The venerable trees of the Senonches forest

Departure from Senonches - Rond de Battenberg - Parking along Avenue des Evés and at Rond de Battenberg.

Yellow and red markings for the GRP® Vallées de la Blaise et de l'Avre

(S/E) With your back to the church, follow the right bank of the Étang Arthur Rémy (on your left) along the fitness trail. Pass between the water's edge and the Butte des Sarrasins (presumed tumulus. Tree statue of the "Fisherman"). As you approach the hedge of the boules court and the motorhome car park, join the Allée de la Tourbière. Climb up to the edge of a second pond (on your right) and continue left on the track. Cross Avenue de Badouleau (pedestrian crossing) and continue opposite along the path beside the stadium fence to the corner of the forest (alternative: see § Nearby).

No markings

(1) Continue straight ahead along the school fence. Near Avenue Poucin, turn left onto a path opposite the corner of the building. At the fork, take the path on the right. You will arrive at an area of deep iron ore extraction pits. Go around it on the right, staying carefully on the edge of the excavations. Join a path and follow it to the left. At the next fork, go down to the right and you will come out at a large forest crossroads near the Badouleau pond (alternative: see § Nearby).

Yellow and red markings

(2) Cross the often dry stream that feeds the pond via a metal footbridge, the Pont Noir. Climb up the wide path opposite and arrive at the corner of the holiday village fence.

(3) Turn left and continue following the fence. Cross a small stream via a wooden footbridge. Continue following the Huttopia fence, then the pumping station fence, or go around it on the left, and reach the gate.

(4) In front of the gate, follow the GRP® along the edge of the field, cross the lane and take the path. At the fork, follow the path to the right.

No markings

Follow this winding but well-marked path. It crosses Route de la Tuilerie. Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads.

(5) Take it to the right for about a hundred metres, then leave it after a dip to follow a very small path on the left that makes a long hook to the left and then back to the right. It leads to Rond du Chevreuil: picnic tables.

Yellow markings

(6) Cross the tarmac forest road and take the stone path opposite. Follow it to Rond d'Angoulême. Cross the D941 carefully.

No markings

(7) Follow the marked path to the Trois Frères (listed as a Remarkable Tree). At the foot of the tree, turn right onto a path running parallel to the forest road, which leads to Rond du Berry. (You will pass bomb craters, evidence of the intense Allied bombing of the German ammunition depot from June to August 1944). Turn right at the crossroads.

Yellow markings

(8) At Rond du Berry, follow the Haut Cornet road to the left until you reach Rond de Monsieur. Cross the D25 carefully, passing remarkable sequoias and cedars, and continue straight ahead, crossing the abandoned railway level crossing to reach a picnic area.

No markings

(9) Leave the markings and continue straight ahead on the gravel road towards Rond de Condé until you reach the signpost indicating "Le Chêne Fauteuil" at the entrance to a path on the left.

(10) Follow the marked path on the left that leads to the Chêne Fauteuil. Pass to the right of this remarkable tree to admire "the armchair". After walking halfway around the tree, follow the path on the right that leads to Rond des Ruelles.

(11) Follow the grassy path on the right that leads to Rond de Condé. There is a picnic area and a remarkable chestnut tree on the other side of the road at the bottom of the field. Cross carefully ( alternative: see § Nearby).

(12) After admiring the remarkable chestnut tree, return to Rond de Condé, cross the road again carefully and take the stone-paved Allée Forestière du Haut Cornet opposite until you reach the entrance on the left to a path between plots 177 and 181.

(13) Follow this path to the left. At the end, turn right and then, a few dozen metres further on, turn left between plots 178 and 180. At the end, rejoin the D140 and follow it to the left until you reach Rond de la Sablonnière (stone marker).

(14) Continue straight ahead on the grassy path until you reach the entrance to a path that climbs up the embankment on the right.

(15) Take the path on the right until you reach a crossroads above the Étang Loiseau dyke.

(16) Do not cross the dyke, but follow the path on the right towards Rond de Battenberg, which runs alongside the fence of the fire extinguisher factory. Cut across the end of a driveway, continue straight ahead, go down a steep slope, cross the disused railway line and arrive at the D25. Cross it carefully and continue straight ahead for about a hundred metres to reach the Orée du Bois sensory trail.

(17) Take it to the right (information boards about the forest). Exit via the car park (picnic area). Cross Rue du Général de Gaulle and continue straight ahead to Avenue Poucin. Go down it to the left (beautiful view of the church), passing in front of the school entrance. Join Rond de Battenberg (S/E).

Waterproof footwear is recommended.

During hunting season, check withthe Perche Forest Tourist Office on 02 37 37 80 11 for hunting days and locations. (No hunting on Sundays in the national forest).

The section between points (1) and (2) crosses a plot where the trees are left to age naturally. There is a risk of falling branches in strong winds. It is therefore preferable to reach point (2) by following the yellow and red marked trail along the stadium.

The section between points (4) and (6) is magnificent but, as it is not marked, you must follow the trail on the ground. In autumn or winter, it may be hidden by dead leaves or snow. It is therefore preferable to stay on the main Sablonnière path between points (3) and (4).

Variations
(1) You can also cross the grassy area on the right to see the small pond created by schoolchildren and their teachers: enter to the right of the gate - exit at the corner of the forest - guided by mosaic tiles on the ground.

(2) Depending on the season, you can visit the Badouleau pond: entrance on the left, following the fence for about 300 metres - at the end of the dyke: bar, snacks - open to all.
Then return to the crossroads or ask if it is possible to rejoin the circuit near the pumping station - Point (4) by crossing a small part of the village for a few metres.

(12) From Rond de Condé, you can also carefully follow the D140 to Rond de la Sablonnière (14). Parts of the paths passing between recently regenerated plots exposed to sunlight can sometimes be a little overgrown. Then rejoin the circuit at the right-angle bend in the road, Point (14).

Senonches: Castle museum on the theme of the forest and its exploitation.
Orée du Bois sensory discovery trail -
Hotel - Restaurants - Lodges - Huttopia holiday village - motorhome reception area. Shops -
Fishing - horse riding
http://www.lesforetsduperche.fr/culture-et-tourisme/office-de-tourisme/

Manou, 4 km away: the Froux peat bog, a site developed by the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels Sensibles (Conservatory of Sensitive Natural Areas) for the discovery of rare and protected plant and animal species.
Castle known as Blanche de Castille.
Auberge du Moulin à vent - Hotel - restaurant - horse riding
Bar de la Grange open Tuesday to Saturday from 7.30 amhttps://www.mairie-de-manou.com/bar-de-la-grange

Fontaine-Simon, 6 kmaway : Perche Water Park - campsite - indoor swimming poolhttps://www.terresdeperche.fr/pages/parc-aquatique-du-perchewater skiing -

In the village: hotel-restaurant - shops.

Digny, 10 kmaway : Nolimit Aventure tree climbing https://nolimit-aventure.com/digny/

La Loupe, 11 km away: the cellars of history - history of the 1944 bombingshttps://www.lechateaulaloupe.fr/

sNCF railway station.