Small and large ponds of Puisaye

For parking, the car parks at the château, Place du Marché and Maison de Santé are ideal.
(D/A) From the Place de la Maison de Santé (also known as Place Blanche), turn right at the signpost and walk up the hill. Leave the Musée Colette and turn left after the Saracen tower. Go through the gate and up the Rue de Bel Air to the stop sign. Cross straight over and continue, leaving behind each road on the right and left.

(1) As you go along the D955, at the first crossroads, turn left for 50m, cross the road and go straight down.

(2) Pass over the dam at Etang des Barres (private) and continue as far as the D7. Turn left.

(3) At Etang de la Folie on the right, continue straight on. In a large curve on the right, opposite the fir trees, turn right towards Les Boulmiers. Go straight on at the first stop sign. Drive past Les Boulmiers, then downhill to reach the Moutiers pond at the crossroads. You can see it behind the trees.

(4) At this crossroads, take the second turning on the right. Walk along the pond, which is sometimes hidden from view and sometimes open, depending on the season. When you reach the dyke, take it as far as the railway tracks.

(5) Go straight across these tracks and up this road to the next junction with the D85. Cross over to take the right-hand lane, signposted Les Quinaux - Charmoy.

(6) Drive over the Charmoy pond dyke. At the top of this lane, turn right (large metal gates in front of you). Follow the road through the woods, with a fence on the left-hand side forming the northern boundary of the Boutissaint animal park.

(7) Turn right into a small lane with a house on the right and, a little further on, a house on the left. Continue for 200m and turn right at the bottom of the descent.

(8) Turn left (campsite on the right). Leave the next left, the next right. Pass between a small housing estate of wooden houses on the right and the equestrian farm on the left. Take the next turning on the left, which goes down to the edge of the reservoir and then runs alongside a holiday camp (this part, which runs alongside the Bourdon, is not as smooth).

(9) When you reach the reservoir, take the dike road and continue along this route, which overlooks the reservoir, diverging slightly from it in places and leading to Les Midoux.

(10) Go straight ahead. Drive along the west side of the Boutissaint park, leaving the entrances on your left. After the big bend on the right, keep going until you reach the crossroads with the D955.

(11) Turn left.

(12) Leave the Château de Guédelon and, as you round the bend, the Etang de Guédelon on your left.

(13) A few houses, then the Chassin pond on the right. Continue, passing the first crossroads of 4 roads, then a second. Go downhill and in the middle of the straight, after 3 houses on the left, at the crossroads of 4 roads, turn right.

(14) Head for Les Veillats and take the first turning on the left (leaving La Bussière des Bois opposite). Leave the next lane on the right, then the lane that enters the Jacquots farm, and continue along this small, pretty but winding road. Pass through Les Dubois and continue straight downhill to the next crossroads.

(15) Reach the Orme du Pont pond on the right and follow it as far as the stop sign. Make a quick right-left and climb up the well-shaded lane.

(16) At the first crossroads of 4 roads, turn left. At the fork in the road, turn slightly right along a wooded area and cross the industrial estate.

(17) Cross the railway tracks, turn left and continue straight ahead.

(18) When you reach Rue des Renards, follow the road up to Rue de la Roche. Find the entrance to the car park on the right and the starting point (D/A).