The lower valleys of Anjou, La Roche Foulques and the Soucelles Forest

Park in the Ermitage municipal grounds. The start is on Allée des Girolles.

(S/E) Follow this lane northwards to leave the estate and, at the ‘Stop’ sign, take the small road on the right for about 2 km until you reach the D109.

(1) Cross the D109, which links Soucelles to Seiches-sur-le-Loir. Continue straight on along the small road for about 300 m.

(2) Turn sharply left, following the edge of a pasture where racehorses are often on display (yellow markings). Join the D109.

(3) Do not take this road, but turn right onto a wide track.

(4) Turn right, following the yellow markings, and pass very close to the Pierre Césée dolmen.

(5) Turn right at the T-junction and continue along the yellow-marked route, crossing the large meadow until you reach a large stone.

(6) Continue slightly to the left and join the D113.

(7) Cross it carefully and carry on following the yellow markings.

(8) Turn right and make sure you don’t miss the Soucelles wash house and the fountain just behind it.

(9) Turn left onto the Chemin de la Saurée (purple markings). Follow these markings. The path, which is sometimes a track, joins the River Loir and leads to La Roche Foulques.

(10) Turn right onto the path leading up to the chapel.

(11) Turn right and walk for about a hundred metres.

(12) Turn left onto the D109. Cross carefully. Pass two small roads on the right and come to a path on the right.

(13) Turn right onto this track, heading due north.

(14) Turn right onto a small road. Take it to the left, pass the Chapelle du Chêne and reach a crossroads.

(15) Turn right, passing through the hamlet of La Bodinière. You’ll reach the D113.

(16) Cross it carefully, then continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads.

(17) Turn right towards the hamlet of Les Aulnaies.

(18) Turn left onto a small road until you reach a crossroads (stream).

(19) Turn slightly left onto Chemin de Gaza until you reach the entrance to the Soucelles Community Forest.

(20) Turn right onto a very pleasant footpath which joins an unpaved road and the sign for the fitness trail.

(21) Take this track on the right, cross the D313 straight ahead until you reach a wide path that leads into the forest.

(22) Turn left, ignore a track branching off to the right and, just before a left-hand bend, make sure you don’t miss a path branching off to the right.

(23) Take this path, which descends and passes very close to a 300-year-old chestnut tree (sign). Continue for a few metres.

(24) Turn right and head uphill. When you reach a four-way junction, carry on straight ahead until you rejoin the unpaved track you left earlier.

(25) Follow this track to the right for a few metres.

(26) Turn left, heading due south, onto a gently ascending forest track. After 200 m, a path branches off to the left.

(27) Take this path on the left, which leads to the edge of the forest, near a Christianised menhir. Continue straight on for a few metres along the unpaved track until you reach a small tarmac road. Carry on almost straight ahead to rejoin the Allée des Girolles and your starting point (S/E).

Refreshments in the village of Soucelles.
The start and finish can also be at the Town Hall car park in Soucelles.

The Pierre Césée dolmen.
The ‘grande prairie’, which served as a clandestine airfield during the Second World War.
The Soucelles wash house.
La Roche Foulques and the banks of the Loir.
The chapels at La Roche Foulques and Le Chêne.
The Soucelles Forest.