The wild hyacinth trail and the Betz Valley at Branles

Start from the small car park in front of the garden in the Betz valley, near the road to the hamlet of Brandard.

(S/E) Leave the garden on your right and follow the road towards the village. Pass the Moulin Brandard and cross the River Betz.

(1) Stay on this road as it bends to the right and continue to the “Give Way” sign at the junction with the D219.

(2) Cross carefully and take the path opposite, which is tarmac at first and then, after the farm, becomes a dirt track. Continue along the Belz and, after Moulin de Cuisset, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(3) Turn onto the track to the right, then left, and follow it until you reach a road.

(4) Turn right onto this road, go round Moulin de Madame on the right, cross the Betz via a ford or a small bridge, and follow the path uphill to the road.

(5) Follow the^PR® des Deux Rivières (yellow markings) and turn left. Head down towards Les Gains, cross the Betz either by wading or on the right by following the small path that crosses two magnificent little bridges, and rejoin the road.

(6) Turn left and head straight up into the woods via a steep path. If the weather is too wet, take the road instead to reach the next point.

(7) Turn left onto the path to the water tower, which crosses the forest covered in hyacinths in spring, and leads to a road.

(8) Follow this for a few dozen metres and turn right onto the path that climbs through the fields. Ignore the path on the right leading to the village, continue straight on, then turn left at the next junction to join the D219.

(9) Cross it carefully, take the path opposite and cross the Rochemort road. Ignore a wide path on the left and arrive at a fork before the village of Les Cannivelles.

(10) Turn left, skirting an orchard (magnificent in spring), follow the path that branches off to the right and reach the hamlet of Pont-Levé.

(1) Turn right onto the Chemin de la Gran Roche, which runs along the right bank of the Betz to the Gros Lot equestrian centre.

(11) Turn left and cross the two bridges in front of the Gros Lot Mill. At the fork in the road, veer left and head for the car park in front of the garden in the valley (S/E).

Shelter and picnic area at the wash house, accessible from point (2).

Between points (7) and (8), the forest is carpeted with hyacinths in spring.
(S/E) On Saturday mornings, a local garden market in the valley ( pre-order required).
(11) Horse riding at the Gros Lot equestrian centre.