Tour of Donzeil via the Étang du Moulin

An easy route, following tracks, paths and short stretches of road, often shaded, allowing you to discover various hamlets in the Donzeil area.

Details

61072358
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 149 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 151 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 599 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 532 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the Étang du Moulin car park.
Path marked in pink, with wooden signposts along the entire route.

(S/E) On leaving the car park, head up the road to the left towards the village of Donzeil, take the first street on the left, cross the village of Les Meaumes, then take the path at the top of the village after the last house.

(1) Cross the D45 with care, turning left and then immediately right onto the path towards Masson. At the end of the path, continue along the road to the left towards Masson.

(2) Just before Masson, take the path on the right, then turn left and cross the village of Masson, following the road on the right. On leaving the village, turn left onto the track towards Pleine-Faye.

(3) At the end of the track, take the road on the left, then immediately turn right onto the path towards Le Secq. At the end of the path, take the D60 on the left towards Le Secq.

(4) Just before the first house, turn right towards La Petite Faye. (You can continue for 50 m to the Secq wash house, then turn back to rejoin the route).

(5) When you reach the Petite Faye farm, cross the D13 with care and take the path directly opposite. At the next junction, head left to reach the village of Le Secq.

(6) Cross the D13, again taking care, to follow the D45 opposite for about a hundred metres, then take the path on the right, towards Puy Rigamont “le Nouallet”. Follow the signposts carefully. The path changes direction frequently in the woods. Reach le Nouallet then the D13.

(7) The least pleasant part of the walk: cross the main road and head back up to the right (for about 200 m), then turn left onto the track towards Le Mas Leger. Reach this hamlet by turning right onto the D17 for 100 m.
At the end of the track, you can enjoy a pleasant break with the village greengrocer.

(8) In the heart of Le Mas Leger, turn left.

(9) When you reach the road, turn left towards Ribot and Étang du Moulin. Cross a path, then the D13, and continue straight on along a track.

(10) Cross the road and take the path opposite towards Lascaux.

(11) Take the path on the left, cross the D17 and arrive at Étang du Moulin, then follow the path on the right to return to the car park (S/E) (or take the left to walk around the lake).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 538 m - Car park at the - Étang du Moulin (Le Donzeil)
  2. 1 : km 0.84 - alt. 582 m - Junction, D45 road
  3. 2 : km 1.34 - alt. 572 m - Masson
  4. 3 : km 2.74 - alt. 570 m - Junction, road
  5. 4 : km 3.49 - alt. 555 m - Le Secq
  6. 5 : km 4.26 - alt. 549 m - Petite Faye. D13
  7. 6 : km 5.19 - alt. 572 m - Le Secq. D13
  8. 7 : km 7.17 - alt. 544 m - Puy Rigamon "le Nouallet". D13
  9. 8 : km 8.54 - alt. 567 m - Mas Leger
  10. 9 : km 9.13 - alt. 577 m - Junction, road
  11. 10 : km 10.03 - alt. 547 m - Ribot
  12. 11 : km 10.4 - alt. 540 m - Junction
  13. S/E : km 11.19 - alt. 536 m - Étang du Moulin car park - Sous Parsat (cours d'eau) - Affluent de La Gosne

Notes

This hiking route is also easy to follow on a mountain bike.

Alternative route: (10) If you have the energy, you can turn right onto the road towards Champagne to visit a small watercress bed, continue to the Champagne cross and return through the woods, passing a wash house, which will take you to point (11).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Elisabeth62
Elisabeth62

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I did this hike on 1 January in beautiful sunshine and bitter cold! Perfect for enjoying the beautiful Creuse countryside. The hike is signposted, which means you don't have to look at your phone too often, but the track is very useful sometimes when you can no longer see the signposts. I found the second part more enjoyable, with more paths and changing landscapes. But the whole hike is really nice, with more tracks and roads at the beginning and hamlets and forest paths at the end. The arrival at the frozen pond at the end was just brilliant! I recommend it!

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cassier antoine
cassier antoine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I would like to thank Mayeul for this magnificent, well-marked hike with excellent step-by-step instructions. The paths are very clean and set the standard. Small, sunken paths typical of the Creuse region, shaded just right, everything is perfect.
If Mayeul has any others like this, I'm interested. Once again, many thanks.

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gpeyrot
gpeyrot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy walk with plenty of information!

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Jean-Pierre Déchoz
Jean-Pierre Déchoz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

An easy and pleasant walk, with very little elevation gain, along proper footpaths and with hardly any roads.
Plenty of signposts for hikers, which is rare in Creuse.

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