We recommend some of our favourite walks - one for each day of your six-night holiday, or you can plan your own itineraries – we will be pleased to help you, if you wish.
High-lighted IGN Maps www.ign.fr and professional quality route notes are provided.
Sunday Afternoon, Day-1
An afternoon walk to stretch your legs after the journey. It is waymarked and gives a chance to become orientated. Undulating, pretty and unspoiled and even on a Sunday you will see few other people.
Ford Moulin’s stream (or use the foot bridge if you prefer) and climb through the woods to the open pasture. Continue west where families of immaculate Parthenaise cattle peacefully graze. Visit the 1,000-year-old villages of Scillé and le Busseau. In spring and early summer there is a profusion of flowers.
Visit the local produce market at Coulonges-sur-l’Autize on Tuesday morning, where the locals meet and shop. See the last remaining pissoire in the whole world. Walk in the venelles of St-Pompain. Climb the abandoned viaduct, have a picnic by the roman bridge and stroll in the cool of the walnut groves.
An intriguing labyrinth of pleasing lanes and tracks north of le Moulin. You’ll probably not see another soul. You pass through cool woods and you will see clear streams, meadows and pastures and an ancient pixie bridge. Our map show all the paths that are open so you can choose how far you wish to walk.
Wednesday, Day-4
Le Moulin’s leafy valley leads through pastures, woods and orchards. A sylvan lane carpeted in wild garlic leads to a mouth-watering spread beside the lakes. Chilled rosé and sunlight dappling the table cloth. You may see hoopoe, hen harrier, golden oriole, kingfisher, various woodpeckers and plenty of others.
Spring-flowered meadows where otters have been seen. Hazel and walnuts in the autumn hedgerows. The sleepy village of La Fazilière has a waymarked detour to the restored lavoir and steeping-ponds of ancient basket makers. See loads of birds and butterflies. Stop for a refreshing drink in the friendly bar at Fenioux.
A vast patchwork of canals, pastures and woods dotted with picturesque “port” villages. Built by medieval monks to tame an vast river delta on the Atlantic. Numerous waymarked walks as well as medieval and renaissance abbeys to explore. Hire a boatman and see the original fire-on-the-water.
Friday Day-6
Southwest to the drowsy village of le Beugnon, la petite suisse and magnificent deciduous forests. A (winding) Roman road! Cherries, plums, apricots, figs, apples, medlars, wallnuts and hazelnuts in the hedgerows (not all at the same time of course). You will see hardly another person on this walk.
- medium route 7km/4miles
- long route 11km/7miles
A choice of walks which can be combined for a longer distance. Majestic deciduous forest, winding paths, dappled sunlight and wonderful lake and forest vistas. Visit a lakeside bar, Mervent dam and the grotto de Père de Montford.
new (2010) an alternative short walk
A 15 minute drive from le Moulin brings you to Faymoreau where there is an interesting rural waymarked walk including deciduous forests and small farms. Part of the walk passes along a disused railway cutting where some unusual geology can be seen. Faymoreau is also worthy of note for striking modern stained glass by Carmelo Zagari - a well known French artist - as well as a fascinating exhibition of the lives of miners and their families between 1827 to 1958 when coal mining was carried out in the area.
new (2010) an alternative longer walk
We first went on this walk with the other villagers of Scillé under the guidance of the mayor, to build up an appetite of the 14 July village lunch in 2008. The charming walk takes in some quaint corners of the commune not covered by other walks.
auberge: Carolynn Grimaldi, le Moulin du Chemin, 79240 Scillé, France
+0033 (0)5 4995 9487 – walking@MoulinHolidays.com
siret 397 722 794 00013
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