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Leave your vehicle in the car park at the Maison Forestière, also known as the Maison des Espaces Naturels. Many of the paths used on this route are not shown on the IGN map.
No markings
(S/E) From the car park, head north, i.e. away from the Maison Forestière, to reach the information boards on several hikes, the toilets and directional signs. Follow the trail towards the Gardelles car park and continue to the car park. Carefully cross the D225 and take the path opposite. You will arrive at an information board about the Sentier des Gardelles trail.
Markings Flower in the opposite direction
Continue along the path, then turn left onto a path that leads to a pond. Walk along the pond on your left on the paved path, then continue on this path when it veers away from the pond. You will arrive at a wide path.
No markings
(1) Follow it to the right, ignoring the vague forestry tracks on either side. At the crossroads of four paths, continue straight ahead. A little over 100 m further on, ignore a path coming from the right with a flower signpost.
Fleur signpost
Shortly afterwards, ignore another path on the right at a sign indicating the direction of the Sentier des Arbres.
Leaf sign
About 100 metres further on, leave the flower markings and take a path on the left marked with a leaf.
(2) Pass an Oak sign, then further on, a Trees and Flowers sign, and arrive at the first area planted with several varieties of young trees (oaks, maples, ash trees). The multitude of markings can be confusing; after visiting the site, and relative to the entrance to the plantation, you should generally head left, then right at the end, to find the rest of the trail.
You will then quickly arrive at a second area of plantations (hawthorns, birches, beeches, elms), then a third (lime trees, holly, poplars). At the beginning of this last area, the path continues to the right. After passing a sign for cherry trees, you will arrive at a fourth area of plantations (apple trees, service trees, whitebeam trees, pear trees, hornbeams). At the end of this last area of young trees, the path continues to the left in a hairpin bend.
At the crossroads of four paths, continue straight ahead. Pass a sign for medlar trees, then turn right at the intersection.
(3) Just before a barrier, take the forest lane on the right. Pass the Alisier signs, leave the lane for a path leading off to the left, pass the Érable, Croissance de l'arbre and Hêtre signs. You will arrive at an intersection with all directions marked Feuille.
(4) For a round trip, turn right. Pass the signs for Charmille and Alder, leave a pond on your right, pass the signs for Ash and Alder, and arrive at another pond with willow trees. Turn back to return to the previous intersection.
(4) Continue straight ahead, passing a sign for Arbres architectes. Further on, take a footbridge and then climb up to a small car park with an information sign about the Sentier des Arbres.
No markings
Head right, cross the D225 carefully, take the wide path that starts opposite, slightly to the right. When the path turns left, turn right to go through a gate and continue straight ahead, ignoring the path that branches off to the left. At the intersection of four paths, with directional signs, continue straight ahead, ignoring the directions indicated. You will arrive at a wide path.
(5) Continue straight ahead, ignoring any markings. Ignore any vague side paths. At the crossroads of four paths, continue straight ahead. You will arrive at a gravel path at a site where ponds have been created (there are numerous information signs).
(6) Follow the gravel path to the right, pass a sign for tree growth, first turn left then right at the next intersection, ignoring the markings, pass a site with a fountain, picnic tables, a shelter and, set back, hammocks for contemplating the treetops, then you will soon arrive at the Forest House car park (S/E).
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