The Chéronne stream

The route through the countryside around Tuffé takes us to the Château de Chéronne and the church of Saint-Denis-des-Coudrais. The Chéronne, which feeds the Tuffé lake, crosses and recrosses the sunken paths several times.
This route is best enjoyed in good weather as the dirt tracks can be quite wet.

Details

1893723
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 162 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 161 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 161 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 85 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Tuffé (72160)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.118631° / E 0.511492°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1818SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the lake and follow the path on the left which runs alongside it and joins a stone path which you take on the left. Pass in front of Chéronne Castle and continue to the next intersection.

(1) Turn left onto the D80. Continue straight ahead, cross the railway line and arrive at the RD19. Follow it carefully to the right and after 500m, arrive at the crossroads near La Méaltière.

(2) Turn left onto the road leading to a place called La Maison Neuve. Before La Groie, follow the dirt track opposite, which leads to the RD19 at Croix Fournier.

(3) Cross over, pass the railway line and follow a gravel path, which you leave on the right for a dirt track that leads to Saint-Denis-des-Coudrais. Pass in front of the church.

(4) Turn right onto the street that descends towards the RD80, turn left and then right 100 metres further on. At the next junction, turn left towards Moulin des Forges.

(5) The path climbs straight up into the woods and comes out onto a road, which you cross.

(6) Cross over and follow this dirt track, which crosses the Vimelle stream and leads to a small road. Follow it to the right until you reach a junction 150 metres further on.

(7) Make a short first turn left then right to take a dirt track that passes near La Sauvagère and Les Petites Sauvagères and leads to a road.

(8) Turn left towards La Savardière, then take a dirt track on the right which descends to La Vimelle and leads to a stony path that serves Les Bruyères.

(9) Follow this path to the right, cross a small road and continue along a dirt track that descends to the lake.

(10) Cross the road and follow the path on the left along the edge of the lake. Walk along the lake shore to return to the starting point at the leisure centre (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 89 m - Leisure centre car park
  2. 1 : km 1.96 - alt. 92 m - D80, on the left
  3. 2 : km 3.06 - alt. 113 m - D19 on the left
  4. 3 : km 5.16 - alt. 110 m - The Fournier Cross
  5. 4 : km 6.79 - alt. 120 m - Saint-Denis-des-Coudrais
  6. 5 : km 7.36 - alt. 108 m
  7. 6 : km 7.94 - alt. 157 m - Route de La Bosse in Tuffé
  8. 7 : km 9.02 - alt. 156 m - Boéssé-le-Sec road
  9. 8 : km 10.56 - alt. 128 m - La Savardière
  10. 9 : km 11.55 - alt. 120 m - Chemin des Bruyères
  11. 10 : km 12.76 - alt. 87 m - Tuffé lake
  12. S/E : km 13.8 - alt. 89 m - Leisure centre car park

Notes

Tuffé leisure centre: camping, boat hire, fishing, restaurants, picnic tables
Tuffé Abbey.

Worth a visit

In Prévelles, Maison du Pottier (pottery museum).
Beillé tourist railway in Bonnétable.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Séverine Lambert
Séverine Lambert
• Edited:

Very muddy terrain and deeply rutted paths with large stones make walking difficult
Very disappointed with this hike because of the condition of the paths due to bad weather

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Hervé Leroux
Hervé Leroux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike but done in difficult circumstances, too much water but great route with lots of paths.

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hopa
hopa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with several climbs, done after a period of heavy rain. The descents were a little slippery and we didn't bring boots for certain sections , but with good waterproof shoes it was fine. Beautiful scenery.

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jmgaeng
jmgaeng

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with beautiful scenery and some good climbs.

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griso35
griso35

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in good weather. A few slightly damp areas, but nothing too troublesome. However, avoid in rainy weather or shortly after rain. A little tarmac at the start, but it's not too bad: 1.5 to 2 km maximum around the castle. No difficulties to report. Overall impression: a pleasant route, which should remain so in hot weather as it is often shaded.

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Karena72
Karena72

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, we did this route in good weather, with a bit of road at the start, then lots of paths which are in places where you have to be very careful of the tall grass as they are not very well maintained.
It's a shame because the hike is nice, but you still need good shoes and a minimum level of fitness to climb the few hills.

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denis maudouit
denis maudouit

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
I did this route for a trail running outing in terrible weather... I use a GPS watch and had no problems with the downloaded route.
The route is varied, a bit too much tarmac for my liking, but still lots of trails.
There's a beautiful view of the castle at the start.
I recommend it.
Denis

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jomi
jomi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

group hike (19), no difficulty, well marked and little tarmac

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larillette
larillette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Heavy rains have carved out a few paths, so you need good footwear.
to avoid the busy D19 road, we follow the railway line: there are fewer trains than cars and they travel much slower;
and we climb up just after La Méaltière.
The vast majority of this hike is in the shade.

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canelle72
canelle72

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful countryside walk with lots of paths
With beautiful sunshine

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envoleur de papillons
envoleur de papillons

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, I did the route in reverse this time. Some brambles and nettles are starting to grow on the route, but it's still easy to get through. A walking stick might be useful. At this time of year, the paths are dry but rutted by the rain, with deep tracks marking the route on the slopes.

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jujuleder
jujuleder

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant hike in summer.

The first few kilometres are on tarmac and the RD, but after that it's all paths.

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