The leisure trail along the old tracks

The start of this route is in the hamlet of Pesselière (in the commune of Sougères-en-Puisaye), from the Champ de Foire car park, very close to the sawmill.

(S/E) Head due east along the street leading towards Les Roches.

(1) Walk past Les Cèdres de la Lavière (on your left) and continue to the junction where there is a wayside cross on the left.

(2) Take the street opposite, then turn onto the first path on the left; you’ll soon reach a junction on the right.

(3) Take this path; when you reach a wide track (an old railway line), turn left and follow it to the junction with the cross-street known as Rue des Simoneaux.

(4) Head down to the right, passing the rather unusual wash house. Continue along the route, turning left into the first street and walking for about 150 metres. At the crossroads, turn left to reach a former gatekeeper’s cottage on the left.

(5) Opposite this, take the grassy path, which is the old railway line you left at the washhouse. Continue to the next crossroads without leaving this main route.

(6) Then turn left to take the Chemin des Romains (also known as the Ancienne Voie Romaine). You’ll come out onto a road.

(7) Cross this road and take the path leading into the woodland. Turn left at the second path on your left. Continue straight on, passing some outdoor fitness equipment, and exit the woodland.

(8) After 200 m along this stretch between the woodland edge and the field, enter the woodland again on the left, pass the fitness equipment along the trail and arrive at a picnic table on your left. Turn immediately right and come out onto a small road. Take this road to the left to reach the junction of the cross-country paths.

(9) Continue along the path branching off to the right, which is once again the Roman road. It leads out onto a road.

(10) Turn left and follow this for about 600 metres.

(11) Leave this road and turn right at a point where the path is not clearly marked; however, on the sloping field, a hedge on your right and a copse on your left, slightly lower down, will point you in the right direction. At the bottom of this fairly short stretch, a path branches off to the left. Follow this path, keeping the edge of the woodland on your left. A short climb takes you out of the valley and onto a crossroads.

(12) Turn left, then 100 m further on, turn right into Rue du Tilleul. Continue straight on along this road. Pass in front of the Tilleul de Sully.

(13) Turn slightly to the right. Cut across the crossroads to reach the Place du Champ de Foire (S/E).

This route is suitable for mountain bikes, provided you show consideration for walkers and families using the recreational trail.
Make sure you wear a hat and sunglasses, as many sections are exposed to the sun.
There is no drinking water on this route.
Picnic tables along the route (S/E), (2), .
Between (S/E) and (2), you will come across signposts marked with numbers 10 and 11. Ignore these; this path is signposted towards the village of Sougères-en-Puisaye or Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines.
It is entirely possible to walk from this route to the one in Druyes – see this walk.
This route, signposted in accordance with the signposting guidelines of the Puisaye-Forterre Community of Communes, is marked with the number 12 on yellow-backed plaques. It was created by the association ‘À chacun son chemin en Puisaye-Forterre’ in January 2020.
If you encounter any issues, please complete this questionnaire (it only takes 1 to 2 minutes).
Please take care when crossing roads.

Very close to Pesselière lies the village of Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines. Don’t miss the Sources de la Druyes, the fortified castle and a few art galleries. At the foot of the springs, there’s an open-air café in the warmer months.
It is entirely possible to walk from this route to the one in Druyes.