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In Rue des Ribandeaux, park as far back as possible.
(S/E) Follow this street southwards. Take the second path on the left at the foot of the embankment. Continue for 160 metres and, at the junction, take the path on the right marked by wooden barriers. Walk to the viewpoint.
(1) Panoramic view of the marshes and Talmont with its church and castle. There are several information boards here. Head down the path on your left. After the gate, turn right to pass under the road and follow the winding path to the first junction with the Grand Ribandeau.
(2) Turn left onto the Chemin de la Vignolière, a very shady sunken lane. Views of the marshes through the gaps in the trees. Continue along this path to its end, where it joins the road to the hamlet of La Vignolière.
(3) Lovely view of the marshes. At this junction, turn right onto the road and carry on until you reach the Route de la Malvoie. Turn left onto the road leading downhill.
(4) At the stop sign, turn left. At the next junction, keep left onto the Route des Eaux. After 300 metres, take the path on the left (signposted ‘La Vendée à vélo’) and follow it to the Cul d’Âne footbridge. You can see the stone sluice gates used to regulate the flow of water into the marshes depending on the tides. Some of the stone sluices are old, whilst others have been renovated.
(5) Cross the footbridge. You will pass through the marshes and the Payré. Follow the ‘La Vendée à vélo’ path. At the first junction, turn left and follow the path. Take in the view to the left over the Talmont marshes and to the right over the Guittière marshes. Ride alongside a vineyard.
(6) At the next crossroads where the roads meet, take the one on the left. Pass in front of the Ferme de la Bourie. When you reach the junction with Rue du Port de la Guittière, turn right and then immediately left into Rue des Pougnerottes. Then turn into the first road on the left and follow it to the end, where it leads to the foot of the Talmont bypass.
(7) Take the path on the left which will lead you back to the foot of the bridge. Cross the Route du Port de la Guittière and turn right towards Talmont. After 450 metres, you’ll reach the junction with Rue de la Tonnelle (the second road on the left). There’s a lovely view of the castle, the church and the village of Talmont.
(8) Walk down this very steep street. At the roundabouts, keep left to take the second road on the left, Rue du Marais Potet. Cross the bridge over the Payré.
(9) Turn immediately right onto the footpath that runs alongside the Payré (with the car park on your left). Cross Avenue des Sables and take the small path to the left of the bridge which leads down alongside the river. You’ll come to a footbridge 80 metres further on, with the town hall on your left. Head left towards the town hall and take the passageway leading to the Hôtel de Ville, which is on the right-hand side of the building. Continue straight on along this passageway until you reach the foot of the castle.
(10) Walk along the left-hand side of the castle and turn right onto Rue des Jardins. Walk up this street and take the path on the right just above the car park.
(11) At the first junction, turn left (towards the statue of the Virgin Mary) and carry on until you reach the T-junction. Turn left. Cross Avenue des Sables and continue straight ahead along Rue des Demoiselles (passing a car wash). At the end of this street, go straight on down the slope – this path is closed to all vehicles.
(12) At the end of this path, cross Rue des Marais and follow the path opposite that leads downhill. A shaded path with views over the marshes. Follow it to the edge of a field marked by wooden gates. Walk along the left-hand side of the field. At the corner, take the wooded path on the left, indicated by gates. When you reach the stony track, turn right onto the open path which leads back to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
