The Couesnon Valley

This walk along the banks of the Couesnon, which runs parallel to another route already suggested, is shorter and slightly more challenging due to the elevation gain. This route favours paths on higher ground rather than those along the riverbank. A distinctive feature is that it is 100% trail, meaning no tarmac except for one road crossing.

Details

1528837
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.71 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 312 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 289 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 305 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 125 ft

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Château de la Ville Olivier.

(S/E) Cross the D102, then the Ruisseau de la Motte. Turn left. Cross the road leading to La Fressionnière and continue straight ahead on the path on the right. Follow it along the edge of the forest.

(1) At the first junction of paths, take the one on the right (a hairpin bend) and head down towards the Couesnon.
Continue along this path, following the Couesnon.
The path ends at a road; follow this to the left as far as the Moulin de Mézières.

(2) Continue straight on, passing between the buildings of the old mill. As this is private property, please do not linger and disturb the owners; continue along the path which turns left.
Cross the Couesnon via the footbridge and continue to the right for 50m.
Take the path on the left with a winding staircase and continue along this path which runs alongside the Couesnon for over a kilometre.
Stay on this path as it runs alongside the road and reach the underpass.

(3) Turn right to go under the road, then right again along the edge of the field.
Take the stony path on the left and continue along the path running alongside the Couesnon.
Continue for 1,600 metres.

(4) At the end of the track, turn right and follow the path uphill. Halfway up, veer left onto an east-west track.

(5) Take the first path on the left, which descends in four tight bends and leads back to the riverbank. Continue eastwards until you see a footbridge.

(6) Cross the footbridge and keep to the path on the left. Ignore all the paths on the right.
When you reach the water intake station at the fork in the path, take the one on the right, which soon runs alongside the road and overlooks it.
Continue along this path towards the south.
Pass the Ville Olivier buildings on your right and, staying on the verge, make your way to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 184 ft - Ville Olivier Castle car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.66 - alt. 164 ft - Path on the right towards the Couesnon
  3. 2 : mi 1.29 - alt. 148 ft - Mézières Mill
  4. 3 : mi 2.44 - alt. 144 ft - Tunnel on the right
  5. 4 : mi 3.49 - alt. 151 ft - Path on the right
  6. 5 : mi 3.92 - alt. 154 ft - Path on the left with bends
  7. 6 : mi 4.27 - alt. 125 ft - Turn right onto the footbridge - Couesnon (fleuve)
  8. S/E : mi 5.71 - alt. 184 ft - Ville Olivier Castle car park

Worth a visit

At (2), this route can serve as a shortcut for the other route up to the steps.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
COMMODORE52
COMMODORE52

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting walk, with seven different routes to choose from depending on the time available and the season. Two 5 km walks, two 9 km walks, one 14 km walk, one 13 km walk, and the full 16 km route. Please note that the western route is more challenging, whilst the eastern route is easier. It’s impossible to get lost; simply follow the Couesnon, whether on the north bank or the south bank.

Machine-translated

Contanvezot
Contanvezot

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk with several alternative routes. Be careful not to confuse the yellow route with the GR.

Machine-translated

truitor
truitor

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A fairly easy walk, and the route is perfectly well marked. One minor quibble about the description: it’s not 100% off-road, but let’s say 95% :-)

Machine-translated

alain 1405
alain 1405

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely route that I know well, as I live just a few hundred metres from the starting point. Definitely worth a go

Machine-translated

claude toran
claude toran

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, quite strenuous
don’t attempt it when it’s damp:

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.