There are fantastic local walks and hikes close to Les Peupliers.
We know that sometimes it’s nice not to get into the car and if you’d like to walk straight from Les Peupliers, you can explore the poplar (peuplier) tree avenues that run parallel to our garden. There are plenty of circuits that you can do, including walking into Varennes-sur-Loire which will also take you on some of the quiet roads.
We’ve suggested a couple of routes that are a short car drive away and can expand on these if you’d like further ideas.
If you’d like us to prepare a picnic that you can carry with you, please let us know 24 hours in advance and we’ll make sure that you have a delicious lunch to take with you.
The forest of our ancestors
This wonderful walk that is under 10 minutes drive from Les Peupliers takes you on sandy paths through the forest of Courcy. This area is known for seeing deer.
Hike distance: 7.3km
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Directions
- Park at Chevalerie de Sacé, 49650 Brain-sur-Allonnes
- From the car park, turn left then right and take the path on your left. Continue it until the intersection.
- Turn left and continue to the crossroads at the sports stadium. Continue on this path until the crossroads at approximately 1,7km.
- Turn left then take the first path on the left. Follow it for about 2km. It follows the GR®36.
- Turn left, at the 6th path. Turn left then right and continue to the crossroads of 4 paths.
- Turn left then right and left again at a right angle.
- Take the 3rd path on the left, at the level of the archaeological site. Continue to the next intersection.
- Turn left then right as far as the Six Allées crossroads.
- Take the 2nd road on the right and return to the starting point.
The Courléon Forest
This hike goes through forested areas, offering shade during the hot season.
Hike distance: 12.5km
Duration: 3 hours 25 mintues
Directions
- Turn left then immediately right. Follow rue du Maroir to the village. Turn left rue de Touraine and find the Place de l’Eglise.
- Park at Place de la mairie, 49390 Courleon
- From the Place de l’Eglise, turn right then immediately left into rue de la Forêt. At the crossroads continue straight ahead to a place called Le Billot.
- Turn right and take the path that enters the forest. Continue to the end. Turn left then turn right for about 100m.
- Turn right on the path that crosses the field. Turn left and at the crossroads continue straight. Go to the next intersection.
- Turn left on the GR®36, continue to the end then turn right. At the intersection in front of the houses, go straight on then turn left. Return to the road at La Bretonnière.
- Turn left and at the crossroads take the street on the left. At the next crossroads continue straight on the path. Follow it to La Huttière after passing under the power lines.
- Turn right then take the second path on the left. Follow it to the end.
- Turn left. Continue for about 1km to the crossroads.
- Turn right at a hairpin, then left. Return to the road (D142). Turn left then continue to the next fork.
- Turn right at a hairpin in the path and continue straight, then take the second path on the left. Follow this path for about 1,5 km leaving the paths on the right. Return to the road at Le Maroir.
Fontevraud d’Abbey and the nearby Forest
This is an easy route that offers a panoramic view of Fontevraud d’Abbey.
Hike distance: 8.8km
Duration: 2 hours 25 minutes
Directions
- Park at Square 8 May 1945 49590 Fontevraud-l’Abbaye
- Proceed to Allée Sainte-Catherine. At the end of the path, go around the Saint-Michel church on the left and continue to Place Plantagenêt, opposite the entrance to the abbey.
- Turn left and follow rue Rochechouart which runs alongside the abbey. Take the second street on the right and go to the bend.
- Continue opposite (in the direction of “Panorama Abbaye”) on a wide, gravel path that goes uphill and bends to the right. After a left turn, go straight ahead, ignoring all departures on the sides. At the end of the path, at a T-junction, turn left. Continue along the edge of the forest to the road.
- Shortly after a small house in ruins, turn left at a right angle. Continue between a forest edge on the left and a field on the right. Then enter the forest and at the fork, take the left path. Go down into the forest and at a crossroads, continue straight. Stay on the main path and exit the forest. After a left bend, at a fork, turn right and join the D947 road.
- Cross the road and follow rue des Ecoteries. After about fifty meters, turn right onto a grassy path and follow a stream on the right.
Walk for history and nature lovers
This walk takes you through unspoiled countryside offering wooded reliefs. The route is punctuated by heritage curiosities.
Hike distance: 10.8 km
Duration: 2 hours 45minutes
Directions:
- Park at Place Emile Delétang, 49390 Mouliherne
- From the square, turn right, continue to the crossroads and take the Roman road on the left which goes up to the church.
- Turn right, Rue de l’Eglise. Continue straight until the cross.
- Turn right on the path, at the intersection turn right and continue for about 1,5km passing in front of the Moulin de Champ Renier.
- At the intersection, after the mill, turn right. At the crossroads continue straight. At about 100m in the bend, continue opposite and continue straight to the end of the path.
- Turn left and continue to the road.
- Turn left then immediately right. At the end, turn right and continue to the road (D62).
- Cross and continue opposite the Rue de la Touchardière. At a place called Les Ratteries, turn right. Continue straight on this path for about 2km until the Débuserie.
- Turn right then, at the end, right again on the Chemin des Petites Vallées. Go up the road, then turn right. At the first crossroads continue straight and at the second turn left.
- Just after, take the path on your right “Chemin de la Caillauderie”. Continue straight then turn right “Carrefour de la Lune” and continue to the intersection (D62).
- Turn left then right above the wash house. Continue straight then take the second path on the left. Continue on this path and return to Place Émile Delétang.
