Machecoul Forest from Saint-Même-le-Tenu

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This hike allows you to discover the Machecoul forest with its characteristic flora and rich forest birdlife, not to mention numerous rare or endangered insects.

Details

n°169844
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.50 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 69 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 69 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 89 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 ft
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Photos

Start of the forest
Forest route

Description of the walk

Park in the car park behind the town hall.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, join the path by turning left towards the north-east. Cross the Tenu via the footbridge and turn right onto Rue des Frênes.

(1) Cross the D87 and continue straight ahead, passing through a residential area to reach Rue de la Forêt.

(2) Turn right onto Rue de la Forêt and follow it.

(3) At a left-hand bend near the entrance to the hamlet of Les Eronces, carry straight on along the path heading towards the Machecoul Forest. Ignore the first path on the left.

(4) At the three-way junction, keep slightly to the left and carry on, ignoring the paths on both the right and the left.

(5) Please note: at this Fork in the road, the path splits into two. Keep to the left and carry on to the next Fork in the road, ignoring all the paths on either side.

(6) Turn right to join the D73.

(7) Turn right and walk along the verge of this quiet road for about 300 metres.

(8) Turn right onto the forest road, pass the hamlet of Le Bonnet Rouge and carry on to the next junction.

(9) Turn right and carry on to the hamlet known as La Héronnière.

(10) Turn onto the small path on the right and head towards the junction where you rejoin the outbound route.

(4) Follow the route back in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 20 ft - Car park behind the town hall. Cross the - Tenu (rivière) - Affluent de l'Acheneau
  2. 1 : mi 0.32 - alt. 26 ft - Crossing the D87
  3. 2 : mi 0.43 - alt. 39 ft - Turn right onto Rue de la Forêt
  4. 3 : mi 0.88 - alt. 52 ft - Turn left, then carry on straight ahead
  5. 4 : mi 1.15 - alt. 59 ft - At the three-way junction, continue slightly to the left
  6. 5 : mi 1.59 - alt. 49 ft - Turn left at the fork in the road
  7. 6 : mi 2.79 - alt. 89 ft - Keep right
  8. 7 : mi 3.11 - alt. 85 ft - Turn right and follow the D73 road
  9. 8 : mi 3.23 - alt. 75 ft - Turn right
  10. 9 : mi 4.62 - alt. 56 ft - Turn right at the junction
  11. 10 : mi 5.03 - alt. 56 ft - La Héronnière, on the right along the path
  12. S/E : mi 6.5 - alt. 20 ft - Car park behind the town hall

Notes

Drinking water available in the sports hall if it is open

(4) From this junction, the route can be completed in either direction.

Worth a visit

Machecoul Forest.

A patchy forest dominated by acidophilous oak woodland, with some reforested areas alternating with hedgerow landscapes. Characteristic forest flora including a few interesting species that are uncommon in our region.
The main attraction of this forest lies in its rich forest birdlife, including several species of birds of prey that are rare breeders in the Pays de la Loire region.
It is home to rare or endangered insects (beetles, dragonflies, moths and butterflies).

Canoe and kayak hire is available at the leisure centre just after crossing the jetty.
For further information:

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 21 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.5 / 5
User 583219

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, peaceful walk in the Machecoul Forest. A bit of road walking, but not too much.

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sourire
sourire

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The forest section is very good, but unfortunately the second section involves too much road! It runs along the edge of the forest but on the side of the road.

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Mamynou
Mamynou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

too much tarmac on this route, even half of the course

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Bernard SBG
Bernard SBG

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

What can I say about the suggested routes? I hardly ever use them!

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lapjac44
lapjac44

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

on a beautiful day, the section in the forest was very pleasant, except for the hunters, the point already mentioned, is the long tarmac road (even though there is a forest alongside the road on this same section)... a shame

otherwise, it was a lovely walk, but not particularly interesting

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plump
plump

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

While the section between points 1 and 7 is pleasant and interesting, the return journey between 8 and 10 is along an endless stretch of tarmac that is not too busy with traffic but completely devoid of interest. What's more, it is in full sun, so it is best avoided in summer. It is better to do a return trip between 1 and 7 instead.

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bobetmichemiche
bobetmichemiche

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, mostly covered for almost the entire route. The second part is more disappointing as it follows many roads.

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guy pertue
guy pertue

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

Two-thirds of this hike is on paved terrain. From markers 7 to 10 on the return trip, you are on roads. Only the walk in the forest is of interest. It would be better to do a round trip in this forest.

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Yannick biron
Yannick biron

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Path that does not allow two people to walk side by side
Beautiful foliage
I think this hike is best done in dry, sunny weather

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PORNICI
PORNICI

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

the start in the forest is pleasant, but the return along the road is uninteresting

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danarmel
danarmel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

It's a shame that the route ends on the road! If we do it again, we'll return through the forest.

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12111952
12111952

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

is it possible to have a map with a larger area (more landmarks with neighbouring villages) that could be reduced?

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randonnée pascal
randonnée pascal

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

quite a lot of tarmac, quite nice forest section

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marchansac
marchansac

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

incomplete signage in some places.
a bit too much tarmac
pleasant forest trail

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grosminet44
grosminet44

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very good and beautiful spring hike.

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