Country:
City:
The walk starts in Saint-Aigulin, on Rue Jean Moulin, by the coach park. A sign at the trailhead provides technical information on the two walking routes offered by the local council, known as "Les chemins des cistudes", with the other heading south of the town. Here, you’ll be exploring the one heading north-west.
(S/E) To start the hike, walk up Rue Jean Moulin (northwards) for 200m, then turn left onto Rue de Marchet. A private pond and a small pool are on your left. At the end of the street, at the junction, turn right and walk for 500m until you reach a dirt track, which you should follow straight on.
(1) Here, an information board tells you more about the local biodiversity. The paths split; for the long circular loop, take the path on the left which leads you into the forest. For the short circular loop, see the Practical Information section.
(2) After 400m, you’ll find a charming “turtle pond” on your left. Take a moment to have a look and discover its unique wildlife, and read the information board. A few metres further on, at the junction, continue straight on until you reach the tarmac road. Then turn left and, in the hamlet, turn right at the Y-junction.
(3) After 550m along this road, you will find a beautiful pond on your left. Carry on; you will pass a few houses as you round a left-hand bend, then you will come to a dirt track that invites you to continue straight on (whilst the tarmac road branches off to the right) towards the forest and heathland. Follow the dirt track for about 570m.
(4) At this point, a sign provides further directions; it is situated near a junction where you are advised to turn left. So turn left and continue along this forest path for about 600m, which leads to the hamlet of Buzelin.
(5) Cross the road and walk a few metres to your left to join (to the right of the second house) the grassy path.
(6) After 800 m, following a path through the heart of the forest and guided by the signposts, take the white path on the left. This will take you back to the junction near the pond. When you reach it, turn right and pass the pond again (2) before reaching the junction where the circular path ends.
(1) Then take the road on the left towards the fields.
(7) At the information board, turn right to follow the edge of the field and join a dirt track that descends towards the road (D142).
(8) Follow this road to the left for a few metres, then take the road on the right until you reach a pond with a road branching off to the right. Take this road to cross over the railway line. At the bottom of the bridge, take the dirt track on the right (at an angle of less than 90°).
(9) Continuing along this track, you’ll come to a small bridge crossing a tributary of the Dronne, which itself lies further on to your left. Another sign awaits you. Continue along the track, keeping the railway line on your right.
(10) On your right, between the path and the railway line, there are small pools worth looking at closely. Continue straight ahead. At the end of this path, the Impasse de la Dronne, which leads back towards the houses, a right-hand bend takes you onto the Avenue de Saintonge. Turn right towards the railway bridge, continue to the roundabout and turn right at it to reach the coach park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Tourist office
Easy 
