The Coudre Valley, starting from Saint-Germain-de-la-Coudre

Start from the car park at the edge of the village on the Bellême side.

(S/E) Cross the footbridge over the River Coudre, keep to the right and follow Rue de l’Arche, which leads onto the D107.

(1) Turn left onto the D107 and, after about 450 m, turn right onto the stony path of Clos Fontaine, which climbs steeply up to a wide stony track.

(2) Follow this lane to the right as it enters the woods and heads due south for 2 km.

(3) Before reaching La Verrerie, leave the track to the right and follow a small dirt track which descends, passes Les Marquetières and joins a small tarmac road at a place called Pont Andreux.

(4) Turn left onto this road, cross the bridge over the Même and join the D7, which you follow to the left for 20 m. Opposite, take the grassy track that passes through La Roncinière and leads to a tarmac road.

(5) Turn left and, after about 100 metres, turn right onto the Chemin de la Perruche. Continue straight ahead. Pass a fence post, cross the pasture and rejoin the path leading to the hamlet known as Le Carrefour.

(6) Before reaching the houses, turn right onto a path through the woods and, before heading down towards Les Bouillons, turn left onto a tarmac road, which you follow to the left until you reach a Fork in the road.

(7) Turn right, pass Les Arpents and, before the water tower, turn right onto a stony track leading to La Renardière.

(8) Turn left onto a dirt track which leads to Gagnier and follow the tarmac road. Pass La Miterie, continue to a road which you follow to the right, and go past La Buchère.

(9) At a bend, take a track on the right which descends towards l’Oseraie; pass this and turn left towards Champ Sauvage and Courmartin.

(10) Cross the D638, head towards Le Bignon and join the D211.

(11) Turn right towards Moulin de Buat, which you pass. Continue along this road as it climbs.

(12) Take the Chemin du Mothuet on the right, which leads to La Grange Rouge.

(13) Before you reach the buildings, turn left and follow the road past the mine and then a factory.

(14) When you reach the D211, turn right and enter Saint-Germain-de-la-Coudre. Walk past the church and return to the starting car park (S/E).

In Saint-Germain-de-la-Coudre, all amenities are available.