The forts of the estuary

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a beautiful hike that crosses marshes and runs along the estuary with beautiful views of the opposite banks. In winter, the paths are muddy, of course, but what a joy to discover such a lovely spot for walkers! We were also lucky enough to see swans and a grey heron halfway through the hike!
In the second part, you do have to cross a few housing estates in Fouras, but in the last part of the route, the walk winds through a small wood with pretty paths under the trees, which makes you forget the tarmac of the road.
Thank you, Visorando!

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Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike between marshes, the Charente estuary and Fouras.
Successive views of Fort Lupin (located in Saint-Nazaire-sur-Charente, on the other side of the river), then the small (private) fort at La Pointe and finally the majestic Fort Boyard offshore...
The first part of the circuit is particularly worthwhile (up to Espérance beach, point 6). The rest is a succession of housing estates, small streets and roads lined with cornfields, with little of interest (apart from a pretty but short wooded section), unless you want to do a loop rather than a return trip... We actually turned right after point 10 (small dotted path on the trail), joining the original route via a small track, which we then followed backwards for a few hundred metres to the starting point (where you can pick blackberries in season).
We were lucky enough to see lots of marsh birds, a few otters, dragonflies, geese and, of course, the local cows...
BONUS: if the tide allows, take the path along the Charente between points 3 and 4 rather than the track, then follow the coastline (between 5 and 6). We recommend taking a break on the tiny (deserted) beach below the path between points 5 and 6.
Thanks to Visorandonneur jeanclaudem!

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Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with different sections.
Worth doing
PS: signposting needs to be changed slightly in Fouras

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Date of your route : Jan 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is pleasant. First through the marshes, then along the coast to Fouras, where we cross a small residential area before leaving Fouras via a quiet road. We then cross a wood and arrive at our destination. I missed the signposting or misread the instructions when I arrived in Fouras, in the "town" section. I had to use my mobile phone to find my way back, but I hadn't strayed too far. Be careful, I don't recommend this route the day after rain, as I did! The first part is impassable when the ground is wet. Otherwise, beautiful scenery. Regular signposting. I met a few people when I arrived in Fouras, but that was all.

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Date of your route : Apr 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice route around Saint Laurent de la Prée. I did the loop backwards to start with the asphalt section.
There was a section on asphalt between points 7 and 8, but it was on farm tracks with no real traffic, so it wasn't a problem.
Between points 6 and 5, the tide allowed me to go down to the beach and walk on the hard sand under the fishing huts. Nice.
Although you can't see the fort at the tip (or Fort Vasou), which is private property and well fenced off, you get a nice view of Fort Lupin on the other side of the Charente when you're at point 3.
Very pretty path through the marshes between points 2 and 1
Thanks, JeanClaudem

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Date of your route : Mar 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike, very varied landscapes: marshes, Charente, seaside, town... very beautiful unspoilt nature. The route is well signposted
The only downside was that there were too many dogs not on a leash (especially between Charente and the marshes)

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Date of your route : Sep 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

nice walk in the sunshine

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Date of your route : Jun 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with varied scenery, not to be missed

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Date of your route : May 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Varied and spectacular landscapes between land, sea and the Charente. A complete change of scenery guaranteed.

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Date of your route : Apr 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route. From the start, which quickly takes you into the marshes, to the finish. Lovely views of the mouth of the Charente, its fishing huts, forts, lighthouses and islands. To be done again and again...

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Date of your route : Mar 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike to Fouras. Only one fort along the route. It's a shame that the end of the hike is on tarmac.

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

very pleasant, but at the moment there's a lot of mud!

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Date of your route : Oct 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk between the ocean, river and marshes. Varied landscapes. No difficulty, no elevation gain. Contrary to the name of the route, don't expect to see many forts along the way. You will see a few from (very) far away (such as Fort Boyard). The only one you will pass (Fort la Pointe) is private and therefore not accessible.
I would recommend doing the route in reverse, so that you start with the least interesting part and finish with this amazing grassy path between two branches of the marsh.

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Date of your route : Sep 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A rather uninspiring return trip in a nondescript rural setting.

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Date of your route : Jul 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

I wouldn't have called this route "The forts of the estuary" unless I numbered the forts of Charente-Maritime with a specific route for discovering each fort and grouped them all together in this file. "The forts of the estuary". I looked for "the forts" during the hike, but in the end, there is only one.
The signage is a little faded along the route through the marshes.
There is a beautiful view of the islands and the carrelets once you reach the Charente.

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