Country:
City:
The starting point is on the D528 road from Chevaigné towards Melesse. When the road crosses the Ille and Rance Canal, parking is available on either side of the canal.
(S/E) Reach the bridge that crosses the canal and take the towpath northwards on the left bank (on the Ille side).
Pass the Grugedaine lock and, after a large circular bend in the canal, you will arrive at the Pont de Pierre.
(1) Ignore the Pont de Pierre and continue straight ahead on the towpath. Pass the Cours lock. 150 m after the lock, a path descends to the right to reach the banks of the Ille.
(2) Take the path on the right, cross the small stream and follow the Ille river along the hedge beside the meadow. You will come to a footbridge with a guardrail that crosses the Ille. Please note: this passage is part of private property, but hikers are welcome to use it.
Pass the hamlet of Le Breil, cross the railway line and follow the road that climbs eastwards. Halfway up the slope, a path branches off to the left.
Take the path that runs alongside a hedge of oak trees on your right. Further on, the path becomes a road. After a right-hand bend, you will arrive at Carrefour de l'Épine.
(3) At this crossroads, take the road on the right for 50 metres and then turn left at the next crossroads (signposted La Basse Sévaudière) heading east. After the house at La Basse Sévaudière, ignore the road on the left and follow the path that branches off to the right (at a 45° angle) between two cultivated fields.
Continue south-east, then south, to reach a road at the end of the path. Follow the road on the left to the next X-shaped crossroads.
(4) At the crossroads, turn right and follow the sign for La Haie de Saules. Pass the hamlet and continue straight ahead: the road then becomes a farm track running between two hedges. After a right-hand bend, it descends towards the west. At the hamlet of La Chemerais, you will rejoin the road that leads to Carrefour de la Cabochais.
(5) At this crossroads, turn left and head south towards Chevaigné.
At the end of the straight road, the road bends 45° to the left at a wood on the right, the edge of which seems to extend the axis of the road.
(6) At this point, leave the road and take the path on the right that leads into the woods.
The path quickly reaches the middle of the woods and heads south. At the end of the woods, after 200 metres and a few steps, you will come to the Chevaigné sports ground.
(7) Turn right and walk along the oak hedge. Pass a playground on your left, then the sports hall, to arrive at Route de La Motte.
Turn right again and head downhill towards the west, towards the canal. Further down, the road crosses the railway line. Immediately after the level crossing, a road branches off to the left along the edge of the railway line.
(8) Turn left onto this road, which descends and takes you back to the starting point. Despite the signs, there are no restrictions on using this road.
Cross the wooden footbridge over the Ille to return to the canal bridge (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
