Sources du Lac du Der, the river and the old canal

Thanks to Courjus52 for the clarification => comments updated.
Have a good day, Dominique

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Between 7 and 8, at the iron canal bridge, take the footbridge and turn right to leave the concrete path.
You will rejoin the main path at the “Entre les deux rivières” point, where you can reach La Fabrique by road.

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Date of your route : May 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant stroll that’s a treat for the eyes and ears (with birdsong).
If you’re quiet enough, you can take some lovely photos of animals.
On two occasions, I startled (both) birds.
In Eclaron, admire the grandeur of the war memorial and the old houses (in the local style or built of red brick, etc.).
A fairly shaded walk, accessible to all.
It took me 5 hours, including a 40-minute lunch break and numerous stops for photos.

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35 metres, I'm up for that! That's much more realistic!

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Thank you for this review
I’ve recalculated the elevation gain, which has been reduced to 35 m

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Date of your route : May 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

When you see where it starts, you fear the worst: a tourist trap along a motorway and near an air base... However, the walk turns out to be pleasant and varied. The sections (1)–(2), (4)–(6), (7)–(8) and (10)–(12) along waterways and ponds are downright idyllic. The croaking of toads, flocks of ducks, moorhens, herons and even storks on this last section. What a shame that the noise of lorries and fighter jets spoils the enjoyment a little.

On the other hand, I can’t see where the advertised 280-metre elevation gain is. It must be a mistake, as it’s completely flat.

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Hello,

Please do have a look at the Visorando user guide, as it’s a brilliant app to use in the field,

Visorando app user guide

https://www.visorando.com/article-mode-d-...

https://www.visorando.com/article-l-appli...

See you soon

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Hello Ablette,
Thank you for your comments; I’ve corrected a few points, but you need to use Visorando out in the field – that’s what the app is designed for. You would have had the map, and the GPS would have shown you where you were and which way to go.
Also, on Visorando, the trails aren’t necessarily marked.
Please do have a look at the Visorando user guide, as it’s a brilliant app for use in the field. I run training sessions at my club and users (who have tried other apps) can’t do without it now.
Best regards.
Dominique (courjus52).

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Date of your route : Oct 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello courjus52, I encountered several difficulties during this walk (I imagine you have a clear picture of the route in your mind when you describe it); as I’m probably from the area but don’t know it at all, I got lost 😉 several times.
2) Les Morambers? There were no signs for the place or the road on the ground...
3) Cross over again; to be more precise, go under the D384
7) Continue left along the path (not straight on... a small, overhanging track that also follows a stream). Cross the tarmac road and follow the canal on the left
9) Cross the supply canal and turn right...
Route Forestière de la Chausse, go straight on for 1500m... (without a GPS or pedometer... not very easy...) perhaps provide a visual reference, for example the numbers marked on the trees?
10) Turn right, then left after 120m and immediately right...
That’s where I got lost... first of all, I didn’t have that section on my paper map, which was a bit silly (I should have checked before setting off), the forest road turns into a path if I’ve read the app correctly; I eventually found the Chausse forest road again, which I followed to the Wassy forest road to get to the Beaulieu forest house and return to the starting point via the cycle path ☹️.
These are perhaps insignificant details to you, and ones you may not have noticed as you know this route well, but without any knowledge of the terrain, it makes a huge difference.
By the way, do you know why there are no signposts, even though this is a tourist area?
Best regards, and thank you all the same for this discovery.

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Hello carton2000,
Either you didn’t take the right route, or you’re not using Visorando; the route is very clear, it’s just 1.5 km along the Blaise supply canal, and the route does indeed form a circular route. I did it again last week without any problems, apart from the mosquitoes in the woods.
If you’re in the area, we could do it together...
Best regards.

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Date of your route : Jul 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

It’s a bit monotonous along the canal, but it’s an area I didn’t know well, even though I’ve been cycling around the lake for ages.
There’s no circular route to walk; you have to retrace your steps or else face a 15 km trek. A circular route is possible by turning right at the spillway, but it’s not signposted – a shame... I’ll have to try it next time.

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Date of your route : Jul 27, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello everyone, I’ve done this walk again in the opposite direction (to scout the route for a future walk). Just past point 9, don’t take the path down to the left straight away; instead, continue along the canal for 100 metres and take the small path that goes up to the left (because at the top of the circular route the brambles have grown thick, and if you’re wearing shorts you won’t be able to get through). I’m planning a new route.

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