Country:
District:
Park near the Rond-Point de la Fontaine à l'Ermite, which has a shelter and picnic tables.
(S/E) Head north along the Allée Forestière de la Balingue (closed to traffic). About 600 m after setting off, leave the Allée and turn left before the descent, enter the forest and turn left again about 100 m further on, ignoring the path that descends towards the Vendée. Walk for about 200 m, then take the first path on the right. Continue straight on for about 400 m, then turn left at the T-junction to reach the road (Allée de Doreau).
(1) Cross the road to the opposite side, slightly to the left, onto a grassy path closed to traffic by a log barrier. Follow it to the right and, when you reach Allée du Brûleau, turn right.
(2) Leave Allée du Brûleau by turning left before the descent, onto a grassy path that is sometimes very wet. The descent becomes steeper down to the River Vendée. At the bottom, ignore the path on the right leading to the riverbank and continue to the left.
(3) Head right onto a small path that crosses a recently cleared section of the forest, then continues winding along the Vendée. Further on, step over a ditch that is usually dry and does not appear on maps. After about 500 m, the path leaves the riverbank, veering left to follow a deeply incised stream which is more or less full depending on the season and runs alongside the Jaulard cliff.
(4) Ignore the path continuing to the left and cross a ditch on the right (not shown on maps) to continue following the same stream.
(5) About 250 m further on, leave the path that climbs to the left to turn right and fords the stream. (signpost) Head right towards the climb. A little further on, the climb becomes steeper and turns sharply left, then curves to the right through the fir trees to reach a junction with a wider track.
(6) Cross the path to continue straight ahead and immediately turn left onto the path heading north-east.
(7) At the picnic area, cross the road to take the path opposite. Ignore a path branching off to the left and, a little further on, join a wider track. After a short descent, a marshy area, an ascent and another descent, turn left (section marked in yellow) and continue straight ahead. Further on, ignore the markings leading to the right. Straight ahead, the path descends, crosses a ditch and continues through the forest, not far from the parallel D65 road, which can be heard about a hundred metres away.
(8) Turn onto the path on the right and continue, ignoring another path further on to the right that leads towards the road. There is no sign for La Fontaine à l’Ermite, which is a little further on to the right. Ignore the path that branches off to the right after the spring, crosses a stream and joins the road, but turn left onto the path that climbs steeply.
(9) Enter the forest before the summit by taking a small path on the right. After about 100 m, turn onto another path that climbs to the left. Continue along this winding path overlooking the cliff as it runs alongside the Vendée. After several changes in elevation, cross the end of the Allée de la Fontaine à l’Ermite (which provides a shortcut back to the starting car park) and continue by crossing two further paths that also lead up towards the Rond-Point de la Fontaine à l’Ermite.
(10) Head up to the left, and once you reach the top, at the Allée de la Fontaine à l'Ermite, turn right to reach the car park 100 m further on (S/E).
Association / Club / Walk leader
Difficult 
Visorando member
Easy 
