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(S/E) Park at the Preuilly bridge or in the large car park located about 50 metres away, towards La Boissière de Montaigu.
(1) Start from Pont de Preuilly, taking the right bank towards the dam until you reach the second path on the right.
(2) Follow this path to start the Maurosière circular; after passing the Preuilly car park, the path leads to a track running alongside fields.
(3) Take this path on the left and continue along the sunken path to the Maurosière lake.
(4) A few metres from this magnificent lake, continue to the right to go around it, then, at the intersection, take the path to the right towards the dam.
(5) At the dam, take the path on the right to complete the optional La Fortécuyère-Fouchadière circular (approximately 4 km). After reaching a local road, turn left to arrive at the La Fortécuyère crossroads.
(6) On the right, a 200 m round trip allows you to admire the Fortécuyère residence. Then take the path on the right, and after walking along the Grande Maine and the Moulin de Fanson, you will arrive at the D62 in the hamlet of Pont Léger. Take this road on the left and cross the bridge over the Grande Maine.
(7) Immediately afterwards, turn left to enter the private property of Carmel de La Fouchardière. A "private property" sign is attached to the chain blocking the entrance. However, the sisters tolerate the passage of hikers provided they respect the peace and quiet of the place. But entry is prohibited to all vehicles and bicycles. To access the cave and the Way of the Cross, you must respect the safety markings imposed by storms.
Go up the path inside the property and continue along the road that runs alongside the Carmelite convent's boundary wall. About 50 metres after this wall, take the wide path on the left. A "private property" sign has been placed at the entrance to this path by the farmer who works the fields leased by the Carmelite convent. It is therefore essential to follow this path for only 20 metres and then take the path on the right (not shown on the IGN map but shown on the OSM map). This unmarked and poorly maintained path is wide at the start and then narrows, but remains well defined. Keeping to the right, it winds its way across the hillside to reach the banks of the Grande Maine. At the end of the descent, you will be very close to the edge of the fields on the right.
(8) When you reach the Maine, turn right to walk up the river. Follow the riverbank to the Barrage de la Bultière dam without trying to climb up through the meadows. After crossing a stream that is always dry in summer via a gap in the hedge, you will see the Moulin de Corbeau mill on the other bank before reaching the bridge just downstream from the dam.
(9) Take the Barrage de la Bultière path on the right and, after passing the factory entrance, follow the dam reservoir as closely as possible to reach the Pont de Preuilly, the starting point of this hike. You will have covered approximately 11.8 km.
(10) To begin the circular Moulin de la Templerie (approximately 5 km), do not cross the bridge but continue along the path opposite, which leads to the D6 road along the river.
(11) Cross the D6 and turn right onto the Tébline path (blue signposts). When you reach the gravel path, take this path to the left for about 50 metres, then take the path on the right that descends towards the Moulin de la Templerie.
(12) Cross the road to reach La Templerie, take the road on the left and leave it before the car park to cross the small pine forest and arrive at the D6.
If the Templerie road is flooded and cannot be crossed, continue along the path to rejoin the D6 at the original crossing point.
After crossing the D6, take the path opposite which runs along the right bank of the Grande Maine. Follow the river as closely as possible, taking the hillside path (marked in red and yellow), which is more challenging and picturesque.
(13) After climbing up and crossing the footbridge over the stream that feeds into the Grande Maine, head to the Pont de Preuilly bridge at the starting point (S/E).
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