Tour of Lake Vouraie

de fr

This is a beautiful 3-hour walk along the banks of the Vouraie reservoir. The path is very easy to follow.

Details

n°54941
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.12 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 108 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 106 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 73 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 47 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Bournezeau (85480)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.658397° / W 1.133747°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1326E
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Photos

Bridge
Dam at the start
lac de la Vouraie
Lake

Description of the walk

(S/E) Start from the car park located south of the Vouraie Dam.
Cross the dam and at the end of the reservoir, take the local path marked No. 3/3 on the left bank.

(1) After 2 km, cross the dead-end path leading to the water's edge. 500 metres further on, there are two tracks: one continues straight ahead on the local path, the other turns left and climbs up, passing through some undergrowth and bordered by wooden barriers, before reaching the water's edge.
At the hamlet of La Cambaudière, head south.

(2) Cross the Vouraie on the footbridge and turn left to follow the right bank of the Vouraie.
There are no other difficulties in following the well-marked trail back to the Vouraie Dam (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 56 m - Vouraie Dam car park
  2. 1 : km 1.89 - alt. 59 m - Cut across the path
  3. 2 : km 7.27 - alt. 52 m - Footbridge
  4. S/E : km 14.12 - alt. 55 m - Vourai Dam car park

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 24 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
philjomar
philjomar

Hike completed on 12 June 2025
Superb hike, I'd like to share some information.
Given the steepness of the trail in many places and the elevation gain (total ascent 147 m / total descent 152 m), it is recommended that you be in good physical condition and wear good walking shoes.
At the footbridge (waypoint 2), there is an additional 2 km detour that also takes you back to the starting point.
We didn't meet anyone else.
Given the topography of the area, this hike is more of an intermediate level than easy as indicated.
Best regards, hikers
Philippe

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Uxel85
Uxel85

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route around the lake with a few hills to spice up the hike. 250 m elevation gain, parish specific to Brittany, and yet the storm Kirk had passed 48 hours earlier.

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Delphine 49
Delphine 49

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A simple and pleasant hike with some elevation. No particular difficulties. Wear good walking shoes, even low-cut ones.

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LucieCze
LucieCze

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike around the lake. Very easy to follow signs.

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LucieCze
LucieCze

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant Sunday morning walk. I encountered a few joggers. The weather was very pleasant. There were a few small hills, but nothing too challenging. It took 2.5 hours to complete the loop.

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BZH_fredo
BZH_fredo

A lovely walk to get back into shape. Well signposted. Be careful, as the path can be a little wet at times.

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Marco8583
Marco8583

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Quite a bit of elevation gain, encountered runners and mountain bikers. Well-maintained trails. 3 hours and 45 minutes to circle the lake. Beautiful hike.

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myrtille85
myrtille85

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A hilly circuit but not difficult. The vegetation is sometimes tall on either side of the narrow path
Not many direct access points to the lake

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riphi
riphi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. Some tricky sections. Allow more than 4 hours.
Be very careful in wet weather, as some sections are very slippery.
I met two runners who were training.

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Matre85
Matre85

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike around the dam lake. Moderate difficulty with some elevation changes. Walking shoes recommended. Varied landscapes. Very well marked trail. We highly recommend this outing.

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Tulipe85
Tulipe85

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, done when the lake is at its lowest.
I think it's best to do this hike at the beginning of the season, when the lake is full.

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GAUTRON
GAUTRON

Hello
Thank you for your attention.
I had planned this hike for 3 August 2021, but I am unable to attend on that date.
I plan to do it on Tuesday, 23 June 2022.
I apologise for this inconvenience, but I will let you know what I think once I have completed it.
Have a nice day
Kind regards
Yves Gautron

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perauchon
perauchon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Could do with some clearing in places (brambles and ferns) 10/07/2021

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Falenga
Falenga

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The trail is very fun, exciting and magical. My 7-year-old daughter loved it, and so did I.
We will do it again with friends so they can discover it too. The history and instruments that illustrate the route are brilliant, incredibly beautiful and functional, and the route is well maintained and respected by walkers.
It's quite challenging in places. We went with my mum, who has two knee replacements, and her walking stick came in very handy (in a few steep places)... but that's also part of the charm of this place.

We loved it

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SpDry85
SpDry85

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike between the lake shore, forests and fields. Moderate difficulty, with quite a few ascents and descents. Watch out for snakes.

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