In Villepail, the 11.5-kilometre Boucle des Bruyères (No. 107) is a circular route that can be explored on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. A second trail, the Sentier de la Chapelle Bon Secours (No. 54), starts at the church and follows the route of a former Roman road; a detour leads to the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours. The trails are complemented by the Réserve naturelle régionale Landes et tourbière des Égoutelles. This gives you a choice of a circular route, a historic hiking trail and a nature visit when planning your trip.

Heathland, peat bog and former sandstone quarry

The Réserve naturelle régionale Landes et tourbière des Égoutelles in Villepail is located on the site of a former Armorican sandstone quarry and covers about two hectares. Its French name refers to heathland and peat bog. Two themes come together here: the former use of the stone and the landscape that gives the reserve its name. The reserve is accessible via a raised discovery trail.

A visit to the nature reserve differs in form from the hiking trails: access is via the discovery trail, while the other two options are described as routes. As visitor facilities may change, check the condition of the trail before your visit.

Circular route and historic hiking trail

The Boucle des Bruyères (No. 107) is an 11.5-kilometre circular route starting in Villepail. It can be explored on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. Its circular shape and distance give the outing a clear structure, while the activities listed offer different ways to cover it. From Villepail, the route heads towards Chattemoue. There, traditional houses are clad in slate, a building style linked to the history of local slate mining. This gives the route an architectural and historical dimension in addition to its circular form.

The Sentier de la Chapelle Bon Secours (No. 54) starts at the church in Villepail and is marked as a PR hiking trail. At least 90 percent of the trail consists of unpaved paths. Its route follows the former Roman road that connected Gué St-Léonard with Mayenne. A detour leads to the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours. The historic road and the chapel destination give this hiking trail a different focus from the circular route towards Chattemoue. The condition of the surviving trail may vary; check the conditions before setting out.

The local history is not limited to a single theme. At Égoutelles, it is about the former quarrying of Armorican sandstone; in Chattemoue, the traditional slate-clad buildings point to local slate mining. The former Roman road adds another historical layer, this time as part of a trail route. The routes can be distinguished clearly when choosing: the Boucle offers a circular route with three stated ways of covering it, while the Sentier is defined by its PR hiking trail, high proportion of unpaved paths and detour to the chapel. Decide which route type and theme you want to shape your outing.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Blandouet, Saint-Denis-De-Gastines, Montaudin, Hardanges, Saint-Thomas-de-Courceriers, Saint-Loup-Du-Dorat, Évron, Saint-Germain-De-Coulamer.

For the broader travel overview: Mayenne.