From Étriac to the Mainfond hot air balloon site

This is a very beautiful hike with a few hills, and you will often see multicoloured hot air balloons decorating the sky and adding to the enjoyment of the hike.

Details

16994551
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 136 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 139 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 139 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 64 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Étriac (16250)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.528217° / W 0.025515°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1632SB, 1733O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at Place de l'Église in Étriac.

(S/E) Turn left, take thefirst road on the right, Route de Chez Chiron, and follow it to a crossroad at a place called Chez Chiron. Turn right and you will reach the cemetery.

(1) Turn left and follow the road until thesecond path on the left, where the road curves to the right and descends steeply.

(2) Follow the main road on the left, cross the vineyards and keep to the right at the end of them. Continue along the road downhill until you reach a T-junction.

(3) Turn left onto the path, follow it and pass by a pack of hunting dogs. Continue to the D10.

(4) Cross the road carefully and take the small path opposite, noting the pond on the right. Follow the path and walk along the right bank of the Écly stream. Take thefirst path on the left to begin a steep but short climb. You will reach a crossroads in the village of Les Goursolles.

(5) Take thefirst road on the right, which continues as a path. Continue along this path and descend, crossing the Écly stream and joining the road towards the hamlet of Chez Charron. Take this road on the left and cross the Écly stream again. At the 90° right-hand bend, you will find a crossroads.

(6) Leave the road and take the path opposite. Continue straight ahead on the path that climbs to the edge of the Bois du Loup. Ignore several paths on the right and arrive at the D433.

(7) Cross it and continue straight ahead on the Route de L'Ouche. Continue along the road and cross the hamlet of Chez Briet. Continue along the road until you reach the pond.

(8) Turn left just after the pond onto a main path, passing the Fontaine des Royeurs fountain. Continue, ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left, until you reach the D10 road. Turn right onto this road with caution to reach the car park at Place de l'Église (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 122 m - Car park at Place de l' - Église Saint-Germain (Étriac)
  2. 1 : km 0.48 - alt. 127 m - Cemetery
  3. 2 : km 1.55 - alt. 105 m - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : km 2.61 - alt. 72 m - T-junction
  5. 4 : km 3.04 - alt. 65 m - Route D10
  6. 5 : km 4.32 - alt. 123 m - Les Goursolles
  7. 6 : km 5.78 - alt. 72 m - Path in the bend of the road, after the - Écly (ruisseau) - Affluent du Né
  8. 7 : km 6.93 - alt. 138 m - Route D433
  9. 8 : km 7.61 - alt. 95 m - Pond
  10. S/E : km 9.01 - alt. 122 m - Car park at Place de l' - Église Saint-Germain (Étriac)

Worth a visit

After point (4), in the meadow by the stream, every two years in August, there is an event: the World Hot Air Balloon Cup in the commune of Mainfond, near the hamlet of Chez Charron.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Florikawalk
Florikawalk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 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. Numerous hillsides offer splendid views. Be warned, you mustn't be afraid of hills.

Machine-translated

Lambert
Lambert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Trail and hike: nothing to say, very, very good, worth doing again.

Machine-translated

Cg1301
Cg1301

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

The first two kilometres are along the roadside, then the path continues through woods and vineyards.
No particular difficulties, pleasant hike.

Machine-translated

Laloie
Laloie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting route with numerous viewpoints; several depressions: Plain stream,
Ruisseau de Font Désirade; also numerous forests. It's a shame the streams are dry!

Machine-translated

Marchal16
Marchal16
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did this route in beautiful weather. It's pleasant, but it's probably best to do it in summer or at a time when hot air balloons "embellish the sky". It would be interesting to know when you're likely to see them, as it would be a real bonus for the hike. Thank you!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.