A circular loop through the Richelais vineyards

Start on Rue des Sables in the hamlet of Les Bruères. Park at the side of the road, near a large solitary lime tree, at the exit of the hamlet when coming from the D757, or at the entrance when coming from the D58 or the village of La Tour-Saint-Gelin.

Unmarked route
There are a few faded blue signposts or arrows. Do not rely on these very sparse markings for guidance.

(S/E) Turn your back on the houses and head south-east along the small road. At the first junction, turn left towards La Chambaudière. Then take the first left, Rue des Rosiers, and cross the hamlet. At the Fork in the road (gate topped with a weather vane), turn right onto Rue du Chêne. Walk alongside a vineyard on your left.

(1) At the corner of the vineyard, just past the last houses, turn left onto a grassy path that runs alongside the vineyard and then enters a wood. At the end of the path, as you leave the wood, turn right twice and enter the wood again. Continue along the edge of the wood on your right until you reach a crossroads.

(2) Then turn left between the fields (north-west) and continue along the edge of the woods. Next, pass between a vineyard on your left and a wood on your right. Finish up between the fields.

(3) At the T-junction, turn right and walk alongside a vineyard on your right. In a copse, ignore a path branching off to the left and continue north-east. At the houses, the path gives way to a tarmac road.

(4) At the fork in the road, turn left and follow a small road (note a beautiful walnut tree on the right in the middle of a field). Cross a main road (D757), continue straight on towards La Grande Bruère and pass the hamlet of La Simardière.

(5) Shortly after a large house with exposed stonework on the left, at the corner of the garden fence, leave the road and follow a grassy path to the left. At a Fork in the road, turn left, leaving a small wooded area on your right. At the junction that appears immediately, turn left.

(6) At the next fork in the road, turn left (Yellow Cross). Walk south-south-west, alternating between sections deep in the woods and those along the edge. At a T-junction (elevation 105), turn left, leave the woods and continue straight on (south-east) until you reach the D757.

(7) Cross the road and enter the woods again. Ignore a path branching off to the left (not shown on the IGN map). At the next junction (elevation 105), continue straight on. Ignore a path on the left.

(8) At a junction with a grassy track running perpendicular to the left (track not shown on the map; chain blocking access), take the path furthest to the right (south-southeast). Ignore vague paths branching off to the right. At the junction at the edge of the woods, continue straight on, passing a house on your right. You will come out onto a small road; follow it to the left. At the Stop sign, continue straight on through the hamlet to the solitary lime tree (S/E).

The walk follows well-maintained paths or quiet country lanes: unless the weather is very wet, good trainers or low-cut walking shoes are sufficient for this walk.

No water sources or shops were spotted along the route.

A detailed map is useful (at the very least the one accompanying this description).

Hike completed by the author on 23 August 2017.

- Vineyard landscapes, pleasant woodland.
- In season, blackberry lovers will find a few inviting bushes.
- A few beautiful tuffeau stone houses.