The Rosnay ponds along the hedges

This walk takes you to several ponds around Rosnay, in the heart of the Brenne Regional Nature Park. The paths are often lined with hedges known as bouchures in this region.

Details

1236128
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 12 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 12 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 116 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 102 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Rosnay (36300)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.701112° / E 1.214254°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2026SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is located at Place de Verdun, behind the church, at the central crossroads of Rosnay. The route is marked in yellow and information signs are located at regular intervals (route no. 52 of the Brenne Regional Park).

(S/E) Take the D44 road towards Saint-Michel-en-Brenne (to the north) for 500 metres, then turn left onto the small road through the hamlet of Les Gilards. This leads to the entrance to the municipal campsite: follow the D44 for 200 metres.

(1) Turn left, west, onto the gravel path that runs alongside the municipal pond.
Continue straight ahead into the woods, then follow a small pond on your right.
The main path branches off to the left, southwards, to join the D32 departmental road.
Cross over and take the grassy path opposite.
Continue straight ahead at the intersection with a small road onto a path that leads into a copse and emerges behind the houses of the hamlet of La Chaume.

(2) When you reach the road, turn left to join the D15 departmental road: cross it carefully and take the wide path opposite.

(3) At the next intersection of paths, turn right to cross the Suin on a footbridge.

(4) The path leads to an elevated pond (steps): go around it on the left, following the edge of a meadow.
The path branches off to the south-east at the Étang de la Gâtevine pond, then to the east to reach the private entrance to
étang des Frères Tondus.

(5) Turn left at the intersection, then continue to Les Simonnets, pass in front of the lodge and join the D32.

(6) Turn right and continue for 400 metres.

(7) Turn left towards Étang Neuf, which you will reach after 100 m.

(8) The carriage road reaches a crossroads of grassy paths: continue straight ahead for 400 m, then turn left to go around the woods surrounding Étang Mardouin.

(9) Once you reach theGRP® de la Brenne, turn left to cross the Coulée de Bélâbre, pass over the Suin again and reach the D27 departmental road.

(10) Then turn left to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 114 m - Place de Verdun in Rosnay
  2. 1 : km 0.8 - alt. 110 m - Turn left to walk along the communal pond
  3. 2 : km 2.46 - alt. 104 m - On the left at La Chaume
  4. 3 : km 2.9 - alt. 103 m - Once you have crossed the D27, turn right towards the - Suin (rivière) - Affluent de la Creuse
  5. 4 : km 3.19 - alt. 104 m - Go around the raised pond on the left
  6. 5 : km 4.07 - alt. 109 m - At the Frères Tondus pond, on the left
  7. 6 : km 4.85 - alt. 107 m - After Les Simonnets, take the D32 on the right
  8. 7 : km 5.22 - alt. 109 m - On the left, the path leading to Étang Neuf
  9. 8 : km 5.88 - alt. 111 m - At the crossroads, go straight ahead
  10. 9 : km 7.24 - alt. 113 m - GRP de la Brenne on the left
  11. 10 : km 8.94 - alt. 115 m - Turn left onto the D27
  12. S/E : km 9.49 - alt. 114 m - Place de Verdun in Rosnay

Notes

No water sources except in Rosnay;
Wear waterproof walking shoes (wet areas near the ponds) and trousers (passages with tall grass, ferns or brambles + risk of ticks!)

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 1214957

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A well-marked walk, with little to see

Machine-translated

Hachail
Hachail

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The appeal of this route is fairly modest. The ponds are not very visible, even with the trees bare as they are at the end of December. There are no visible button ponds (one of the characteristics of the Brenne landscape).
There are a few muddy sections, which may be impassable without high boots after heavy rain.
However, there are some very beautiful sections of path between two rows of trees.
Finally, there are many military antennas to be seen.
One of the interesting things for me was discovering the floating feed dispensers for tench (one of which had run aground while the pond was being emptied). These dispensers have been around for a few years, and it seems that the large amount of food dumped causes worrying pollution (explanations given by the owner of the La Crapaudine guesthouse in Rosnay, which I recommend).
Thank you to the hiker who posted this route online.

Machine-translated

Maqroll
Maqroll

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short hike offering a few views of ponds (not enough, but still good). This route is extremely flat; apart from some scrub near point 2, it is possible to walk quite quickly.

Machine-translated

mc.binette@laposte.net
mc.binette@laposte.net

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Not knowing Brenne, we were amazed by what we saw.
The diversity, fauna and flora were all there.
However, it was cold.
A hike to be repeated.

Machine-translated

philippe mneb
philippe mneb

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

beautiful route through Brenne, with its six or seven ponds, its hedges, and an area planted with beautiful oak trees.
beautiful gravel and grassy paths and two lovely Gîtes de France holiday cottages.
very little tarmac! (which is better!)

Machine-translated

nature1950
nature1950

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

enjoyable route!!!!

Machine-translated

Tinouchka
Tinouchka

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk on this beautiful sunny day
No particular difficulties, yellow markings very well indicated
Lots of birds, including many herons
A wonderful opportunity for us to discover the landscapes so characteristic of the Brenne region
We also recommend a visit to the pretty medieval village of Saint Marcel.

Machine-translated

LesBobolas
LesBobolas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route for walkers unfamiliar with Brenne... this short, very easy route offers a superb overview of the region. Lots of ponds and a variety of paths.

Machine-translated

Lskn22
Lskn22

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A route with little shade, best avoided in hot weather.
As a result, the birds are resting.
Flora is not very abundant at this time of year.

Machine-translated

Vouvant
Vouvant

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk that allows you to see – truly – several ponds without barbed wire.

Machine-translated

MACHUT
MACHUT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk in the countryside and among the ponds. Many water birds spotted: herons, egrets, swans, ducks...

Machine-translated

jchbdn44
jchbdn44

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Numerous ponds, superb hike. Towards the end, the section on the D 925 has been improved, which is great. The start along the canal is superb. We also took this route on the way back, even though the signposts directed us back via Paray, which we felt was not very relevant (from the road).

Machine-translated

ascamapa
ascamapa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable

Pleasant route but not very shaded overall

Machine-translated

MONASTERE
MONASTERE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely morning walk through the Brenne ponds, where I saw a few grey herons, a purple heron and not a soul in sight! For those who love birdsong and silence, I highly recommend it.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.