Circuit des Bois de Saint-Pierre

Start: Salle François Rabelais Carpark in Smarves.

Exit the car park on the right into Rue des Coteaux. Go past the cemetery. At the T junction, turn right towards Port-Seguin. In the turn, pass an orientation table.

(1) After 400 m leave the road down to Port-Seguin and take the left way-marked path (Red and Yellow markings) leading to the plateau. Arriving at the place called Sources, continue on the road.

(2) Cross the crossroads, past the sports complex Marcel Bernard and continue along the passage to the right of the road. In front of the recycling place, turn left. Leave the road, turn left and continue on the path in front for 500 m passing under the power line. At the T junction, turn right. Then turn left on the road until the Ajoncs crossroads.

(3) Turn right onto the bike path taking a tunnel under the D741. At the exit, turn right, still on the bike path, direction Les Roches Prémarie.

(4) At Les EuIées (back on the way-marked path), take the road on your left. At the foot of the "goose", turn left and enter the domain of Bois de Saint-Pierre. Follow the white limestone path for 300m then turn right into the grassy path.

(5) At the crossroads leave the way-marked path on the right and take the alley of the valley of Fontfrère which runs straight (north-north-east) and descend towards the "forest massif". Follow this path for about 500 m and ignore the departures on the left. At the crossroads, take the Allée du Château to the left (North-West). Follow it for about 700m to the castle and cross the carpark.

(6) On exiting the car park with a view of the pond, go down the road for 10 m then turn right on the pedestrian access (indicated). Upon arrival in the parking lot at the bottom, turn left and and aim for the exit and then turn right on the road until the D741.

(7) At the Quatre Assiettes, walk carefully on the D741 (can be busy), past the restaurant and take the Rue des Quatre Assiettes to the high-tension line. Then take a paved road on the left-hand side of the road (100m) to the retirement home.

(8) Follow the white limestone trail to the right to bypass the retirement home, keeping the playground on your right.

(9) After passing under the power line, turn right along the small passage between the hedge and the school, then turn right again. At the end turn left into Rue Charles de Gaulle then, at the fork, on the left Rue Rabelais, Place de la Mairie, and direction Rue de l'église to return to the carpark François Rabelais.

Useful information

Good running shoes are enough for this hike.

Water points, refreshments at the castle of Saint Pierre.