Let’s go to the woods in the Bellebranche forest in Saint-Brice. A road crosses this state forest. For those who do not know the region, GPS can be useful. Go safely in this national forest with its short circuits that you can cover in 1 hour 30 or 2 hours. Thanks to the medieval abbey of Bellebranche it was almost miraculously saved from a large medieval clearing of all its northern part which preceded the bocage then built on all the neighboring towns. The forest which can be covered entirely on its 140 ha was bought by the State in 1850 with “its finest specimens of forest oaks, upright, high and of uniform size, for naval vessels. But they suffered a decline due to droughts from 1990 to 1995. The ONF replaced them with tall trees planted. The new generation will mature in 200 years. All this is explained by signs at the start of the routes.
– FFRandonnée in Mayenne
Do not hesitate to venture into the heart of the forest, where our neighbors from Sablé walk. . Even if you get lost despite the markings, the lines drawn in what is ultimately just a large wood will bring you back to your starting point.
Both circuits are in thein Mayenne of the Hollow Paths which will be distributed in bookstores and supermarkets.