From Étang des Forges to Brocas

(Alternative to the PR® routes)
This small village is making every effort to attract tourists to its peaceful rural setting, just an hour from the coast and an hour and a half from the Pyrenees.

Partially signposted route (multiple signposts)

Details

1050643
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.28 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 49 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 49 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 262 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 210 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park by the pond.

(S/E) Turn your back on the Tourist Office chalet, cross the road, and walk between the pond and the village hall. Walk along the edge of the pond, then cross the small footbridge over the Champoou stream. Stay by the water’s edge and take the lovely little path under the trees, which gradually moves away from the Estrigon stream that feeds this pond. When you reach the road, cross it and continue straight ahead along the sandy path

(1) Turn right onto the sunken track, cross the junction and continue to the Route de Vert. Turn left and then immediately right.

(2) Follow this well-marked track and head almost straight on (due north) until you reach the road (recommended for heavy goods vehicles); take care when crossing, and you’ll arrive at the hamlet of Perroutat.

(3) Turn left in front of the gate to the Perroutat airial. First turn right then left in front of another property. Follow the fence and continue along farm tracks (due west). At the road, head straight ahead.

(4) Turn right onto the track. At the crossroads, turn left, then go straight across the next one.

(5) Turn left at this multi-way junction. Continue straight on until you reach the wide, compacted track.

(6) Turn right onto this track and stay in the right-hand lane. Cross the Champoou stream. At the Y-junction, keep to the right (sandy track). Pass between the buildings of the Champoou farm.

(7) Turn left (opposite the farmhouse) and walk to the road, then turn left to return to your starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 213 ft - Car park at the - Étang de Brocas
  2. 1 : mi 0.86 - alt. 249 ft - Turn right
  3. 2 : mi 1.24 - alt. 240 ft - Turn right
  4. 3 : mi 2.05 - alt. 259 ft - Perroutat
  5. 4 : mi 2.54 - alt. 253 ft - Cross
  6. 5 : mi 3.13 - alt. 262 ft - Turn left at the multi-way junction
  7. 6 : mi 3.9 - alt. 243 ft - Turn right onto the wide, groomed track
  8. 7 : mi 4.6 - alt. 253 ft - Champoou
  9. S/E : mi 5.28 - alt. 213 ft - Étang de Brocas car park, near the - Estrigon (ruisseau) - Affluent de la Midouze

Notes

In Brocas-les-Forges:
- Lodges, campsite, lake (fishing, pedalos), playground.
- Mountain bike hire in season (tourist office).
- Small shop, café-restaurant, bakery.

Further information:
Landes Department Hiking Guide 14 Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park Sheet 14.5

Between (WPT 2 and 6) no signposting
Please note: it is advisable to bring an IGN map or use the app with GPS data;

Worth a visit

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

3.7 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.6 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Jfdu
Jfdu

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Problem at the start because there is no connection in the village, but this is sorted out later. Several errors in the route compared to the paths, but a pleasant hike in the middle of the forest and without difficulty.

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PPC5740
PPC5740

@Kacas,
my choice is to go off the beaten track (especially along tarmac roads, even where there’s little traffic).
I’m always surprised by the choices made by certain federations (for ease of maintenance).

It seems to me that the route described by a volunteer (myself) matches the description quite well; I even did it at the start of the season in the opposite direction.

I believe the kiosk at the starting point displays the (original) route map.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Regards

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Kacas
Kacas

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is really enjoyable, but the main problem we encountered was that the map didn’t match the actual route on the ground. The signposting needs to correspond to the map provided online so that we can find our way around. It’s impossible to know which route to choose – the 8 km, 12 km or 18 km walk – and once you’re there, you have no idea where you are.

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Bidullon
Bidullon

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely route, but some sections are no longer signposted or maintained; if it hadn’t been for the help of the locals we met along the way, we wouldn’t have been able to find the right path.

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Vince999999
Vince999999

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with a dog, hardly any tarmac and only two cars spotted in two hours.
After point 4 and all the way to Champoo, there are lots of paths criss-crossing each other and we got lost; luckily, with the GPS track we managed to find our way out, but we often found ourselves unsure of the way.

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henri57
henri57 ★
• Edited:

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback.

Novice walkers using a map find it difficult, whatever the walk.

Finding your way whilst hiking, when you’re just starting out, isn’t easy, as it can sometimes be difficult to match the map to the terrain.
However, these days, with new technologies, it is advisable to use the free Visorando app, in addition to the route description and the Visorando IGN 1:25,000 map.

The aim isn’t to be glued to your smartphone, but to have a tool that allows you to check waypoints and thus clear up any doubts about your direction.

See you soon

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zabounet
zabounet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Thank you for your routes; as they are not signposted, novice walkers using a map find them difficult, regardless of the route.

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