The Bois de la Clie in Les Essards

The entire route is marked with a yellow line.
Start from the school car park in Les Essards, Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville.

(S/E) Keeping the school on your left, cross the grassy area to the road leading to Belle Combe and Le Grand Pallet. Follow it, turning right. At the first houses, at Le Caunat, turn right.

(1) Turn right onto a path and go round a pond surrounded by a wire fence (ornamental ducks). Head down into Belle Combe.

(2) Turn right, cross the valley diagonally and head back up through the woodland to a small road between La Valade and La Devauderie.

(3) Turn right towards La Davauderie and keep left at the three-way junction. At the next right-hand bend, leave the road and follow a path on the left which joins the D119.

(4) Follow the road carefully to the left for about 100 m, then turn right onto a path leading into the woods, which you cross.

(5) On emerging from the woods, turn right onto the road and continue to the hamlet known as Le Chail.

(6) Turn right into the Bois de la Clie and head down to the lowest point.

(7) Head back up to the left through the woods to the road, and follow it to the right for 200 metres.

(8) Before Les Hermands, turn right onto Rue de la Combe des Hermands. At the junction, turn left then right onto Rue de Chez Renoulleau, which you should follow until you reach the D237.

(9) Turn right towards the church, walk past it, then turn right to walk past the town hall and reach the school car park (S/E).

A former watchtower, probably built in the 15th century. Completely renovated at the end of the 20th century, it has become the municipal library.