Belvédère Trail in Savenay

Car park near the Savenay inter-municipal swimming pool, Mabille Valley.

(S/E) Head to the lake via the path marked “hiking” and take the path on your left just before the crossing over the dyke. Walk along the lake, keeping it on your right. When you reach a fork, take the path on the left which goes uphill. Follow it to reach the birdwatching hide, a beautiful modern observatory. Continue along the path until you reach a fork.

(1) Take the path that descends, making a hairpin bend to the right. At the dam, go down the steps on your left and continue, keeping to the left onto a wide path. Carry on straight ahead until you reach a fork. On your left, signposted “Sentier du Belvédère”, take a fairly steep path leading uphill.

(2) At the top, turn left onto a wide path. Follow it until you reach a road, which you take to the right. After a right-angle bend, continue straight on to cross the hamlet of La Goupilière.

(3) The road turns into a wide track which you follow until you reach a sharp left-hand bend. At the bend, a signpost indicates a path to the right marked “viewpoint 150 m”.

(4) Take a round trip to reach this viewpoint, which is well worth the effort. The view over the Loire Valley, Cordemais and Saint-Nazaire is breathtaking. Binoculars are essential!

(4) On your return, head right and after a long straight stretch, during which you will see the Ancien Moulin du Quarteron on your left, turn right at the first path you come to. Cross the Route de La Gouairie to take a smaller path.

(5) When you reach a path, turn right and a little further on, turn right again onto the path that opens up. Continue straight ahead, ignoring an entrance on your left. The path takes a sharp left-hand bend, followed by a wide right-hand bend. You will eventually come to a wide path running perpendicular to yours.

(6) Head left, take a sharp left-hand bend and take the first path on the right. Turn left at the first crossroads, then right at the second crossroads. You will reach the Mainguais.

(7) Turn left at the first road you come to. Follow it straight ahead, ignoring a road coming in from the right and then another from the left, then take the first path on the left.

(8) The track makes a wide left-hand bend, passing under a power line, then takes a right-angle right-hand bend. You will then reach a road; follow the track on the left that runs alongside it. At the first junction (before a large, clearly visible roundabout), take the first track on the left. Follow it straight on until you reach a road.

(9) Cross the road towards Le Four. Turn right at the first junction, then left onto the first path you come to. Take the left fork at the first junction, then left again when you meet a path coming from the right. Continue straight ahead, ignoring two turnings on the right. After a hairpin bend to the left, follow a stream and then move away from it to reach the Route de le Plessis. Follow this road (with care, as it is busy) ignoring a road on the right to take a path on the right after passing the Graindorgeais.

(10) Follow this path, which zigzags slightly, before descending steeply towards the lake. You will arrive at the entrance to a footbridge, which you should ignore..

(11) Take the path immediately on the left which runs alongside the lake and join the dam that encloses the largest lake. All that remains is to make your way to the car park of the inter-municipal swimming pool (S/E).

• The route is marked by yellow posts and a few “Sentier du Belvédère” signs. At the start, the signposts merge with the markings for the Sentier du Marais du Fresnier and can be misleading if you’re not paying close attention. Follow this route carefully.

• Option 1: at the start, follow the signs for the Sentier du Marais du Fresnier, which will take you along the other side of the lake. The path is easier and closer to the lake, but you will not pass the birdwatching hide. You will join the Sentier du Belvédère by taking the steep path mentioned at (2)

• Alternative 2: if you wish, cross the lake via the footbridge at (11). Turning left at the end of the footbridge, you will return to the starting point by following the other side of the lake. Once you reach the embankment, simply take the path along its crest to find the swimming pool car park on your left.

• Around the swimming pool car park and all the way round the main lake, there are plenty of benches and picnic spots for you to enjoy.

• The birdwatching hide (1) is a rather unusual structure. It offers a fine view of the marshes, where the bird that built this hide makes its home.

• The lake’s dam, just past the (1), offers a stunning landscape. A little further on, on the left, you’ll see a group of modern-looking statues.

• A short 150-metre detour at (4) will give you a magnificent view of the Loire Valley, Cordemais and Saint-Nazaire.