Le Vieil Écotay

After passing through the hamlet of Celle, a pleasant hillside path descends to the Charavan river, then climbs back up to Quérézieux, surrounded by deciduous trees. The descent offers a splendid view of Bard, then of Vieil-Écotay nestled at the bottom of the valley, with its beautiful stone houses, castle, church, wash house, and two rivers that meet under a magnificent little stone bridge.

Details

4327317
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 266 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 271 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 678 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 483 m

Description of the walk

Park on the side of the Route du Leat des Espagnols near the junction with the D113.

(S/E) Take the second small road on the right (Allée du Puy Chavant), which turns into a dirt track, and descend to Le Cotayet.

(1) Cross it and follow the path that immediately climbs to the right to Granger.

(2) Take the small path on the left at the corner of the building. Follow it and cross the road, walk alongside the water tower and continue.

(3) At the end of the path, turn right, then take the small tarmac road on the left to cross Celle.

(4) At the exit of the hamlet, follow the second dirt track slightly to the left for 1.5 km to the small Charavan bridge, ignoring the numerous paths that descend to the left or climb to the right.

(5) When you reach Quérézieux, take the small tarmac road on the left, then left again towards a dead end. Take the tarmac road on the left, which turns into a dirt track heading north.

(6) Follow the first path on the right until you reach the road. Take it on the left and follow the banks of the Charavan to the middle of the bridge.

(7) Then take the "Montée de l'Église" path between the two bridges and arrive at the castle, following the white and red markedGR® trail.

(8) Take the road on the left, then turn right onto the Sentier Bucolique until you reach the road and turn left.

(9) At a large bend, continue straight ahead along the dirt track. Keep on this track until you reach the bridge that crosses the Cotayet again. You will then rejoin the path you took on the way there.

(1) Continue to the right until you reach (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 531 m - Vinols
  2. 1 : km 0.44 - alt. 512 m - Le Cotayet or - Moingt (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 0.89 - alt. 585 m - Granger
  4. 3 : km 1.45 - alt. 597 m - Celle
  5. 4 : km 1.78 - alt. 607 m - Bouchat Forest Track
  6. 5 : km 4.71 - alt. 670 m - Quérézieux
  7. 6 : km 5.2 - alt. 615 m - Path on the right
  8. 7 : km 6.6 - alt. 483 m - Le Vieil Écotay
  9. 8 : km 6.85 - alt. 527 m - Château du Vieil Écotay
  10. 9 : km 7.22 - alt. 509 m - Path opposite
  11. S/E : km 8.11 - alt. 531 m - Vinols

Notes

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
club randonnée monistrolien
club randonnée monistrolien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short stretch of very grassy path starting at the end of the cherry tree row, otherwise a perfect route.

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yro
yro

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Good hike, two beautiful climbs, muddy path in places, beautiful arrival at Vieil Ecotay and pleasant return to Vinols.

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Traviata
Traviata

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Done on a Sunday: it was a family hike I did to cover a few kilometres.

At point 6, which is marked with a cross, it is signposted as a hunting reserve: therefore not recommended. I took it anyway... and here I am.

Not enough of a hike for those who are used to walking.

As I started at 4 p.m., I couldn't really choose a longer hike.

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Lilinoute42
Lilinoute42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In rainy weather or after rain, very muddy, with water running down some slopes. No difficulty, however.

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Lilinoute42
Lilinoute42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lost the PR12 for a short while otherwise: impeccable route. Two beautiful unspecified hills, in rainy weather, quite a bit of mud, be careful, it's slippery!

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Commune de BARD
Commune de BARD

Hello,

Thank you very much for your feedback. I will pass on the message to the transport committee.

Have a nice day.

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Christine&philippe 42
Christine&philippe 42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
A beautiful, easy hike. Thank you for the signposting... perfect.
The hike ends with a visit to Vieil Ecotay... Magnificent 🤩

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Commune de BARD
Commune de BARD

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback. I will pass it on to the municipal committee.

Have a good evening.

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Mcsk
Mcsk

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route, with the old village. It is also one of the routes that the municipality offers with its signposting.

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