Le Bois Madame and Soumard

Starting from Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée, between woods and marshes, in the heart of the peninsula, with a beautiful view of the Anse de Fouras on the edge of the Bois Madame.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.66 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 8 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 8 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 14 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure in front of the Town Hall. Route marked in purple by the Lau'Rando Association.

(S/E) Head towards the church and, opposite the bakery, turn into Rue du Vinaigre and then, after 50 metres, take the small gravel path marked in purple (not shown on the attached IGN map). The path becomes grassy. Leave Rue du Clos du Moulin on your right and continue in the same direction until you reach a white path, which you follow to the right to reach Route des Coudrées.

(1) Turn right and follow this road for 200 metres, then turn left onto Chemin Rural du Clos. After 400 metres, take the grassy path on the left, which becomes stony and turns right to reach the D937c (Route de l'Océan).

(2) Cross it carefully and enter the woods opposite on the purple-marked path (not shown on the map) which joins the path and crosses the Bois Madame from east to west. Follow this path on the left to join the white Corderies path, which you follow to the left to soon reach the D214E1 at the old gatekeeper's house.

(3) Opposite, take the paved path of the old railway line for 700 m, then turn left onto the path towards the Magnou farm. Carefully cross the D937c again and follow it to the left for about 100 m.

(4) Turn onto Chemin des Ajoncs and follow this small road until you reach the second crossroads.

(5) Turn left onto Rue du Moulin de Soumard to reach Soumard. Take Rue de l'Abreuvoir on the left, which joins the D214.

(6) Follow it to the left, towards the waste collection centre.

(7) Shortly before the waste collection centre, turn left onto the road that will take you back to the same road 1 km further on. Follow it to the left.

(8) Continue along this road, which veers to the right and becomes Rue de la Croix des Joncs, to reach the town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Town hall
  2. 1 : km 1.02 - alt. 7 m - Route des Coudrées
  3. 2 : km 2.2 - alt. 12 m - Crossing the D937c
  4. 3 : km 3.01 - alt. 5 m - Former gatekeeper's house
  5. 4 : km 4.3 - alt. 8 m - Chemin des Ajoncs
  6. 5 : km 6.15 - alt. 12 m - Rue du Moulin de Soumard
  7. 6 : km 6.86 - alt. 3 m - D214, on the left
  8. 7 : km 7.34 - alt. 4 m - On the left, before the waste collection centre.
  9. 8 : km 9.18 - alt. 4 m - La Croix des Joncs
  10. S/E : km 9.66 - alt. 6 m - Town hall

Notes

In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée:
Bar-restaurant, bakery, mini-market, post office.
Doctor, pharmacy
Picnic facilities and shelter available at the Place de la Bouillerie market hall.

Worth a visit

Church of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
sergio18150
sergio18150

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Not enough signage at the beginning... until a quarter of the way through the journey.

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phbizet
phbizet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The northern part of the route is interesting, with the Bois Madame and the Anse de Fouras. A bit too much tarmac for my liking, especially as cars drive quite fast on a road that is wide, contrary to the description given.

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Ardechois33
Ardechois33

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After following the cycle path from point 3, instead of heading towards point 4, we went to the edge of Fouras Cove (a pleasant viewpoint) and then returned to the route.

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Soizig87
Soizig87

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Mea Culpa, I had done this route and posted a negative review about the description. I did the route again, paying closer attention to the explanations: NO PROBLEM, I simply hadn't seen a sign and had gone in the wrong direction. This time, I did the hike without any problems. It also offers a wide variety of landscapes: marshes, small woods, fields of flowers... I therefore recommend it.

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Soizig87
Soizig87

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The directions may be too old. Housing developments and an industrial estate have been built, making one of the paths impassable.
From point 1 onwards: I couldn't find the rural path through the enclosure, but I took another path with a different name (I can't remember which one). Perhaps that's where the directions started to go wrong.
I will do this hike again and let you know.

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thezac
thezac

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

There are often too many markers, sometimes one every three telephone poles when it's unnecessary, but in the woods, where they would be necessary, there are too often none when changing direction.
The route must be impassable in wet weather in the forest and very difficult in dry weather because the chosen route is rutted by logging machinery. The worst thing is that it is also rutted in good weather.
A big disappointment, because there are many paths in very good condition in the Benon woods.

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Book-of-yume
Book-of-yume

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An exceptional hike between forest and country road.
Discover a converted old railway line.
Best to do this walk in spring or early summer to avoid mud and wet feet, but don't forget your hat and sun cream.
The only downside is crossing a very busy road.

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Luane
Luane

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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mirabel54
mirabel54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Some beautiful and pleasant stretches through the Bois Madame forest, but lots of busy tarmac roads... which is a shame because it's a lovely area. What's more, when it's very hot like today, there are stretches in full sun on the tarmac roads, which is really tough going! A hat and sun cream are essential!

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patrickmelique
patrickmelique

Fortunately, to avoid the tarmac, you can walk on the hard shoulder, which is easier on your shoes.

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patrickmelique
patrickmelique

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We did this hike for the second time, and it was just as enjoyable and well marked as before. We noticed that there was still rubbish on the path behind the waste collection centre. As it was hunting day, there were few birds in the area!

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telle@1979
telle@1979

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely little walk, with a slightly monotonous stretch on the road.

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patrickmelique
patrickmelique

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,
We did this hike this morning, taking 2 hours and 45 minutes without rushing. As for parking at the starting point, there are enough spaces in front of the town hall for several cars. The signposting is perfect up to and including point (7). From point (8) onwards, the signposting is still easy to find, but no longer corresponds to the hike description due to the creation of a path that bypasses the town to the south-east. Point (8) should read "continue on this road, which veers to the right". At the end of the bend, when you see the "croix de joncs" monument with its picnic table and bench, take the white path on the left, ignoring the two other paths on the right. After 200 metres, turn left and continue for 700 metres, admiring the large birds on your right. At the junction with the Grande Levée road, turn left, pass in front of the municipal library and at the next crossroads turn left to return to the town hall.
Please note that there is an illegal rubbish dump on the path behind the waste collection centre.point (7)

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patrick montamat
patrick montamat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk. A different view of the area around Fouras with its wooded areas.

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louma17
louma17

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,
A very pleasant hike, alternating between countryside and woods, with a beautiful view of Fouras Cove.
No particular difficulty for occasional hikers like us.
Worth noting is the lovely shaded terrace on the square in Saint-Laurent de la Prée, where you can refresh yourself after this beautiful walk.
Thank you!

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