The Tiercent via Saint-Marc-le-Blanc

Car park at the sports ground at a place called ‘La Passagère’, along the D102, on the right before entering the village.

(S/E) Leave the car park by turning right, heading north. A few metres after crossing the Minette, turn right and continue along the lane (not shown on IGN maps). Leave the château on your right and head left towards the fountain.

(1) Continue along this path, which veers eastwards.

(2) Turn left just before the stream (do not cross it). Follow this path, which is not shown on maps and runs round a field, until you reach the D18 road, which you follow for 50 metres.

(3) Cross the road and go through a road barrier directly opposite (this barrier prevents cars from reaching La Maladrerie but does not apply to pedestrians). Continue along the path to the left. Then turn right and walk alongside Rue de Fougères.

(4) At the pedestrian barrier, continue to the right to join Rue des Châtaigniers, then turn left into Allée des Noisetiers. Turn right to pass between two detached houses and, at the end, turn left onto Allée des Bruyères to reach Rue de l’Étang. Follow this street to the right, then turn left into Rue des Curés. Turn right after the PVC joinery firm. At the end of the road, turn left (before the school playgrounds) to reach the rear of the church. Walk round the church, keeping it on your right.

(5) Cross the road and, opposite, slightly to the left, take Rue des Glaïeuls to go round the back of the Town Hall. Turn left, then, after 20 metres, turn right. Cross Rue des Rochers and continue straight ahead to reach Les Touches. Carry on along this path (not shown on maps). After a bend to the right, you’ll come out onto a road.

(6) Turn right onto it for 20 metres, then turn left (signposted for La Mésangère and Le Rocher Hue). Continue along this path until you reach a road.

(7) Turn left, then after 30 metres, go through the pedestrian gate on the right (signposted ‘Rocher Hue’). Follow this path which, after crossing a stream, turns right and goes round a field. It continues to the Route du Rocher Hue.

(8) Carry on to the left, then, after 50 metres, turn right to reach another road. Follow this road to the left for about a hundred metres.

(9) Turn left towards Le Fougeray and continue south. Ignore a path on the right and carry on straight ahead to La Chardronnais. Turn right and continue along the road to the right.

(10) Turn left towards Le Val. When the road bends to the right, take the path on the left. Pass through Brimenel and continue northwards.

(11) Please note the information below. Turn right, cross the stream and follow the edge of the lake for 50 metres. Then continue eastwards until you reach Maison Neuve.
After a bend to the left in the road, take the path on the right and walk along the right-hand side of the Minette. Reach the road, follow it to the right, then turn left before reaching the departmental road. Head towards La Passagère and the car park where you started (S/E).

The castle, at the start of the route, is private property and is not open to visitors.

Passing through Saint-Marc-le-Blanc is not straightforward, but you should be able to find your way by carefully following the directions above.

The (11) is difficult to spot as it has no distinctive landmark and, before it, several other paths branch off to the right. After 150 metres, the river crossing with the stretch of water on your right is the only reliable landmark.