The Beaumont-la-Ronce blackberry trail

Parking spaces are available at the crossroads below the castle, at the junction of the D766 and D29a, behind the town hall. This hike is not signposted.

(S/E) Opposite the town hall, turn left towards the east, onto the D29 towards Nouzilly, and take Rue de la Poterie on the left, about 50 metres further on. Just before reaching the road, take the path on the right. At the top, walk alongside the sports facilities and then turn onto the next path on the left. When this path veers to the left, continue for a few metres until you find a tarmac ramp on the right that descends towards the road.

(1) Go down and cross the road carefully, then go up a winding ramp to reach the edge of a wood. Continue along the path on the right and ignore the forest track on the left. At the next fork, ignore the path on the right and continue along the path that enters the forest. At the fork, take the forest lane on the left. Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads with several lanes (Rond de Saint-Hubert).

(2) Follow the lane on the right with a small blue sign. A few metres further on, another small sign invites you to continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads (Carroi des Hallonnière), turn right and continue to the next crossroads (Rond de la Courterie).

(3) Continue straight ahead until you reach the junction with the D5.

(4) Continue straight ahead until you reach a house called La Huberdière. Continue along the path, turning left until you reach the junction with a road. Follow this road to the right. At the next intersection, continue to the left, then at the next one, turn right to join the D29.

(5) Follow it to the left for a few metres: be careful, as it is a busy road, then cross over and turn right onto a small road towards Moulin de Beaumont. Continue along this road until you reach a bridge. Note the old mill on the other side of the river. Turn left just before the bridge and continue along the river to reach a path. Continue in the same direction and you will come to a small road at La Logerie.

(6) Follow this road on the right to reach La Roche Bourdeil. Pass the houses and, at the crossroads, take the path opposite to reach a pond overlooking the road. Ignore the path on the left to pass under the pond, pass under a power line and continue until you reach a small road near a house.

(7) Continue straight ahead on this road. At the hamlet of Les Commaillères, the road veers to the left. Shortly afterwards, turn right into the small street in front of a house to reach a crossroads. Turn right and continue in the same direction to cross a wood.

(8) You will come out into a field. Turn left onto the path at the edge of the woods. Further on, the path turns left, then right, and comes out onto a road.

(9) Take it on the right and then, further on, turn onto the first road on the left. Pass the hamlet of La Monvallètterie. Further on, the road veers left at Le Petit Coudray and then turns right to reach a crossroads.

(10) Turn right onto the path. Further on, take the path on the right to see the Bollée wind turbine. Then return to the road and continue on the right until you reach the crossroads shortly afterwards. Turn right, pass La Guillonnière and continue to the junction.

(11) Turn left, then take the first road on the right. At La Perrière, take a very small road on the left until you reach a crossroads with a path. You will find the yellow markings again. Turn left and, further on, ignore a path on the right and then a path on the left and climb through the fields.

(12) At the next intersection, turn left, then take the first path on the right. Further on, at the intersection, ignore the path that climbs to the right and take the path that descends to the left. Turn right immediately to come out onto a road. Then turn left to return to the crossroads at the bottom of the castle (S/E).

In the forest, pay close attention to the description, or use the Visorando app, as the names of the paths and crossroads are not indicated on the ground. In addition, the paths differ slightly from those shown on the map.
Some paths can be very grassy. It is best to wear clothing that covers your legs well.
Hike completed in 2016, updated in 2022

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

(S/E) Beaumont-la-Ronce. Legend has it that around the year 400, Saint Armel built a hermitage on a hill covered with brambles. The village was built in the 12th century.

The Château de Beaumont-la-Ronce. This is a beautiful private château that has been remodelled several times since the Middle Ages. The square keep dates from the 13th century. The eight-sided brick tower dates from the 16th century.

Shortly afterwards (10). Bollée windmill. These windmills were built around 1900 by the Bollée brothers to pump and raise water to a height of about 30 metres in order to supply water to neighbouring castles. In Touraine, you can see another Bollée windmill in Esvres.
L'Échandon and Le Becquet
The Indre Valley between Esvres and Courcay

The title of this walk is, of course, a nod to the name Beaumont-la-Ronce. However, there really are a lot of brambles along the paths, and it is possible to harvest a good crop of blackberries at the end of summer.