From the main crossroads in the municipality of Les Bordes, head towards Gien for 200 metres then turn left onto Rue des Brières. After 800 metres, at no. 44, rue des Brières, you will find the Chanteraie Estate, 200 metres from the edge of Orleans Forest. You are back at the starting point of this lovely mountain bike ride.
At the Chanteraie Estate, turn left and go to the edge of the forest, 300 metres away.
Then, to the right, turn onto the Les Bordes forest road and continue straight ahead for 5,200 metres. You will pass through a dozen forest massifs and plantations.
You will then arrive at the Resistance Crossroads (Carrefour de la Résistance). At this crossroads, the Springs Trail (Sentier des Sources) is indicated and marked with arrow signs along your 9 km passage through the woodland.
On this signposted trail you will thus find ten or so natural springs, channelled and landscaped in the time of the Kings of France. This is a circular route that goes from one spring to another and is very clearly marked with arrow signs. After 9 km, you will be back at the start of the trail, at the Resistance Crossroads.
To return to Rue des Brières, you just need to go in the other direction along Allée des Bordes for 5 km.
Don’t forget your camera! You will pass through several superb forest sites, all with different tree species. On this walk you might see roe deer and does, a few stags and boars. If you want to spot them, you must be very quiet as you travel from spring to spring…
