The Cadeuil ponds circular loop from La Gripperie-Saint Symphorien

Near the coast and the Brouage Marsh, a circular route runs along the Massonnerie Nature Reserve and around the large ponds of the Cadeuil sandpit.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 62 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 62 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 38 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 m

Description of the walk

The starting point for the walk is at Saint-Symphorien Church. This church is located away from the village. Parking is available in front of the old cemetery (only two spaces) or on the grass in front of the new cemetery (many spaces).

(S/E) With your back to the church, turn left onto the tarmac road. The road climbs out of the marsh and onto the plateau. At a group of houses, turn right. Continue on the tarmac road until you reach a larger road (D733E2) and follow it to the right for about 100 metres.

(1) Take the gravel path, which is closed to traffic except for residents and authorised vehicles. The path descends into a sparse copse. At the first fork, continue straight ahead.

(2) Further on, walk along the fence of the Massonne Nature Reserve (sign) to reach the D118.

(3) Follow this road to the right for about 600 m. Cross the Massonne bridge. Note the large, beautiful farm building on the right side of the road. You will arrive at an intersection.

(4) At the Petite Mauvinière intersection, turn left and join theGR® 360 route.

(5) At a crossroads in the woods, continue straight ahead and take the path marked with a no entry sign. Pass the sandpit's farm gate and continue to a barrier that blocks vehicles from entering the path.

(6) Go around the side of the barrier and cross the D733 (busy road) with caution. Continue straight ahead on a tarmac section that ends in a cul-de-sac. Then take a gravel path on the left that leads to a road. You will have a view of the large excavations of the sandpit currently in operation.

(7) Turn left, leaving theGR® 360 trail. Continue straight ahead for about 500 metres, leaving Grande Vergne on your left, until you reach a wide path on the left.

(8) Turn left onto this wide path and follow it for about 2.5 km. Pass between two large trees and in front of a farm where the path continues along a tree-lined driveway and leads to a road.

(9) Take this road on the left and, when the road bends at a right angle to the right, take the gravel path on the far right. Before entering the woods, turn right onto a well-marked path at the edge of the fields and continue until you reach a road.

(10) Turn right, pass a group of houses and arrive at a path that leads to an antenna visible from afar.

:: 11 Turn left onto this gravel path, which goes around the antenna and ends at a grassy path at the edge of the fields. Continue straight ahead with the woods on your left and the field on your right. The path is not very well marked. At the corner of the field, cross a ditch to continue into the woods on a much better marked path. Continue straight ahead along this path.

(12) Cross a small tarmac road and continue straight ahead until you reach the D733.

(13) Cross it carefully (beware of heavy traffic), cross the ditches on the two fragile footbridges and continue straight ahead on the path. At the first houses of La Gripperie-Saint Symphorien, the path becomes tarmac. Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads marked with a stone cross.

(14) Turn left onto the road, take the first tarmac road on the right and, at a fork, turn onto the road on the right, marked as a dead end. Continue along a dirt track that descends steeply and arrives at the miraculous fountain. Turn left to quickly return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 8 m - Église Saint-Symphorien (La Gripperie-Saint-Symphorien)
  2. 1 : km 1.66 - alt. 29 m - Fork in the path
  3. 2 : km 3.11 - alt. 7 m - Massonne Nature Reserve
  4. 3 : km 3.4 - alt. 4 m - Route D118
  5. 4 : km 4.35 - alt. 18 m - La Petite Mauvinière
  6. 5 : km 5.58 - alt. 5 m - Crossroads in the woods
  7. 6 : km 6.89 - alt. 9 m - Barrier - Lac de Cadeuil
  8. 7 : km 8.49 - alt. 26 m - Road junction
  9. 8 : km 9 - alt. 29 m - Fork in the road on a wide path
  10. 9 : km 10.81 - alt. 30 m - Road junction
  11. 10 : km 11.88 - alt. 35 m - Road junction
  12. 11 : km 12.48 - alt. 35 m - Fork in the road towards the antenna
  13. 12 : km 13.6 - alt. 31 m - Crossing the road
  14. 13 : km 14.32 - alt. 31 m - Crossing the D733
  15. 14 : km 15.64 - alt. 32 m - Crossroads with a cross
  16. S/E : km 16.53 - alt. 8 m - Église Saint-Symphorien (La Gripperie-Saint-Symphorien)

Notes

At the starting point, there are two benches where you can enjoy a picnic at the start or finish.

Worth a visit

The Romanesque-style Saint-Symphorien church has a beautiful portal with sculptures and a cylindrical bell tower. Set apart from the village, this church is surprisingly large for its surroundings. It was designed to welcome pilgrims who came to the miraculous fountain.
A curiosity: the miraculous fountain. Its history is explained on a sign.

In the woods, you will see many traces of deer and wild boar on the paths.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
User 15147723

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A route that is not particularly difficult and very interesting to do.

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Braguette
Braguette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, varied route, but it's a shame that the lakes aren't very visible because of the hedges surrounding them. The paths running alongside the fields have been somewhat damaged by farmers, so you have to navigate around the ruts and mud. A lovely, very enjoyable trip, and starting from the church is a good choice as there's space for a picnic break on the way back.

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Salondet
Salondet

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An interesting route without any difficulty.

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Stephaniedecharentemaritime
Stephaniedecharentemaritime

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is pleasant, even when it's hot, as there are many sections through the woods. Some sections are through tall grass.

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victorien didier
victorien didier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Fine

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shune17
shune17

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route,
a bit muddy in places, be careful at point 11, where the path is poorly marked, virtually non-existent, between the brambles and the freshly ploughed field, but easy to make your way through for about 100 metres.
Otherwise, very pleasant.

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jadeau c
jadeau c

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk at this time of year (spring). Ground too wet in some areas...

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Olivier 17
Olivier 17

It needs to be converted to PDF.
The gpx file cannot be printed.

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jadeau c
jadeau c

Hello.
Great description
No option to print the map...

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Olivier 17
Olivier 17
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be sure to look for the GR 360 markings (pt4). The markings then disappear for a long time until you reach the no entry sign at the entrance to the quarries, which may cause some confusion (pt5). At point 8, the two large trees are lime trees (impossible to miss) and the path after the goat farm is lined with plane trees (purist at heart). Be careful not to head towards Blenac (between wps 9 and 10).
Be careful when crossing the D 733, which is very busy on Sunday afternoons.
A lovely walk accompanied by my two dogs. Varied landscapes.
Don't forget to visit the Tour de Broue after your hike, just a short drive away.

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