The Étang-Bernard trail in Saint-Étienne-de-Montluc

This is a lovely walk starting along the railway line and continuing through the countryside until you reach a marshy area near L'Étang-Bernard. The return journey is again along the railway line. You will enjoy a wide variety of paths and landscapes.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.47 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 20 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 20 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 21 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park just before the level crossing.

(S/E) From the car park, cross the railway line (be careful!). The path starts almost immediately on the right (this path is muddy to very muddy for about 200 m, but this section is still passable). Follow it until you reach a road.

(1) Turn right onto this road, then left onto a path that runs alongside the railway line without crossing it (it will remain on your right). Cross a road with a level crossing, then a second road, and ignore two paths on your left to reach the Beau Soleil road (level crossing with the gatekeeper's house).

(2) Turn left onto the road, then immediately right onto a wide path that takes you close to La Distais. Keep to the right, cross the ford over the Berliquet stream to reach a path entrance on your left.

(3) Turn (almost a U-turn) onto this path and follow it to a road. Continue straight ahead on this road until you reach a fork. Continue straight ahead and, at a right-hand bend, take the path in front of you.

(4) Continue until you reach a road. Turn left until you reach a fork. Turn right towards La Griffolet, then follow the path opposite you towards Les Ouches. Continue until you reach a road, which you cross. The path makes a wide left turn, passes near Le Coin, then continues straight ahead to a road at Le Carrefour.

(5) Turn left onto this road. Once you have passed the Le Reilly sign, you will see a beautiful house on your right, a former manor house. A little further on, in a right-hand bend, pass at the foot of a high-voltage power line pylon. Continue along the road and take the second path on the right to reach La Chalandière.

(6) Turn left and take a marked path that opens up immediately on the right. After a right-hand bend, then a left-hand bend, both at right angles, you will cross a footbridge and arrive at a road.

(7) Follow it on your left until you reach Étang-Bernard and continue to the stop sign.

(8) Turn right (do not follow the signposts, which take you on an unnecessary detour). Continue straight ahead until you reach Chemin de la Forge, which you should take. Once you have passed the sign for La Mornaudière, follow the path until you reach the railway line, which then crosses a bridge.

(9) Turn left (do not go under the railway line) and follow the path alongside the railway line until you reach the level crossing where you started.
Turn right to cross the railway line (be careful!) and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 16 m - Car park before the railway line
  2. 1 : km 0.61 - alt. 19 m - Route
  3. 2 : km 2.03 - alt. 15 m - Level crossing
  4. 3 : km 3.05 - alt. 17 m - Fork in the road
  5. 4 : km 3.79 - alt. 5 m - Fork in the road at a bend
  6. 5 : km 4.75 - alt. 7 m - The Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 5.92 - alt. 2 m - La Chalandière
  8. 7 : km 7.05 - alt. 2 m - Exit from the marsh
  9. 8 : km 7.81 - alt. 10 m - L'Étang-Bernard
  10. 9 : km 8.8 - alt. 11 m - Railway bridge
  11. S/E : km 9.47 - alt. 16 m - Car park before the railway line

Notes

To get to the starting point:

  • From Saint-Étienne-de-Montluc, take the D101 towards Couéron. Turn right onto the D17, then right again at the first road towards Le Bignon/L'Étang-Bernard. There is a small car park just before the level crossing.
  • From Nantes, take the expressway then the road to Saint Étienne de Montluc. Almost at Saint Étienne de Montluc, turn left onto the D101 (roundabout, hairpin bend) towards Couéron. Take the first road on the right towards Le Bignon/L'Étang-Bernard. There is a small car park just before the level crossing.

Note: you may wish to choose other starting points, but there are very few parking spaces available along the route, particularly in Étang-Bernard.

Worth a visit

  • Much of the walk follows the Étang-Bernard trail. The walk is marked in yellow and is relatively well signposted. You can rely on the signs, but still take care and give priority to the Visorando trail.
  • Shortly after the Le Reilly sign, you will see a path entrance on your left marked " Étang-Bernard trail - short variant". Only use this if you are very tired!
  • Between points (5) and (6), you will pass close to (or even under) high-voltage power lines. Take a good look at the pylons: you will sometimes see storks' nests and, with a bit of luck, one of these birds.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
kartavan
kartavan

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the countryside where we saw storks perched on the pylons.
The ground was fairly dry at this time of year.
We ran into a slight problem at Étang Bernard, where we would have been better off following the yellow-marked path to avoid getting lost (lack of detail in the description).

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schwaab
schwaab

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A slight hesitation in the hamlet of Étang Bernard before reaching the starting point. Overall, the hike was very pleasant and allowed us to observe some bitterns and nests in the pylons in the marsh

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DOMYRANDO
DOMYRANDO

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike through the marshes and countryside, but be careful as the marshes are flooded in winter or when the streams overflow. If you are lucky, you may see many birds (storks, egrets, herons, etc.). The few sections of small marsh roads with very little traffic allow you to pass through hamlets and/or discover a beautiful manor house. These paths are lined with beautiful old trees. The difficulty lies in finding the car park at the start. I recommend it because it is a very natural and peaceful hike.

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pascal44400
pascal44400

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At this time of year, the trails are relatively muddy, except for the paved roads and the "marsh" section, thanks to the drainage ditches.

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Naturello
Naturello

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant, well-shaded route with large trees.

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motoveve
motoveve

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, well-maintained route with a section through the marshes, which is the main attraction.

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AslanNene
AslanNene

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

I don't find this route particularly interesting. There are lots of roads and few paths! That said, the section through the marshes was very pleasant (but short-lived).
As someone who loves real hiking in the great outdoors, I was very disappointed.
I think it's suitable for people who just want to walk on flat, stable ground.
For others, I wouldn't recommend this walk.

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JPBellocq
JPBellocq

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful trails and a lovely stretch through the marshes (bring binoculars to spot the storks). The few roads are not unpleasant.

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