onto the sandy track and follow it for about a hundred metres.
At the first fork, take the narrower path on the right and then right again. Follow the path to reach a gravel path, which is the Soulasserie trail. Take it to the right for a few metres to quickly reach a new crossroads.
(1) Turn left onto a narrow path that enters the forest.
Then turn left onto a path that leads straight up a dune in the forest. The climb is steep but very short.
Follow this poorly marked path that passes between broom and holly growing under the pine trees.
When you reach a wider path, cross it and continue straight ahead on a wider path with sandy ground. You will reach a wide stone track, which is a DCIF track: Défense Contre les Incendies de Forêt (Forest Fire Defence).
(2) Turn left onto this gravel track.
At the barriers, continue straight ahead, leaving the path on the right that leads to the forest house (dead-end path closed to pedestrians). Shortly afterwards, you will come to a path with sandy ground.
(3) Turn right onto this wide path and you will see a sign hanging high up on a tree indicating that horse riders are not allowed. This is the Passe des Bris. Continue straight ahead on this path, ignoring the paths branching off to the left and right.
Further on, cross the track called Boulevard Bonneau (no risk for cars), which cuts across the path at right angles.
Continue straight ahead for a few metres to reach the back of the dune, where the ground becomes softer sand.
(4) Cross the dune without straying from the main path so as not to damage the dune, which protects the forest from the ocean.
Go down to the beach and turn left towards the south. Continue along this beach until you reach the ganivelles (wooden barriers) surrounding the terminus station of the little train.
(5) Climb the dune, go around the tracks on the left and take the path on the left, very close to the back of the dune that descends into the forest. The path is marked by blue dots on the trees.
Leave the blue and red markings that go to the left and continue straight ahead.
You will come to a perpendicular path. Turn right.
Continue straight ahead, following the orange markings. Leave a wide path that branches off to the left under the cypress trees.
The path becomes narrow and comes into view of the sea, reaching the coast facing Gatseau Bay. Enjoy the scenery here.
(6) Turn left, following the narrow-gauge railway line but keeping away from the tracks. Pass a standing stone which is a memorial to the landing on the island of Oléron in April 1945.
Pass the memorial, do not follow the coast but continue under the pine trees towards the wooden structure which is a stop for the little train. Continue straight ahead and you will arrive at the Gatseau beach car park.
Head towards the car park entrance. Pass the entrance to the Ibis hotel and turn right onto the path that runs alongside the hotel fence.
At the end of the path, you will reach Plage du Soleil.
(7) Turn left and follow the path. Continue straight ahead to walk along the Pacaud dyke, which is a tarmac path.
(8) Before the end of the dyke, turn left onto the dirt track indicated by the sign for Marais des Bris, then immediately turn right and go down to cross the wooden bridge. Turn left immediately after the bridge to cross a second bridge.
Turn left onto a third bridge, then follow the path to cross the marsh canals via a fourth, fifth and sixth bridge.
Pass in front of the Maison du Marais with a playground on your left, and take the white path opposite. Cross Boulevard de Gatseau. Continue on the track opposite, which is bordered by a ditch on your right.
(9) Cross this ditch via the first small wooden footbridge and walk between the gardens and houses to reach Rue Surcouf. Turn right to arrive at Allée des Martinets.
When you reach a widening in the road with trees, take the path on the left that starts to the right of a white fence wall belonging to the villa called Vent Sud. Enter the forest, ignoring a path on the right.
You will come to a tarmac cycle path, which you should follow to the left for a few metres.
Take the first sandy path on the right. After the fitness trail beams, continue straight ahead on a narrower path and descend to Boulevard Aristide Briand. Turn right, then left onto Rue Cacaly.
At the end of the street, turn left then right onto Avenue Henri Massé to reach the promenade that runs alongside the small beach.
(10) Turn left towards the village. Pass in front of the seaside villas of Saint-Trojan and enjoy the view of the Oléron viaduct.
At the end of the promenade, continue right on the stone path along the dyke.
When you see the church on your left, go down the wooden steps to return to the starting point (S/E) by crossing the marsh via the footpath.
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Easy 
