The sunken lanes of La Dorée

Car park at the Town Hall in the village of La Dorée.

(S/E) Head west and, on the D116, turn left.
After 100m, take a path on the right leading to a small pond.
Follow the shore and join Rue des Sabotiers. Follow it to the left.

(1) Take the first road on the left towards La Jarias and L’Angotière. Ignore the road on the left towards La Jarias and continue to L’Angotière.

(2) Continue straight ahead along the tree-lined path. Cross a stream and join the Route du Bas Valandré. Continue straight on to Valandré.
Take the path on the left. Follow it as it makes a first turn left then right and joins a road.

(3) Take this country road on the right. Cross the D515 road with care and continue along the path opposite (heading north-west).
Go through the metal gate and make sure you close it properly
At La Fourmondais, follow the road to the right. After 200m, pass under a medium-voltage power line.

(4) Cross the D102 road and continue straight ahead, slightly to the right, towards La Rianterie.
Continue along this road. Ignore Maison Neuve on the left and reach the first houses of La Piffetiére.
Please note: it is very common for the route indicated to be impassable from this point onwards due to flooding. Please refer to the alternative route in the Practical Information section.

(5) After the first building, turn right and follow the path eastwards.
After a bend to the right and then to the left, the path leads onto the access road to La Monnerie (on the right).
Turn left.

(6) Leave the Landrière buildings on your left and continue along the path. Ignore a path on the left and go round the copse
Continue round a bend to the left, crossing a stream, then round another bend to the right to reach the road leading to Quesle.
Take this road on the left for 100m, then turn right onto the D515 for 250m.

(7) Opposite the Longueraie house, follow the path to the left. Continue along this path until you reach the houses at La Légerie.

(8) Follow this country road to the right. It runs alongside the Ruisseau de la Rouërie at varying distances.

(9) Before it bends right to join the D102, take the path on the left. Head towards La Taille Ferrière. Continue straight ahead on the road. After 100m, follow the path on the right heading south.

(10) Note: don’t miss this – yellow arrow on a post
Turn left towards the Lucien Daniel housing estate. On the road, turn left then right after 100m. Go round the housing estate and continue along the path on the left which goes round a field and then the football pitch.
Join Rue des Écoles. Turn right and return to the Town Hall car park (S/E).

Almost the entire route (except for the alternative route) is signposted with “Circuit du Valandré” signs. Yellow lettering on a black background.

Alternative route at (5): if the path to the right, heading east, is impassable due to flooding, follow this route:
- Turn back to (4).
- At (4), turn left and follow the main road.
- Ignore the first road on the right towards La Bayette. You can rejoin the route described at elevation 213, but crossing the stream may also be problematic.
- Turn left onto the D515 towards Chantepie and rejoin the route at (7). You must then turn right.