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Start from one of the two car parks provided for visiting the site, hiking and fishing. Here, the route is described from the first car park indicated when coming from Orléans. In this case, walk up the left bank of the Loire (south side) to Saint Denis-en-Val. From the Loire embankment, the car park is on the left (signposted "Parking"), opposite a horticultural farm.
(S/E) Take the stabilised path (light in colour) towards the east, following the first stretch of water.
(1) At the first crossroads, leave this first gravel pit and walk along a second lake. The path follows its contours, forming two right angles. When you reach a tarmac path, turn right to walk alongside a third lake.
(2) Once you have crossed the southern edge of this lake, take the first path on the left and go through the gate. This wide path goes around the lake. Ignore the paths taken by fishermen to reach the shore.
(3) Do not continue along the dyke separating two gravel pits, but take the first path on the right. This grassy lane leads to a large square. Turn right at the crossroads and go through the gate. Keep left on the Loire embankment. This runs alongside market garden greenhouses, then ends up closer to the river, forming a bend to the right.
(4) At the first crossroads, follow the signs for Château de l'Isle XVIe siècle, turning right onto the small road downhill, to the right of the sign indicating the canoe and kayak base. When you reach Château de l'Isle, walk around it along the small road to read the information panels, then return to the starting point to rejoin the embankment, walking alongside the canoe and kayak centre. Retrace your steps.
(4) Keep left on the embankment and walk down it for about 50 metres to take the small path closest to the river (you can also access it by going through the barrier on the left after making a hairpin turn). Stay on this well-marked path, which runs parallel to the wider, more popular paved path of the La Loire à Vélo route.
(5) When the path joins the paved path, leave it and take the widest path perpendicular to the main path (Bois de l'Île route). This follows a dyke between various gravel pits before ending at the car park at the starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
