Walk from the Ermitage to the Lac du Gast observation points

The starting point is in the Ermitage car park. There is plenty of space to park. You also have the choice of walking the route in the direction indicated or in the opposite direction.

(S/E) Join the road and leave the Ermitage buildings on your right.

(1) You’ll need to leave the road just after the Ermitage’s service entrance and take a small dirt track on the right. After crossing a small stream, you’ll come to a fork in the path: take the path on the right. You’ll need to cross the road to reach the path directly opposite. At the next junction, take the path on the right again. You’ll need to follow the road for about 200 metres to reach the next path on the right.

(2) The path is at the far end of the car park, which is rather poorly signposted, but you can spot it by the large tree trunks lying on the ground. It curves first to the right, then to the left, heading south. You should keep going in this direction.

(3) You can head down to the first observation point to see the birds on the lake. To get back onto the path, simply walk back the way you came or take a small path hidden by the vegetation. Continue to the left.

(4) At this junction, head down to the left to see the lake a little further down. Turn back and take the second path on the left, following it all the way to the car park (S/E).

It is important to wear sturdy footwear, especially in wet weather when the path can get a bit muddy. Furthermore, there is a good birdwatching facility at the first observation point.

You can drive back via the Route du Gast rather than the Route de Saint-Sever to reach La Forge, where an observation point has been set up to offer a different view from that of the walk. Furthermore, during the walk you may come across horses, dogs, as well as roe deer and a very wide variety of birds (see photo).