Pays de la Loire walks

The meandering Sarthe route takes you through the Alpes Mancelles from Saint-Léonard-des-Bois via Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France.

A lovely route around Piriac-sur-Mer that allows you to explore the town's coastline, following the beach or the customs officers' path, and also to discover its interior, taking the narrow streets and alleys that penetrate the intimacy of the place.

A tour of the Pointe du Croisic, at the tip of the Guérande peninsula. Discover the picturesque town, closely linked to fishing and the salt trade, and its superb Côte Sauvage.

Check out this beautiful trail completes a circuit around "Lac du Jaunay”. It is a quiet and wonderful place for nature lovers.

This is a pleasant route offering a beautiful walk through the forest, over the dunes and along the beach, with a climb back up to the ski hill, the highest point in the forest at 34 metres above sea level.

Discover an unusual trail, following the banks of "La Rigole Alimentaire”, a small canal feeding into Vioreau Pond. The canal crosses the valley of the Erdre thanks to four aqueducts with eight to ten arches and travels underground over 600 m. It is, moreover, spanned by many picturesque stone bridges... During your walk you can admire the Castle of La Lucinière and the wooded area on the other side of the Valley of Erdre.

A short hike for lovers of unspoilt nature.

This loop mainly takes place in the vineyards between Saint-Fiacre-sur-Maine and Château-Thébaud, south of Nantes. It offers some lovely views, particularly at the Belvédère de Château-Thébaud, which overlooks the Maine. The circuit follows farm tracks through the vineyards (some of which may be private). The landscape changes with the seasons and the different colours of the vineyards.

A 13 km circuit along the edge of Lake Graon allows you to enjoy the local flora and fauna. A very varied circuit with narrow paths and woodland trails... A real treat. The circuit can be extended by small loops of around 2 km (La Renardière and Les Petites Touches).

A short walk in the Forest of Mervent and along the River Mère.

A very pleasant loop between the sea and the countryside, perfect for getting some fresh air. First along small roads and paths, where you can breathe in the fresh air, then along the sea to enjoy the sea air and spray from Pointe Saint-Gildas.

A seaside walk starting from the small Port du Collet, formed by the estuary of a coastal river between the Loire Atlantique and the Vendée It first follows a small winding road through the Marais Breton marshes, where you can observe numerous wild birds, including swans, geese, ducks, egrets and other marsh wildlife. It then runs along the coast, between the dunes and the beach, with magnificent views of the island of Noirmoutier, Bourgneuf Bay and its fishing grounds.

An easy hike in the commune of Préfailles, to Pointe St-Gildas, which juts out in the waves.

A beautiful hike with a few very small roads in the first third of the route, then only paths, particularly along the banks of the Sèvre. It is part of a series of loops that allow you to explore the banks of the Sèvre.

There are many pedestrian paths to discover in Mervent forest.

A beautiful walk around a large part of the Polder de Sébastopol nature reserve. This route also takes you past the Étang Vide and the exit of the Gois passage on the Île de Noirmoutier side.

This hike combines nature and heritage and offers a pleasant walk through the forest and countryside. It is best done before or after a visit to the abbey, which is a major Romanesque site.

This walk takes you along the Sèvre Nantaise, passing through a small port and winding its way through the Muscadet vineyards, while you admire the small, typical, historic villages of the Nantes vineyards.

In a steep-sided valley. A hike along the Lay River at a place called "Le Grand Bateau". The Lay River flows through part of the Poitevin Marshes and empties into the Atlantic Ocean between La Faute-sur-Mer and L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer.

The banks of the Sèvre Nantaise between the Bois de la Barbinière and the Moulin Guy

This route connects the three main areas of the municipality: Mesquer, Quimiac and Kercabellec. It allows you to discover the diversity of the area, first the marshes, then the countryside and the sea, which is particularly present around the Pointe de Mesquer.

The sound of waves crashing on the beaches, the smell of salt air and invigorating sea breezes: this is what you can expect on this hike, which follows the coastline as closely as possible.

A hike full of mystery... in the land of the fairy Melusine.

The Pointe de Pen Bron is only a stone's throw from Le Croisic, but the channel that separates it and feeds a large part of the Guérande salt marshes is a dangerous stretch of sea. The sand spit that juts out between the ocean and the Traict is a remarkably peaceful place, offering a way to be in the middle of the waves while keeping your feet on solid ground.

Discover unspoilt nature south of the Nantes conurbation. A circuit that winds along a stream and the Loire, through marshes and over the heights of the Roche Ballue quarry. You will discover Nantes and its conurbation. You will pass through picturesque little villages in unspoilt countryside.

A tour around the artificial lake of Moulin Papon, on foot or by bike.

Hike along the dunes, forest and marshes. A biotope waiting to be discovered.

The Olonne forest stretches across the dune massif that borders the ocean between Brem-sur-Mer and Les Sables d'Olonne. This massif completely isolates the marshes located between the forest and the first hills where the vineyards of the Vendée fiefdoms flourish. This circuit offers a walk between the ocean and the banks of the Vertonne through the flat, open landscapes of the marshes, the more rugged forest and the immensity of the sea.

A lovely walk through the salt marshes and Mesquer Bay.

La Brière, France's second largest freshwater marsh, is a secret land hidden behind the surrounding hedgerows. The suggested route allows you to explore it from the land bordering it to the west and even catch a glimpse of it from the Sandun hill, which rises to a height of 28 metres. A real mountain in this flat country!But be careful, marshes are best explored when the water level allows it.Circuit temporarily closed

An easy hike along three streams: le Cens, l'Erdre, and le Gesvres. Nature within the town of Nantes.

This small 2 km² lake between Nantes and Châteaubriant will delight you with the beauty of the site and all the activities on offer: hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, fishing, swimming, sailing, etc. The walking tour takes you along some very pleasant paths.

A pleasant walk around the magnificent Château de la Turmelière, where Joachim du Bellay was born.

This is a beautiful 3-hour walk along the banks of the Vouraie reservoir. The path is very easy to follow.

Apart from the start on a small road, this short hike mainly follows both banks of the Sèvre Nantaise in a setting that I never tire of, whatever the season or time of day.

Relaxation and a change of scenery guaranteed! Come and enjoy the peace and quiet, the authentic landscape and the rich flora and fauna. The Marais Poitevin, also known as the "Green Venice" for its tourist attractions, is a vast area of water and greenery where nature lovers will find peace and tranquillity along 400 km of canals.

A beautiful short walk in a pleasant and surprising setting. Great view from the top of the slag heap.- 2019: No real changes to the route, but a fence has been put up to protect the entire inner area after checkpoint 2. Follow this route.

A very beautiful hike that crosses or runs alongside the Èvre river. This meandering river has sculpted the landscape of the Mauges region.It witnessed numerous massacres that took place during the Vendée wars between Cholet and Saint-Florent-le-Vieil.

Set off to explore the Stream-Brest Canal, its "Rigole Alimentaire" and the surrounding countryside.

Walking along the Rigole d'Aziré to the Courdault canal, then returning via the Marais des Nattes, you may spot some nutria, purple herons or lapwings, and perhaps even a deer or two.

A raised walkway showcasing the various attractions of the Saumur region: the Loire, troglodyte dwellings, vineyards alternating with wooded and marshy areas. Please note that the trail is impassable in the event of flooding of the Loire and/or heavy rainfall.

This route winds between the forest and the Olonnes marshes, where many species of birds come to find food and peace.

Set off to explore the Marais des Olonnes.

Starting at the town hall square in Couëron, this circuit quickly leaves the village to reach Lake Beaulieu, offering some beautiful views of the town. After circling the lake and perhaps observing a few birds, it ends along the Loire, which you reach via footpaths. Here you will find Jean-Luc Courcoult's "La maison dans la Loire" (The House in the Loire) and the "Tour à Plomb" (Plumb Tower). Suitable for all seasons, this route is particularly pleasant in the low winter light.

A beautiful circuit between the sea and the marshes at the northern tip of the Île de Noirmoutier, near L'Herbaudière.

This hike starts and ends at the Bon Garand Chapel in the commune of Sautron but mainly takes place in the commune of Vigneux. It alternates between farm tracks in the countryside and wooded passages, and passes through several typical hamlets with some very beautiful buildings.

A lovely walk alternating between streams, vineyards, hillsides and historical discoveries. It's also a great way to learn interesting facts about the vineyard thanks to the information boards dotted along part of the route. The route is marked in yellow by the Communauté de Communes des Coteaux du Layon, which offers this circuit.

The commune of Batz-sur-mer is located between the sea and salt marshes, on what was once, long ago, an island. A jagged ocean coastline contrasts with the peaceful landscapes of the salt marshes. Between the two lies countryside that was once used for food production but is now a mix of fallow land and horse pastures. And always in the background is the imposing tower of Saint-Guénolé.

Hike through the countryside of the commune of Le Bernard to discover six dolmens, including the largest in the Vendée (the Frébouchère dolmen), four menhirs and a Gallo-Roman tower. Information panels are provided at each site. A significant part of the circuit is on tarmac. Can also be done by mountain bike.

A superb hike through the largest forest in the Vendée. The terrain is varied but not particularly difficult, making it a hiker's paradise. Beautiful paths, a dam lake, a climbing site, a leisure park, a hidden cave, remarkable bridges and trees, and a forest that has been explored for many years: this is what I invite you to discover.