The Sèvre Niortaise in Damvix

Most of the route is on wide paths, except for a section on a small wilderness trail, then a return along the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise.

Details

1101729
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.71 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 10 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 10 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 16 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 7 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking: Place André Audouin in front of the village hall.

(S/E) With your back to the bridge, head opposite into Rue des Petites Cabanes with the river on your right. After the last house, continue for another 300 metres to reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn left onto the tarmac road that zigzags to a crossroads (hunting car park); keep right on the tarmac. Further on, after a small bridge, the tarmac ends (Conche de Vernusson). Continue for about 350 metres, then the path slopes to the right and joins a crossroads (the path on the right is not visible on the map).

(2) Turn left onto the main path, which becomes a trail 400 metres further on. At the end of the trail, turn right onto the path, which soon leaves the forest. Continue straight ahead until you reach the tarmac road.

(3) Turn right and follow the Sèvre Niortaise for 500 metres. On the left, at a 50km/h speed limit sign, you will see a chain ferry that allows you to cross the river.

(4) Continue along the Sèvre Niortaise river, where it is sometimes possible to walk on the grassy verge when it has been maintained.
Pass a lock bridge and continue to the crossroads you passed on the way there.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the road to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 16 ft - Parking Place André Audouin
  2. 1 : mi 0.76 - alt. 13 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 1.99 - alt. 10 ft - Turn left onto the main path.
  4. 3 : mi 3.46 - alt. 13 ft - Turn right onto the tarmac road.
  5. 4 : mi 3.78 - alt. 13 ft - Chain boat - Sèvre Niortaise (fleuve)
  6. S/E : mi 6.71 - alt. 16 ft - Parking Place André Audouin

Notes

Much of this route is paved, but on small roads with little traffic.
Don't forget your mosquito repellent.

Worth a visit

The chain boat: an ingenious and simple system developed to cross certain canals. Remember to bring a handkerchief to wipe your hands!

Boat trips from the car park.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
User 27933369

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The start is lovely, but I think it’s a shame we can’t carry on along the path.

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User 22970822

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. One small downside at the end of the trail, as you follow the canal in a straight line, which makes it a bit monotonous. The wooded section is more interesting.

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jlfaure
jlfaure

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done on Tuesday 25th and Friday 28th January (in opposite directions) with the Benet hiking club. Everyone enjoyed it! It's always nice when the weather is good.

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digudi
digudi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk, especially in the wooded area. The return journey along the Sèvre is a bit long, despite the few pretty, well-maintained cottages lining the river. Saw a deer and a few cyclists.

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claude.boursiquot
claude.boursiquot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Part of the route is along the road between Damvix and the village of La Sevre, but there are few cars and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Sevre valley.
The other part is through the marshes and woods. These are not the most typical landscapes, but you will have a good time. You will not regret your walk, and there is no one else on the route apart from the road mentioned above.
A route with good diversity.

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PIN liliane
PIN liliane

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did it yesterday (10 October)
and only encountered a few walkers.

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fitness
fitness

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We left the village of La Sèvre in Le Mazeau, taking the route in reverse. We liked the part along the Sèvre less than the rest of the route because it runs along a small tarmac road with some traffic, but it is still interesting.
Leaving the Sèvre, we were still on tarmac but in a wilder setting. The unpaved section was very pleasant and we enjoyed it a lot.
In addition to cows grazing with their calves, we saw pheasants, deer, green woodpeckers, grey herons and nutria, not to mention more common birds.
We had no trouble following the route. Our two GPS devices recorded 10.6 km in 2 hours 54 minutes, including stops for observation and photos.

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Sneg
Sneg
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Avoid during hunting season.

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