The granite trail at La Roche d'Oëtre

If there were a paradise for hiking, the Roche d'Oëtre Sensitive Natural Area and the Rouvre Gorges would certainly be well placed! A listed site and Sensitive Natural Area in the Orne department, La Roche d'Oëtre, located in the heart of the Normandy Mountains, is a must-see site and a meeting place for lovers of wild nature and hiking.

Details

11854405
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.83 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 188 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 180 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 220 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 70 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available at the Roche d'Oëtre car park.

(S/E) Cross the car parks and head towards the Tourist Office. Walk along the left side of the building, turn right before the restaurant and walk between the two buildings.

(1) Turn right and follow the path for about 200 m. At the crossroads, turn left and take the winding steep path that descends into the Rouvre gorges.

(2) Turn left and follow the Rouvre on your right for about 2.5 km until you reach the Maison du Paysage.

(3) Pass behind it and continue along the Rouvre on your right for about 500 m until you reach the D224.

(4) Cross the D224 with caution and turn left onto the path that runs alongside the road on the right. Follow the path for about 300 m, turn left at the first crossroads, continue for 200 m, then turn left again at the second crossroads to rejoin the D224 at the place called l'Oullière.

(5) Cross the D224 with caution and turn right towards the village of Bréel. Continue for about 100 metres and turn left towards the church. Go around the church on the left, go up to the town hall, follow the D229 on the left-hand pavement for about 150 metres until you reach a path on the left, just before the place called La Rôrie.

(6) Follow the road until you reach a wayside cross and the D329. Cross the D329 with caution, turn left and follow it for about 200 metres.

(7) At the place called Le Douit de Bréel, turn right and follow the road for about 200 m. Turn left onto the first path at the entrance to the place called Le Hamel, then turn left again at the next crossroads. Continue along the path, cross the place called La Bagottière and continue straight ahead until you reach the place called Oëtre.

(8) Turn right and follow the road until you reach the main road. Turn left, pass a pylon, turn left again at the next intersection and continue until you reach the D229.

(9) Keeping well to the side of the road, carefully follow the D329 for about 300 m until you approach the Roche d'Oëtre site. Cross the D329 with caution, keep left towards the buildings, pass the café on your right, then the restaurant on your left.

(1) Turn right, pass between the two buildings, turn left, follow the Tourist Office and return to the car park at the Roche d'Oëtre site (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 148 m - Car park at the Roche d'Oëtre site
  2. 1 : km 0.23 - alt. 161 m - Crossing the loop
  3. 2 : km 0.61 - alt. 70 m - Intersection - Rouvre (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 3.13 - alt. 98 m - Landscape Centre
  5. 4 : km 3.62 - alt. 100 m - D224 road
  6. 5 : km 4.16 - alt. 121 m - Place known as L'Oullière
  7. 6 : km 4.79 - alt. 140 m - Take the path on the left before La Rôrie
  8. 7 : km 5.64 - alt. 159 m - The Douit de Bréel
  9. 8 : km 7.39 - alt. 192 m - Place called Oëtre
  10. 9 : km 8.06 - alt. 182 m - Route D329
  11. S/E : km 8.83 - alt. 148 m - Car park at the Roche d'Oëtre site

Notes

This circuit is marked "Sentier du Granite" from start to finish.
The trails sometimes cross private property and fragile natural environments: please stay on the marked trail, respect the property you are crossing, do not light fires and do not leave any rubbish behind. Access to the Sentier du Bord de Rouvre (granite trail) is not permitted from mid-September to the end of February due to flooding and hunting.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 38 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Bene de b
Bene de b

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route without any major difficulties, allowing you to explore the area around Les Roches d'Oëtre, both in the valley and higher up.
At the start of the route, there is a fairly steep descent to reach the valley, followed by the bucolic but rugged banks of the Rouvre.
Pretty sunken paths and very little road.

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User 19943322

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, well marked, easy and enjoyable.
As an added bonus, you can enjoy a drink at the "Le Caillou" bar when you arrive!

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bernard_b
bernard_b

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike. Be sure to wear good walking shoes, as the path along the Rouvre can become slippery in wet weather. Beautiful sections along sunken paths.

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RED CLOUD
RED CLOUD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant and attractive route

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chyves
chyves

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 17 June (during the week) in good weather. We encountered fewer than 10 people on the trail. The section along the Rouvre is very beautiful, but the trail requires a bit of agility (for seniors like us) as it winds between rocks and roots along the river. Otherwise, it is fairly easy.

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User 7449039

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A delightful little hike, with no particular difficulties despite the rain at the start and the descent towards La Rouvre.

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bonpublic
bonpublic

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that starts off with a steep descent.
The ground was dry and the descent went well, but I can imagine what it must be like in wet weather.
The trail along La Rouvre is really pleasant.
At point 6, there is a nice spot for a picnic with a table and beautiful scenery, just before turning left.
There were quite a few people on the overhanging rocks at the end of the walk, even though it was a weekday and not a holiday.

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PatP25
PatP25

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, without difficulty and with varied landscapes.

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Titi.14
Titi.14

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
It would be good if your app had sound, especially when you leave the current route.
Otherwise, it's a very good application in its field

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xgauchard
xgauchard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike in a wild and magnificent setting.
Everything in the description of this hike is accurate.
The Roches d'Oëtre site is very busy, especially around the car park.
The hike is marked "sentier du granite" (granite trail). Sometimes the forks in the path are confusing, but common sense is enough to find your way.
The trail can be done in the opposite direction, ending with a nice climb.
It is also possible to start from the car park near the Rouvre in Bréel at the entrance to the path that leads to the Maison de la Rivière et du Paysage (point 4 on the hike). Going back up to Bréel and reaching the heights of the Roche d'Oëtre, you then descend into the valley to finish the hike along the Rouvre.

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Gainde
Gainde
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The start of the hike is quite technical with a descent and a stony path that follows the Rouvre River
(incidentally one of the cleanest rivers in Normandy, home to otters and pearl mussels)
The whole route is very pleasant, in one of the most iconic locations in Swiss Normandy.

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Pjb
Pjb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very varied route. The path along the banks of the Rouvre is sometimes tricky due to the abundance of rainwater in mid-October, but it is very romantic. Please note: this route is not recommended from October onwards due to the opening of the hunting season.

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Randoserge
Randoserge

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike along the banks of the Rouvre. Well-marked trail.
The descent at the start is a bit challenging, but well worth the effort.
Best done in summer, as the trail is well shaded.

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Jenpier
Jenpier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in a magnificent setting, shaded for most of the route. Following the river is a treat that has to be earned... The sunken paths lined with trees whose tops meet are another delight for walkers. Be careful on the descent at the start, which we tackled without walking sticks but which is well secured.
We are a couple aged 74 who walk every week and thoroughly enjoyed this route. Thank you

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Isabelle Bournier
Isabelle Bournier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, as varied as it is enjoyable. The only slightly tricky part is the roots and rocks along the river, which force you to slow down. But apart from that, the rest of the route is easy and has some lovely surprises in store.

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