The Trou des Fées and the woods of Bonlieu and Lacquet

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What a lovely, enchanting walk! Enter the great Gaume forest. Passing through another beautiful high forest, you’ll follow a magnificent path winding through a secluded valley, where you’ll discover the Trou des Fées right at its heart. This astonishing sand dune is made up of several galleries carved out by natural erosion.

Details

n°3752627
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.70 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 220 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 246 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,270 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,040 ft
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Photos

The Fairy
Well of Melodies
Fairy Hole
Small wooden bridge

Description of the walk

Start from the Red Cross car park.

(S/E) Head south-east and join the trail via a small path (follow the green arrows all the way). Pass the Fairy Riddle (here you can play and solve the riddle presented to you). Continue along the signposted path to the Fairy Hole. These strange cavities are said to protect the fairies, and some walkers carve the stone in the hope that their dreams will come true…

(1) Follow the path and soon turn right. At the T-junction, turn right again.

(2) At the junction, take the path on the left and walk through the forest, where the sweet scent of pine trees fills the air.

(3) At the crossroads, take thefirst path on the left (east). The climb is steep, but the path is in very good condition. Stay on the main path (east) and ignore the side paths.

(4) At the end, turn left. Cross the N879 road (watch out for traffic) and turn left immediately. After about 40 metres, at a Fork in the road, veer to the right.

(5) At the next junction, turn right. Walk past a day care centre and you’ll come out onto a road.

(6) Take the path on the left and follow the road until you reach the greenway.

(7) Follow the greenway to the left. Pass in front of the Hutte du Charbonnier. Continue along the greenway heading west-north-west.

(8) At a crossroads, take the path on the left. Go straight on until you reach the edge of the N87 road. Then turn left and head for the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,109 ft - Red Cross car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.18 - alt. 1,135 ft - Fairy Hole and Melody Well
  3. 2 : mi 0.44 - alt. 1,056 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 0.74 - alt. 1,227 ft - Crossroads
  5. 4 : mi 1.89 - alt. 1,220 ft - T-junction
  6. 5 : mi 2.31 - alt. 1,102 ft - Crossroads
  7. 6 : mi 2.71 - alt. 1,070 ft - T-junction - Road
  8. 7 : mi 2.96 - alt. 1,040 ft - Greenway
  9. 8 : mi 3.91 - alt. 1,089 ft - Path on the left
  10. S/E : mi 4.7 - alt. 1,109 ft - Red Cross car park

Reviews and comments

3.5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.1 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
User 14200509

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Just be aware that there is a steep hill to climb 😉

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User 4034355

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

You need to follow the route on Visorando as the signposting isn’t very good.

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Jean-Marie Détalle
Jean-Marie Détalle
• Edited:

Overall rating : 1.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

There are so many paths in the vicinity of the "fairy hole" that it’s impossible to find your way around based on the description alone. To actually "start" the walk, I first followed the A-road, having realised that the route ran close by. In other words, I began the walk about 600 metres past its actual starting point. Furthermore, there wasn’t a single green arrow, even though the description mentions green arrows several times at the start of the route, particularly near the “Trou des Fées”.

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David54730
David54730

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route was very poorly signposted; luckily I had the app to guide me

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kiki70
kiki70
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk in the woods. The start is fun with the puzzles. We had no trouble following the route. One slight downside: the bit where you have to cross the road to get to the old Buzenol station (picnic stop).

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claumi
claumi

Overall rating : 1.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

The description on the information sheet didn’t match the route we found on site. Green arrows... we’re still looking.

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valjalbert
valjalbert

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The signposting is terrible. Visorando says to follow the green arrows from the car park, but there are no green arrows either at the car park or along the route. We ended up walking 11.8 km instead of 7.5.....

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