The Donkey Trail

There’s plenty of variety along this route, which takes you up and down the small hills of Viville. You’ll pass close to the old windmill and alongside an old mill on the River Né.

Details

241721
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.43 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 164 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 167 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 295 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 138 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Viville (16120)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.521807° / W 0.120757°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1632SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the Viville picnic area, head down the small street, then at the junction, turn right and rejoin the D151, following it for a few metres to the left.

(1) Turn right onto a path that was once tarmacked but gradually turns into a wide track as it climbs. Stay on this wide white track until you reach the houses at Chez Damouroux and come back onto tarmac.

(2) Turn right at the T-junction; the road remains tarmac for a few metres before the track becomes grassy. Continue in the same direction until you reach a solitary tree at a crossroads; turn right, in a hairpin bend, onto a good grassy track.

(3) Leave this good track at the end of a vineyard and head left towards a small copse; walk alongside it, keeping it on your left, whilst walking along the vineyard on your right. You’ll reach the large Bellevue building, which you should walk alongside; you’ll come back onto tarmac and end up on a small road. Turn right, then left, going round the hamlet of Chez Baron. The path climbs slightly. Reach a small copse, pass through it and continue a little further in this direction.

(4) At a hedge, turn sharp right onto a good path, keep going in this direction, and when you spot the old mill, head towards it.

(5) Turn left just before the mill so that it remains on your right. The path descends towards a small copse. Enter it, then continue along the edge; turn right at a right angle to stay at the edge of the copse – the path is level. Continue in this direction until you reach some vineyards, then cross the D151. Opposite, take the faint path along the embankment until you reach the small road running alongside the River Né.

(6) Turn right towards the Moulin à Devaud, continue along this small street which leads into Viville, turn right at the second street, then right again to return to the picnic area (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 177 ft - Viville picnic area. Near the - Né (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.13 - alt. 157 ft - Formerly tarmac-surfaced path
  3. 2 : mi 0.77 - alt. 194 ft - Chez Damouroux
  4. 3 : mi 1.34 - alt. 236 ft - Path on the left alongside a woodland
  5. 4 : mi 1.98 - alt. 295 ft - At the start of a hedge, turn right
  6. 5 : mi 2.28 - alt. 269 ft - Old windmill
  7. 6 : mi 3.11 - alt. 141 ft - Devaud Mill
  8. S/E : mi 3.43 - alt. 180 ft - Viville picnic area

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
2.6 / 5
EtienneQR
EtienneQR

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The signage along the route is a bit hit-and-miss… thank goodness for the map!
It’s a lovely start, setting off from a leisure park and then following the Charente
The panoramic view over the Grand Gaudy is truly lovely, especially whilst having a bite to eat in glorious weather.
Next, we’re off on the long stretch through vineyards, vineyards, roads, power lines, vineyards… We’d like to thank three little white goats for livening things up!
After the mill, there were a few lovely stretches through woodland.
We’ve had a breath of fresh air… but we won’t be going back there.

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Danielle Suet
Danielle Suet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Amendment to the description: in paragraph 2, the solitary tree has been felled, but approximately 50 cm of the trunk remains in place.

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Fanii24
Fanii24

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

I was a bit disappointed with this route, which I didn’t find very varied – mostly vineyards… though thankfully there was a bit more variety towards the end. The map and instructions were perfect!

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, Denis Simonnet
That’s exactly what Visorando is for – for hiking in other places, where there are no signposts. I was just saying that a moment ago

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denis simonnet
denis simonnet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

No signposting, but a very accurate description of the route

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, jmcoussy
The author makes absolutely no mention of signposting, probably for this reason, but also because with Visorando, we often hike off the beaten track. In any case, signposting isn’t necessary, as the route description and map are sufficient to ensure you don’t get lost.

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jmcoussy
jmcoussy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

No or very little route marking.

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