The Tortillon Valley

The walk starts at Place du Canal in Vassy. A Calvados Tourist Information sign marks the starting point of the walk. There is a car park where you can park easily.

(S/E) To start, head towards the village via the D26A and immediately leave the road by taking the path on the right which runs alongside the Tortillon. Follow this path and cross the Tortillon via the bridge, then head back up Rue du Canal.

(1) Turn left onto Avenue du Charles de Gaulle, then right into Rue des Écoles. Turn left onto Rue de Monsecret, then walk through the school grounds. Continue along Rue Marcel Lepage, then turn right onto Chemin de la Vieille Ville.
This path joins the Route de Flers (D106).

(2) Turn left and cross the road to reach the town’s pretty little park.

(3) Walk through the park, admiring the small ponds from the footbridges. Then exit at the other end of the park and take Chemin de la Poterie immediately on the right. Turn left at the end of the path and head towards the hamlet of La Poterie. Continue to the next junction.

(4) Turn left, then right onto a path leading to the hamlet of Hamel aux Durands, until you reach the Route de Condé (D512). Take care when crossing – this road is very busy!

(5) Continue along the path to the next junction, then turn right along the stream. Ignore the return path on the left near the ruined mill. At the next junction, carry on straight ahead without crossing the stream.

(6) Cross the Tortillon and take the next path leading uphill to the left. This path is sometimes turned into a small stream due to the spring overflowing further up.

(7) At the hamlet of Aligny, turn left and follow the path. Continue left again at the next junction, then head down the path to rejoin the Tortillon and the original path on the right to return.
An old, ruined wheat mill can be seen at this junction. You can make out the now-filled-in reservoir where water used to collect before flowing to the waterwheel beneath the mill.
Continue along the original path for the return journey. At the junction, go straight on and continue until you reach Rue du Moulin.

(8) Turn right and then immediately left onto Rue de la Prairie to reach the car park where you started, at the very end (S/E).

An easy walk, but some paths may be muddy, especially in winter. You should therefore wear sturdy footwear. Before reaching the hamlet of Aligny, a spring partially floods the uphill path.