The mills of Gastines and Fumeçon

There are only two old mills, no longer in operation, on this route, but it will also allow you to explore the woods and moors of the Gastinais region.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.70 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 423 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 420 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 709 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 453 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Vautorte (53500)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.300517° / W 0.831941°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1417SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near Vautorte Town Hall.

(Out/Return) Cross Rue de Bretagne with care and turn left onto Rue de Normandie. At the crossroads, turn right onto Rue de la Chapelle and, after passing the entrance to the water tower, take the path slightly to the right. This path runs along the back of the Pré Fleury housing estate and joins Rue de Bretagne, which you follow to the left.

(1) Cross the N12 and continue straight ahead. Pass the Vieux Presbytère and then the hamlet of Les Closhuis. You’ll reach the Croix de Pierre crossroads.

(2) Turn right. Pass under a high-voltage power line and immediately take a sharp left-hand bend to pass under the line again.

Cross a road and carry on straight ahead. The path makes several right-angled bends before eventually running alongside a lake and leading to the Moulin de Gastines.

(3) Continue northwards, then turn left and reach the D102 county road at La Grande Hairie.

(4) Turn left, then head right towards the station. Continue to the right. Cross La Grande Martinière.

(5) At the road with an old bridge on the right, carry on straight ahead and, at the next junction, turn left towards Froulay and Fumeçon. Follow this small country lane to Fumeçon and continue along the path to reach the Moulin de Fumeçon.

(6) Continue through the woods (this path is not shown on the IGN map) along a very pleasant sunken lane to reach the D247 departmental road. There may be a tricky section when crossing the stream.

(7) Turn left onto the D247 and, at the bend, head straight on towards Romaton.

(8) After passing the entrances to the two large sheds, turn right onto a wooded track (not shown on IGN maps), heading initially south-west, then south-east after crossing the stream, and finally east.

(9) Continue along the path to the left, then take the road to the right and return to the Croix de Pierre.

(2) Turn right and follow the route from the start to reach the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 640 ft - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.44 - alt. 640 ft - Crossing the N12
  3. 2 : mi 1.28 - alt. 705 ft - The Stone Cross
  4. 3 : mi 2.72 - alt. 581 ft - Gastines Mill
  5. 4 : mi 3.22 - alt. 604 ft - D102 road
  6. 5 : mi 3.79 - alt. 558 ft - Road with an old bridge on the right
  7. 6 : mi 4.56 - alt. 528 ft - Fumeçon Mill
  8. 7 : mi 4.89 - alt. 453 ft - D247 road
  9. 8 : mi 5.28 - alt. 568 ft - Wooded path on the right
  10. 9 : mi 5.94 - alt. 604 ft - Path on the left
  11. S/E : mi 7.7 - alt. 640 ft - Town hall car park

Notes

This route has no signposts or markers.

Please note: many sections of the route follow paths that do not appear on the IGN Blue Series maps. Please follow the route description above carefully.

Worth a visit

For a bit of history on the mills of the Pays de Gastines: http://www.genealogie-dyonisienne.fr/ind...

(2) The Stone Cross: this beautiful 15th-century cross features figures at the corners of the plinth, decorative carvings and a latticed niche housing a statue of the Virgin Mary. It stands on the ancient road from Jublains to Corseul, at the medieval crossroads of the paths from Châtillon-sur-Colmont to Montenay and from Vautorte to Saint-Denis de Gastine

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
fch53
fch53

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The highlight of this route is the wonderful sunken lanes. You can shorten the boring section on the D102 between Vautorte and La Croix de Pierre by parking before crossing the N12. Or you can even skip this section altogether by parking at La Gare. At the end of May 2024, the paths were VERY muddy, but that was to be expected. I recommend this route.

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Xavier1944
Xavier1944

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Like CatDom, it would be better to start from the place called "La Gare" and simply do the circular route (about 8 km). The return trip to Vautorte, along the roadside, is not interesting.
Otherwise, the trail is pleasant and takes you through some pretty countryside.

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HATTE SERGE
HATTE SERGE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

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Les Woodies
Les Woodies
• Edited:

Nice walk with varied landscapes and plenty of interesting things to see

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Jean_Philippe_44
Jean_Philippe_44

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We started from the place called "La Gare" (between points 4 and 5) as suggested by catdom. There is a shaded picnic area. The hike is not difficult. Between points 8 and 9, the route runs alongside a stream. At this time of year (May 2002), there was a little water (fords), but in wet weather you will need to be careful.
Alternating hedgerows, meadows with cows and open areas.
Nature hike

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kopa fontaine
kopa fontaine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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catdom
catdom

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It would be better to start from the place called "La Gare" and simply do the circular route (about 8 km). The return trip to Vautorte, along the road, is not interesting. Otherwise, the trail is nice and you pass through some pretty countryside.

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