An autumn walk in the Pays de Saint Gilles Croix de Vie
Some ideas for walks in the Pays de Saint Gilles past lakes, dunes, vineyards and along educational nature trails.
I love going to the headland in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez and Brétignolles-sur-Mer, or near the fishing port in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie all year round, but I have to admit that I enjoy the variety of the scenery in autumn in the Pays de Saint Gilles Croix de Vie. Whether you’re an experienced walker or if like me, you simply enjoy walking at a leisurely pace, you are sure to find the walk that suits you.
At the beginning of autumn, my favourite thing to do is to go walking in the Pays de Saint Gilles Croix de Vie.
My favourite spots
The forest in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez
Four waymarked hiking trails and one sporty trail.
The forest covers a surface area of 600 hectares, and is made up of maritime pine trees, holm oaks and deciduous trees. It is a sunny day so I’ve decided to go for the walk up to the orientation table with a view of the ocean in the distance. For this 4-km walk, you need a minimum level of fitness because there are some uphill sections and you’ll be walking through the sand. When I feel a bit peckish, I stop off at the various picnic areas. Sometimes I prefer a more leisurely walk so I opt for the 4-km walk alongside the dune, and I really enjoy feeling the fresh sea air on my face.
Walk around Gué-Gorand lake
On a walk around this lake in the town of Coëx, you can enjoy the peaceful natural environment.
There’s a great walk around Gué Gorandlake, and across the dam. This route departs from Coëx, and it takes around 3.5 hours to walk the 11.3-km loop trail. I sometimes park my car at the lake car park and just walk the shorter 3.5-km loop. Last time I came here, I discovered a very old chestnut tree with two trunks. This is also a very popular place with fishermen and is ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy the natural environment.
The vines and countryside trail in Brem-sur-Mer
One of my favourite walks along the Wine Route
Brem-sur-Mer is a winegrowing town that is well-known for its Fiefs Vendéens wines.
On this route, I stop off to taste some of the various wines and explore the heritage sites along the way. If you’d like to admire a beautiful view of the town, I recommend going up to the Menhir de la Crulière, because you’ll be able to see the ocean from there…
A great 13.5 km getaway between terroir and vineyards.
