Short route of the Quatre Charrauds

A lovely little walk by the sea and through the Vendée tidal creeks. Beautiful scenery for a family outing.

Details

434784
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 6 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 12 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Depart from the Pont d'Yeu beach car park in Notre-Dame-de-Monts.
(S/E) From the car park, facing the sea, turn left onto Chemin des Dunes along the woods. Walk downhill for a while, cross the beach to rejoin the path. Pass in front of the racecourse and continue straight ahead on the path.

(1) At the pumping station, take the path on the left and join Chemin du Petit Sochard.

(2) Take Chemin du Petit Sochard on the right.

(3) At the end, turn left onto Chemin de la Rive and then immediately right onto the road that takes you to the RD38, Rue de Notre-Dame. Cross this road and take Chemin de la Maison Rouge opposite, following it until you reach Chemin des Quatre Charrauds.

(4) Turn left onto Route de la Ménardière. Continue along this road, cross the hamlet of Le Pâtis and cross the RD38 again to take Rue des Piverts opposite.

(5) Turn right onto Rue du Pont d'Yeu and follow it to the car park, the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Pont d'Yeu Beach car park
  2. 1 : km 1.48 - alt. 6 m - Dirt track on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.84 - alt. 5 m - Chemin du Petit Sochard
  4. 3 : km 2.14 - alt. 4 m - Keep left
  5. 4 : km 3.17 - alt. 2 m - Keep left
  6. 5 : km 4.27 - alt. 4 m - Turn right
  7. S/E : km 5.11 - alt. 7 m - Pont d'Yeu Beach car park

Notes

There is no need to wear hiking boots; a good pair of trainers will suffice.
Bring water with you, as the sun is very strong in summer and you will be exposed to it throughout the beach and estuary sections of the walk.
There are no shelters except for bus shelters, which can be useful during a storm.
Cover your head.

Worth a visit

The Atlantic Ocean.
The Pont d'Yeu bridge and Île d'Yeu in the distance.
Saint-Jean-de-Monts.
The island of Noirmoutier.
The Île d'Yeu.

Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5
Route interest
3.5 / 5
monal
monal

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The markings (small pointed sticks on the trees) are good except at certain crossroads where they are non-existent. It is a good idea to have the route map to hand so you don't get lost. Otherwise, it is a pleasant and varied short walk, taking you from the coast to the marshlands.

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alainmartin77
alainmartin77

Good evening and thank you very much for participating.
@lain

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valerie Ley
valerie Ley

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A short, very pleasant walk that is accessible to all. Both near the coast and inland.

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rabinovitch
rabinovitch

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Short hike on a trail that lacks markings.

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Ragondin44
Ragondin44

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

An easy and interesting route thanks to the variety of landscapes it passes through: dunes and beaches, holiday homes, marshes and pine forests. Navigation is provided by the route downloaded to your smartphone.

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fredmotard
fredmotard

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Too much tarmac and some places poorly signposted.

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deforge
deforge

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A varied and interesting route, we extended our walk on the way back by heading to the beach with the beach huts.

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Ja2
Ja2

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Very disappointed with this hike. The signage is very poor. Sometimes there are five signs on the same path, but when we reach crossroads or changes in direction, there are no signs at all. We had to use Google Maps several times to find our way. (The signage is really inconsistent!!!)
What's more, the path at the start, near the sea, was pleasant but very short before we found ourselves on tarmac roads with cars on some of them.

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scalp92
scalp92

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The trail is marked with signposts and is called "Between Dunes and Marshes" (reed motif).

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gilbert ferré
gilbert ferré

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Family walk with little interest
No signposts!!!! Find your way using either the route on the map or simple little plaques with a reed motif.

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Kerber
Kerber

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk, starting along the coast, which is pleasant, no difficulty, regularly marked.

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frmarchienne2
frmarchienne2

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We stayed on the path after the racecourse, so we didn't go down to the beach.
As a result, we didn't see the sewage treatment plant.
We realised this when we reached the La Tonnelle neighbourhood, but thanks to our mobile phone and maps, we were able to rejoin the route a little further on.
Otherwise, we would have turned back.
A pleasant route with a variety of landscapes.

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patrekisa
patrekisa

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Easy family hike. Please note that part of the trail is paved, which is less pleasant.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, Charentais
That's what Visorando is all about. With us, say goodbye to signposting.

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bulle 69
bulle 69

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The inland part of the hike is moderately interesting (no views).

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