A circular walk around the Sèvre, its hillsides and vineyards, starting from the Port de la Ramée

Starting from the Port de la Ramée in Vertou: from Vertou, take the D59 towards Saint-Fiacre, then the D359 towards La Haie-Fouassière. At La Ville Henri, turn right onto the Route de la Ramée, then take the Impasse de la Ramée. A car park and picnic tables await you.

(S/E) Take the path westwards towards the road bridge linking Vertou to Saint-Fiacre. As you approach the bridge, use the pedestrian crossing and cross the road (take care) to continue along the river.

(1) Confluence of the Sèvre Nantaise and the Maine. Continue on and go round the Hauts-Thébaudières site to reach Route de la Ville Bachelier.

(2) Turn left for 200 m and, at the cross, turn right onto the^GRP® Red and Yellow marked path, which leads to La Billiardière, crossing the M59 at La Grande Noë (take care), then Pas Baril to reach the La Billiardière roundabout. Continue to follow the^GRP® markings at every junction.

(3) Turn right, keeping to the safe side of the M105 for 500 m, then veer right towards La Verrie for 200 m.

(4) Turn right, first between houses, then onto a lovely wooded path. When you reach the junction with a road, continue for a few dozen metres, leave the road and veer left and right along the lane beside the vineyards, taking care not to follow the dirt track on the left.

(5) Continue along the vineyards and then into the woods to reach La Bouteillerie, keeping to the left until you reach Rue du Patis. Turn right to cross Route de la Haie-Fouassière straight ahead, then follow the path through the woods to emerge onto Route de la Ramée.

(6) Turn right onto the road and, after 150 m, turn left onto the path in the middle of the field. Follow this path with the vineyards on your left and the quarry, which you go round, until you reach the Route de la Haie-Fouassière.

(7) Take the road to the right, taking care to stay safe, for 300 m. Just after the entrance to the quarry, level with the road to the village of Pibrac, head up the path on the right alongside the quarry for about 400 m. Keep to the right, still following the edge of the site, to reach a sewage treatment plant and the River Sèvre.

(8) Return along the Sèvre Nantaise via the shaded path which leads back to the port of La Ramée (S/E).

No toilets or drinking water points: I looked, but!

Enjoy the paths and the shade along much of the route.

After points (6) and (7), take the time to photograph the vineyard.