The Brangeard Valley, starting from the Cherveux-Saint-Christophe pond

Park in the car park at the Cherveux – Saint-Christophe lake – Access signposted from the D743 (between Niort and Parthenay).

(S/E) Head down towards the lake’s beach and turn right. Shortly after the footbridge, leave the path around the lake and continue uphill to the right. Ignore the path leading off to the left and carry on, turning left a little further along the path that descends towards the pumping station. Walk past the riding centre and turn right onto the road. 100 m further on, leave the road and take the path on the left to reach the next junction.

(1) Turn left and carry on straight ahead for about 800 m until you reach the D122. Turn right onto this road, then turn left a little further on towards the water tower and carry on straight ahead.

(2) At the bend to the right in the road, turn onto the track on the left and, 50 metres further on, carry straight on along the narrow path. Continue left onto the Route de Lussais.

(3) In the village, turn right onto the Chemin de Casse Échine. About 300 m further on, after the house on the left-hand side of the road, take the small, shaded path that winds down to the left.

(4) When you reach the wash house and the Source de Trousse-Chemise (not shown on maps), turn right onto the small road and carry on until you reach another road. Head right until you reach the D8.

(5) Turn left and, after the second bridge, turn left again. Walk past the Brangeard picnic area and continue along this path which runs alongside the Marcusson. When you reach a road, turn left and take the path on the right after the bridge over the Marcusson, ignoring the path that climbs just after it.

(6) Just before the road, leave the valley and head left up the hairpin bend, which curves right further up; turn left about 500 m further on at the four-way junction, then head towards the edge of the woodland.

(7) Do not enter the woodland but take the path on the right. Follow the fields on your right-hand side, then, at the crossroads, turn left (note the large ash tree on the left). Once at the bottom, cross the Brangeard via the small bridge made of flat stones.

(4) Turn right onto the small road, not far from the Trousse-Chemise washhouse seen on the way out, and reach a T-junction at the corner of a house on your right.

(8) Turn left, then right onto Chemin Porte Pierre, at the top of the hill. (Note, a little further on to the left, behind a stone wall, a Protestant cemetery overgrown with wild vegetation).
After a right-hand bend, the road reaches the junction of Chemin de la Logette and Chemin de Canquenmaille.

(9) Continue straight on along the small road that leads downhill. At the Grand Moulin, cross the Ruisseau de Brangeard and head back up to the Route du Plan d’Eau. Turn left onto the road, then right towards the lake, go through the barrier and arrive at the car park (S/E).

(S/E) Large car park, campsite, supervised swimming area during July and August from 1 pm to 7 pm. Water slide (under parental supervision). A wide range of activities on offer, such as water ski lift, stand-up paddleboarding, water slide, treetop adventure course, children’s play areas, pétanque and Category¹fishing.
Free entry.

La Croix de Coquet equestrian centre, not far from the Cherveux-Saint-Christophe lake.

Other walking routes are available starting from Cherveux and Saint-Christophe-sur-Roc.