The route
The 200 km route
Departure at 9.00am on Thursday (Feast of the Ascension) 21st May 2020 to return no later than 75 hours after, at 12.00pm on Sunday 24th May 2020. There will be no forms of assistance (except possibly some sheltered places for sleeping)
The route will be divided into 11 stages.
The stages:
1-Chantonnay-Mouchamps 23km many long paths and small roads through countryside.
2-Mouchamps-La Tricherie 32kms a more interesting route through the Parc Soubise and La Tricherie.
3-La Tricherie-La Grande Maine 40km.
4-La Grande Maine- Saint Georges de Montaigu 56km passing through the valley of the Grande Maine and in particular the lake of La Bultière.
5-Saint Georges de Montaigu-Montaigu 64km with a picturesque crossing of Saint Georges de Montaigu.
6-Montaigu-La Bernadière 73km.
7-La Bernadière-Clisson 80km walking on country trails in the valley of La Sèvre.
8-Clisson-Malièvre 135km, through the valley of La Sèvre by paths up slopes with 10 river crossings by bridges, footbridges and fords.
9-Malièvre-Puy Germon 172km through the hills of the Vendée at Les Epesses, Bois des Jarries, St. Michel Mt. Mercure, Puy Lambert, Bois de la Folie, Puy Germon.
10-Puy Germon-Vellaudin 182km.
11-Vellaudin-Chantonnay 200km by Lake Rochereau, La Morlière and the Manor of Ponsay.
| Small roads | 34% | Crossing towns/ villages | 6% |
| Wide paths | 28% | Hamlet crossings | 5% |
| Narrow paths, trails | 38% | Hedgerow | 38% |
| Flatlands | 5% | ||
| Forests | 28% | ||
| Ponds, rivers and lakes | 18% |
Difficulties
The tracks are generally easy and not very steep. The total elevation gain is in the order of 2600m as in 2019. Most of the climbing will be done in the valley of La Sèvre and in the Vendée hills
Some tracks or trails along the La Sèvre river can also be difficult at night with hollows rocky or overhanging path.
These are indicated by red dots on the maps that accompany the topographic guide.
Be careful also at night crossing fords and footbridges.
Some trails may be partially flooded with heavy rain but muddy sections are rare.
The 120 km route
Departure at 3.00pm on Friday 22nd May 2020, to return no later than 45hrs after at 12.00pm on Sunday 24th May 2020.
The route consists of the last 120km of the 200km route.
The departure point is from Clisson at 80km.
A transfer from Chantonnay to Clisson is planned for 1.45pm on Friday 22nd May 2020.
ATTENTION
To register, do not follow the procedure suggested below (for the daily walks) but please select, the B.M.L.D. tab, under the heading BMLD Registration