The Dolmen Chevresse in the Forêt de Breuil-Chenue

Start from Pont des Epines, on one side of the D6 between Pont du Montal and the village of Saint-Brisson. There is a "Forêt domaniale de Breuil-Chenue" sign at the entrance to the bridge and a "Station de lecture du paysage" sign on the opposite side of the road. Park in the small car park just before the bridge, on the right-hand side of the road when coming from Pont du Montal.

Yellow red and white markings

(S/E) Take the bridge to cross the Vignan. Immediately turn left and follow a wide track towards the Dolmen Chevresse.

Yellow markings

After about 100m, let the GR^®13 go right uphill and continue on the track along the river.

(1) In the hollow of a bend to the right, shortly after an old "Parking" sign, leave the track for a path that enters the forest on the right. The path bends to the right and crosses a track. Continue uphill on the path through a mossy fir forest. As you approach a small forest road on the left, the dolmen comes into view on the right.

(2) Reach the forest road and follow it for about 100m to the right. At a crossroads (forest plot no. 52), turn left at an acute angle, due east (ignore a yellow arrow seen earlier, inviting you to turn right). Go right along a recently cleared plot, then enter the forest again. Keep to the main path and ignore all the side paths. Cross a stream, walk alongside an old low wall and turn left along the path to reach a crossroads.

(3) Then turn left (VTT marker). Reach more open ground and ignore a trailhead on the left. Follow a fenced-in plot of future Christmas trees on your left. Ignore a path coming from the right and follow a hedge on your right. Ignore a track on the left and go downhill (view of Saint-Brisson village on the right).

Red and yellow markings

(4) At the fork, turn left. Follow meadows bordered by hedges. Two or three wet or even flooded stretches are easily bypassed by parallel paths on the left. Ignore the start of a path on the left, go downhill, cross the Vignan and come out onto a small road (Route de Dun, D6). Follow the road to the right for a few dozen metres, then turn left onto a grassy path reserved for pedestrians.

(5) At the crossroads, take the 2nd turning on the right, a grassy path quickly framed by two hedges. In a hairpin bend to the left, ignore a path departure to the right. Further on, ignore a footpath on the left (not shown on the map) and immediately come to a small road. Follow the road to the left for approximately 150m.

yellow markings + mountain bike arrows n°4

(6) Turn left onto Chemin d'Écheintre Meulet. After no. 66, ignore a track on the left and climb up. Go straight on (north-west), ignoring access to meadows on either side. At a fork, take the right-hand path and follow on your left a fenced-in plot of future Christmas trees. Enter the forest, immediately ignore a path on the right and go downhill.

At a fork in the road, turn right. The track gives way to a path interspersed with heavy boards that leads through a wetland area. Cross a stream and head uphill under fir trees. Stay on the main path, which winds through the fir trees, ignoring all the side paths.

Yellow markings

(8) At the crossroads at La Picherotte (signpost), turn left onto a stony track and follow it for about 250m.

No markings
The mauve line intended to represent the PR^® on the 1/25000 map is not up to date. In fact, there are remnants of old yellow markings on this section.

(9) At a fork in the road, continue on the track (leave the signposted route to the right). Stay on the wide, stony track, descending gently and steadily, ignoring any side roads or tracks. Shortly after signposting plots 28 and 29, pass through a metal barrier and reach a small road (picnic area on the right).

Yellow, red, and white markings

(10) Follow the road downhill to the left, following along a fallow deer enclosure on the right. Pass a wooden hut on the left. Shortly afterwards, at the start of a left-hand bend, leave the road for a no-vehicle path on the right. Go downhill, turn right quickly and keep parallel to a telephone line for several dozen metres.

(11) Then turn left and descend steeply. Cross a track and continue downhill (beware of the many stones and roots). At the bottom, cross the D6 (with caution), follow it to the left and immediately find the car park (S/E).

Hiking boots useful. Wet or flooded passages between (4) and (5) (easily bypassed).

No water points on the route. Bar-restaurant at Pont du Montal, in the village of Dun-les-Places and in the village of Saint-Brisson.

Useful 1:25,000 scale map (at least the one accompanying this description).

Hiked three times by the author, with various variants, the first in September 1980, the last on June 09, 2019.

- Pleasant walk in the Forêt de Breuil-Chenue and along the Vignan.
- Dolmen Chevresse (2). Contrary to appearances, this is not a megalith but a natural stack of rock slabs.
- Fallow deer enclosure just beyond (10).