The Vernusse route starting from Bagneux

(S/E) The walk starts opposite the church in Bagneux, at the foot of the signposts for the walks organised by the Chabris Pays de Bazelle Community of Communes. Follow the Yellow Disc markings of the PR® route called “Le circuit de la Vernusse”.
Opposite the church, walk past it on the right, following the D31 (you’ll see the yellow-and-red markings of the Valençay GRP®).
On leaving the village, turn right onto the D31a and follow it for 350 m, then turn left onto a grassy farm track.
Pass two paths on the left and one on the right, and you’ll reach the D25.

(1) Cross it carefully and continue, on the opposite side, along the small road leading to La Perrière. At the next junction, turn left and continue along the small road as far as Les Sables. It becomes a track that descends into a small wood.
Pass a path on your left, at the edge of the woodland, and reach the access road to La Maison Neuve.

(2) Follow the small road until you reach the D16. Cross it carefully and take the Allée Forestière Saint-Christophe opposite. At the junction with the Allée des Palliers, carry on straight ahead. Then take the forest track on the left. After an S-bend beneath the high-voltage power lines, you’ll reach a track; follow it straight ahead, heading east.

(3) At the Perdrissac crossroads, continue along the track. Carry on straight ahead, passing through the Avène and Grosse Borne crossroads in turn, until you reach the D25 at the Bussière crossroads.

(4) Cross carefully and follow the small road to the left, towards Les Bonetats. At the entrance to the hamlet, at the junction with the road leading to the Vallée du Houx, turn left onto a grassy track. After a right-angle bend to the right, you’ll reach the D16. Cross it carefully and follow the access track to the left leading to the Château Gaillard farm and its old silos. Then continue along the grassy track.

(5) At the crossroads, turn right, pass two paths on the right, then one on the left, and you’ll reach a road. Follow it to the right for 50 m, crossing a bridge to see two ancient monoliths, the Tréfoux Menhirs. Retrace your steps and take the path on the right, entering the woods. 150 m further on, you can see a cavity high up on the right, set in large granite boulders, known as the Pierre à Fusil.

(6) At the T-junction, at a place called Margot, turn left, then head straight up, following the Valençay GRP® trail. At the cross, continue straight ahead along the road that leads back to the starting point (S/E).

No water points.

Make sure you have good walking shoes (for different surfaces) and long trousers (to protect against ticks).

The Pierre Couverte de Bué (see walk ‘The Bagneux Megaliths Tour’ no.844481).

Various megaliths along the route.
Bagneux Church (ask for the key at the town hall); former Vernusse Abbey (private).

The Parks and Gardens of the Poulaines Estate

Valençay

In the Cher department:
Saint Outrille and Graçay
Vierzon