Lacs des Mortes and Bellefontaine via La Roche Bernard

Small car park at the side of the road, at the junction of the D46 and D18 roads.

(S/E) Follow the D46 towards La Chapelle des Bois, turn right into the field at the side of the road and continue for 500 m until you reach the crossroads near the Chalet des Mortes.

(1) Turn right onto the narrow, little-used road through meadows carpeted with yellow gentians. Magnificent view of the chain of hills, then later of the Mortes and Bellefontaine lakes. Follow this hilly path to the Chez l'Aimé stopover lodge.

(2) Shortly afterwards, just before the house (customs barracks), turn left onto the GR® 5 trail, marked in red and white, which climbs steeply into the forest. Almost at the top, turn right at the first fork to reach the rocky promontory of Roche Bernard.

(3) From the Roche Bernard viewpoint,there are magnificent views over the two lakes of Bellefontaine and Les Mortes in unspoilt peat bogs. Continue on flat ground to Les Essarts, then descend steeply.

(4) Leave the GR® by turning right onto a path that descends steeply. At the edge of the forest, cross a meadow and head towards La Feuillat and the GR®5 (altitude 1,104 metres).

(5) Turn right (white-red signposting) onto a white, stony path, which is almost flat, for one and a half kilometres. At Sur les Lacs, a viewpoint offers a wonderful view of Lac de Bellefontaine and its belt of peat bogs and woods. 200 metres after this viewpoint, rejoin the small road taken on the way out (picnic table).

(6) Take the path on the left that stretches through a grove, then disappears almost completely as it descends slightly to the right, across a meadow, towards the marshy plain between the Lacs des Mortes and Bellefontaine. The next section can be very wet, and even flooded at certain times of the year (sturdy shoes or boots recommended). There are a few planks in place.

Cross an old metal bridge over the stream connecting the two lakes and continue on the path to the right along the shore of Lac des Mortes with its pristine peat bog and boardwalk. This is a very pleasant section with several places to stop and enjoy the lake.

At the end of the lake, the path turns left and crosses the Mortes stream via a wooden bridge before returning to the starting point (S/E).

Picnic table at point (6).

The route is mostly exposed to the sun. Avoid in hot weather.

View from La Roche Bernard
This promontory (1,290 metres above sea level) juts out over the lakes and peat bogs of Chapelle-des-Bois and Bellefontaine. The landscape is fantastic. In the centre are the sparkling surfaces of the lakes. Opposite, the stream that flows out of Les Mortes winds its way to the right, then heads towards the houses behind the wooded peat bog.