Vallons et Borderies in Saint-Bris-des-Bois

Departure from Saint-Bris-des-Bois at the edge of the pond on the D34.

(S/E) Go around the pond on the left, following the^GR® markings (white and red).

(1) Follow the^{GR® signs}, heading south-west. Climb up into the woods and descend to the bottom of the valley to reach a wooden barrier, which you go around on the right. Cross a small road to go through the barrier opposite. The path climbs up into the woods above the new mill and then descends to:

(2) Do not continue along the^GR® opposite, which is dangerous for horse riders, but take a small road that climbs to the left for a few dozen metres. Opposite the entrance gate to a quarry, take a grassy path on your left that climbs along a wood. At the top of the wood, at the junction with a road, turn right onto a small road that goes around the quarries at the top.

(3) At the crossroads, turn right and follow the road down the other side of the quarries. Pass in front of the entrance to the Palaeosite, cross the Coran after a pedestrian crossing and rejoin the^GR® trail^.

(4) Follow the^GR® south-west. The tarmac road passes below the village of Saint-Césaire (church). Cross the stream again, head south, pass in front of a cave at the paleosite (Pierrette's dwelling) and then walk alongside an old mushroom farm.

(5) Just before you reach La Sablière, take the small road on the right at the fork. After about 350 metres, turn left onto a path that passes near a fountain and climbs up to the church of Saint-Sauvant.

(6): Leave the church on your left and take the street on your right that descends steeply. Turn into the first street on your left at the corner of the Hôtel des Francs Garçons. Take the small path that descends to the wash house and climbs back up to Rue des Écoles. Pass in front of the schools, just after a speed bump and before the "end of 30 km/h zone" sign on your right.

(7) Take the small path on the right that climbs quite steeply through the woods and leads you to the plateau. Follow the road to the left. At the next crossroads, turn right and walk along a football pitch on your left. At the fork before Les Cordeliers, turn right and head for the entrance to Grand Pontreau.

(8) Take the farm track between the vineyards and the tarmac road that descends towards the village of Pontreau. When you see a path on your right with a sign saying "Passage privé" (private road), continue for a few dozen metres.

(9) Then turn left at a right angle onto a wide farm track between the vineyards. Go down to the bottom of Combe Noire and turn left onto a sunken track which you follow (east) to a narrow field where horses are often kept.

(10) Go back up (south) along a path through the woods, then walk along a vineyard at the edge of the forest. When you see the Fontsèche property, turn left onto the path that follows the edge of the woods and goes back downhill.

(11) Turn right between two bushes (the entrance is a little discreet), onto a path that first runs along the edge of the woods, then crosses the valley and climbs back up towards the Droguet property. Once at the top, leave the property on your right and continue straight ahead along a dirt track until you reach a small road. Then turn left and stay on the road at the edge of the Bois des Renardières for about 600 metres, passing two paths on your right.

(12) Take a good dirt track on the right (marked with green plastic squares with a deer's head), through the woods to the Boulas buildings.

(13) Turn left, leaving the Boulas farm on your right. When you reach the road, stay on the verge and turn right. At the top of a grassy path on your left, cross the road and take this path to the old Roman road, which is now paved, after the hamlet of Les Guérins.

(14) Continue on your left, cross a wood until you reach the crossroads (elevation 77). Turn right onto a small road which, after a crossroads, continues as a grassy lane.

(15) At the T-junction, turn left and continue to Chez Péros (walking tours and donkey hire).

(16) Turn right, leaving the buildings on your left, then continue along a road that turns into a path as it enters the woods.

(17) At the T-junction, turn left and continue downhill. Pass the Font Coudre fountain and go back up to a turning on the right (see the section on options in case of storms or recent heavy rain).

(18) Continue straight ahead along the path that climbs up a small tarmac road above the hamlet of Chez Redresse. Leave the hamlet on your right below you. When you reach a cultivated clearing, turn right onto a good path.

(19) Once on this path, just after a narrow field on your right, follow the path down through the woods to the Millet stream. Be careful, as the branches are low just before you reach the stream.

(1) Go around the pond on the right to return to the starting point (S/E).

The first part is easy until Saint-Sauvant. Then calculate your distances to stay on the right path.

The path between Saint-Bris-des-Bois and Saint-Césaire is closed to all vehicles and reserved for pedestrians, but horses are not prohibited by the notice posted at the start. Horses from the Bel Air equestrian centre regularly use this path, so please be respectful to avoid any unfortunate restrictions.

Options
(10) If the ground is dry, continue straight ahead along the bottom of the Combe de Crève Coeur (dotted line on the map), but in case of rain, the ground can be very deep. At the end of the valley, you will find the (11). Take the path on your right that descends from the woods and immediately to the left, you will take the right path between two bushes that runs along the edge of the woods.

If you are ready for a longer walk, at (14), turn right onto the Roman road instead of turning left and join the^GR® 360 at Chez Joannais, which will take you back to Saint-Bris via Fontdouce Abbey (moderate signposting) ......check your map carefully..!.

(18) Once you reach WP 18, if it is raining or if there is a lot of rain, the Millet Valley can be tricky to navigate.
In this case, at WP 18, head due north on a path that descends straight down to a small bridge that crosses the Millet,
go straight up along the woods.
At the top of the woods, with the water tower in sight, take a good path that will take you back to the hamlet of "Chez Mercier", from where you can easily reach the starting point.

If you need to stock up on supplies, the villages of Saint-Bris, Saint-Césaire and Saint-Sauvant all have a bar-tobacconist-grocery store. After that, you won't find anything (except Cognac...).
When passing through these villages, please do not leave dog mess on the public highway; do as the dog owners do.