The banks of the Rance near Saint-Samson and the Menhir de la Pierre Longue

Park in the church car park.

(S/E) Turn right onto Rue de la Mairie (on the right) and continue along Rue de la Halte until you reach the traffic lights.

(1) Cross the road and join the Voie Verte, located a few metres to your right. This will take you across the railway line at the ‘de Paquerette’ level crossing. Continue for 500 m until you reach the junction with the local road.

(2) Ahead of you lies the Chemin gallo-romain (signpost on the left-hand side).
Initially very wide, it runs alongside a tower mill (with wings) on your right; it narrows as you proceed through the wooded section and leads to La Bouhourdais.

(3). Cross the RD 2 and turn left onto Rue de la Mettrie, continuing until you reach the first street on the right.

(4) Leave the street on the right towards the Camping de Lyvet. The road descends to the towpath. Take the towpath on the left.

(5) At the bend in the Rance, a path opens out on the left. A sign indicates that it leads to Camping Beauséjour. Steps have been built to make the climb easier. The path leads to the entrance of the campsite, which you should leave on the right to reach the roundabout. Cross the roundabout diagonally to find the path that runs alongside the Domaine de la Hisse housing estate.

(6) A sign marked ‘Balade Samsonnais’ indicates this. After skirting the housing estate, the path leads into a small hamlet, which you should leave on the left, reaching the D57 after 50 metres.

(7) You’ll be walking along a busy road; make use of the pedestrian facilities. Walk through the hamlet of La Mardelle and then Vaugarni.

(8) As you leave the hamlet of Vaugarni, a path on your right (signposted) leads you 200 metres to the Menhir de la Pierre Longue.
Retrace your steps along the D 57. Turn right onto Rue de la Croix Guillou, cross the railway line, and continue along Rue de la Mairie. Turn right onto Rue du 19 Mars 1962, left onto Rue des Écoles, then left again onto Rue du Domaine, and return to the church car park (S/E) via Rue de la Mairie once more.

The Gallo-Roman track may be flooded during heavy rain. A footpath bypasses the muddiest sections; it is very slippery.
Point (6): don’t miss the path that leads off to the left onto the towpath.

The menhir: La Pierre Longue dates from the Neolithic period; it weighs 150 tonnes, and it is this weight that may explain why it is leaning. It bears engravings on its faces which are revealed depending on their exposure to the sun. A sign provides details.