The Hermit's Fountain Trail

Starting from the Fontaine-à-l’Ermite roundabout, the path leads to the lakeshore and then follows the course of the Vendée river along the left bank as far as the Perrure bridge, before climbing up to the Allée de la Fontaine à l’Ermite, which will take you back to the starting point.
Please note: this is a rugged trail involving rock climbing along the entire stretch of the Vendée.

Details

n°2343872
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.67 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 184 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 180 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 308 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 112 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: L'Orbrie (85200)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.507452° / W 0.760967°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1427SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

PR®® No. 6 – route recommended by the local council – Yellow markings.

Park at the picnic area at the Rond-Point de la Fontaine à l’Ermite (junction of Allée de Doreau, Allée de la Fontaine à l’Ermite and Route Forestière de la Balingue).

(S/E) Head towards the walk information board and continue along the Allée de la Balingue, which is closed to traffic by a log barrier.

(1) Leave the avenue by turning onto a path on the right and head down to the river.

(2) Turn right onto the path that runs alongside the River Vendée. After a few hundred metres, the route becomes challenging as you’ll need to do a bit of scrambling over the rocks, which can be very slippery in wet weather. Continue to the road bridge crossing the River Vendée (Pont de Perrure).

(3) Just before this bridge, turn right twice onto a path that climbs through the forest.

(4) Take the rutted path on the right which climbs up and joins the Allée de la Fontaine à l’Ermite.

(5) Turn left onto the Allée de la Fontaine à l’Ermite, which leads back to the roundabout at the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 292 ft - La Fontaine à l’Ermite roundabout
  2. 1 : mi 0.5 - alt. 266 ft - Path on the right
  3. 2 : mi 0.98 - alt. 135 ft - To the right: the confluence of the Vendée and - Mère (rivière)
  4. 3 : mi 2.79 - alt. 115 ft - Path leading uphill to the right before the bridge over the - Vendée (rivière)
  5. 4 : mi 2.91 - alt. 187 ft - Turn right onto the path leading uphill
  6. 5 : mi 3.22 - alt. 282 ft - Turn left onto the Allée de la Fontaine à l’Ermite
  7. S/E : mi 3.67 - alt. 292 ft - La Fontaine à l’Ermite roundabout

Notes

Shelter and picnic tables at the roundabout (S/E).
Information sign at the start. Yellow-marked route no. 6.

Make sure you wear sturdy footwear, as the section running alongside the River Vendée involves a bit of scrambling over rocks, which can be slippery.

Important: avoid this walk in wet weather, especially if the water levels in the Vendée are high, as some sections would be impassable.

Worth a visit

As well as its state-owned forest, Mervent – a very popular tourist destination – offers all sorts of sporting, cultural and leisure activities.
For more information: http://www.mervent.fr/decouvrir-mervent/...

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 31204289

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Acrobatic hike not recommended for people with physical disabilities

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User 25797113

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Arrival at the riverbank. We don't pay much attention to the scenery anymore. Instead, we focus on where we're stepping. The route is marked as difficult. Indeed, we have to choose between looking at our feet or the scenery.

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isabellebl
isabellebl

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for sharing this beautiful and challenging hike along the Vendée coast.
The shade along most of the route is very welcome in hot weather.

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ebrabants
ebrabants
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A narrow path along the water, shaded with a few rocky sections.
At times, it feels like a mountain trail, minus the altitude.
Wear sturdy shoes: in wet weather, some rocky sections can be very slippery and other areas quite (or even very) muddy.
The trail is not particularly challenging, but you may need to use your hands to get through some sections.
The trail is well maintained and any trees obstructing it have been cut back.

We walked it out of season, during the week. We only passed one couple coming in the opposite direction.
You can tell that the trail is used, but it is not a "highway" for hikers.

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drapeau jean jacques
drapeau jean jacques

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, this route is a must-do. It feels like you're in the Pyrenees, but without the altitude. In wet weather, you need to be very careful. In hot weather, the route is shaded by the forest.
Best regards

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maelsox
maelsox

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The sports trail has a few spots where you have to climb rocks, but the fallen trees have been cleared away, except for one spot where you still have to climb up the side, which is very steep and slippery.

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LASSEGUE Monique
LASSEGUE Monique

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Trail currently closed due to fallen trees in several places. Some difficult sections.
Steep trail on some parts of the route along the lake.
Very beautiful route.

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pinho85
pinho85

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, but quite challenging with rocks to climb over and, above all, several fallen trees that you have to go around on a very steep and slippery path. Superb views of the lake.

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d.brem
d.brem

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Trail rated as moderately difficult: the level is reasonable. However, I cut left between points 0 and 1 to extend the route and make it more interesting than this long straight line. Route completed with an 11-year-old child. There is a small technical section (rocks) which is enjoyable. In 3 or 4 places, the path is blocked by recently fallen trees. This requires a detour along the unstable hillside. Overall, a nice route along the water's edge with beautiful views. Worth doing.

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Picton79
Picton79

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

After Point 4, the oak forest was clear-cut. Path partially destroyed by machinery.

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noel26
noel26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Good clothes and, above all, good shoes.

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