The best nature outings in Loire-Atlantique

For lovers of nature and the great outdoors, Loire-Atlantique is an ideal destination. Wherever you are in the département, with friends or family, you'll find plenty of outdoor activities to choose from: walks, boating or canoeing, visits to nature sites or wildlife parks, cruises on the water. You'll be able to put together a tailor-made programme for yourself and take home some wonderful memories. To make it easier for you to find what you're looking for, here's our selection of the best nature outings in Loire-Atlantique.

From Châteaubriant à Ancenis, great natural spaces

For a green holiday or weekend destination in Pays de la Loire, the countries of Châteaubriant and Blain are ideal areas where nature and heritage come together.Make a date with the largest state-owned forest in Loire-Atlantique by visiting the Forêt du Gâvrenorth of Blain. With a large network of forest tracks (laid out in 1810), this site is ideal for walking. There are three walking routes, including one through the Magdeleine arboretum, which features a collection of trees from all over the world. You can also enjoy walking or cycling along the signposted paths, or relax on the health trail. Plenty of activities to immerse you in this fabulous forest environment.

In this part of the Loire-Atlantique region, you'll also find some great walks in the Vallée du Don. This river will appeal to your imagination with the legend of the Fée Carabosse à Guémené-Penfao. You may even catch a glimpse of her on her famous rock. Further upstream, in Moisdon-la-Rivi, you can also visit the Forges site. This former ironworks, a fine example of industrial heritage, is the starting point for an unmissable walking trail (17km of waymarked paths) that will take you on a tour of the last moorland landscape in the department.

Immersion in the heart of the Forges site is offered by the Gîte du Martin Pêcheur, a beautiful accommodation reénov&e; with noble materials. Situated next to the Don river and a fish-filled lake and in the heart of the site, this gite is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area.

For a quiet getaway, we invite you toLac de Vioreau, south of Châteaubriand. This source of water for the Canal de Nantes à Brest, is a little piece of nature not to be missed. And if you don't opt to hire a canoe at the leisure centre, you can learn all about the lake from its banks, with a flat path leading around it. When autumn comes, nature takes on beautiful orange colours and a journey through the Canadian landscape awaits you!

If you head further south, around Ancenis, it's the banks of the Loirethat await you. The river is an excellent route for walking and cycling. On both banks of the river, there are fully signposted footpaths for miles of green and river walks. For an immersion on the river, embark with the holiday pass on the boat La Luce. From Champtoceaux, to the south, a one-hour cruise with commentary is offered to discover the wild river. 

Southern Loire, terroir and nature

For your stay in the south of the Loire-Atlantique region, you can take advantage of the terroir of the vineyards but also all the surrounding nature. A part of Clisson, the vineyard capital, you can wander the hillsides and thread your way through the vines covering the Muscadet wines: From Loroux-Bottereau to the Butte de la Roche for a unique panorama over the Goulaine marshes, from Regrippière à Vallet with its bocage landscapes, or around Château-Thébaud to reach the Porte-Vue, a belvedere ère à 45 mètres above the Maine. 

Fancy a bit of fresh air? Head down to the banks of la Sèvre Nantaise or la Maineand explore these wild rivers on board a canoe. You'll discover unsuspected corners of calm and nature that will offer you an idyllic escape from which you won't want to return! 

Are you planning to pack your bags à Pornic? Don't miss out on a walk along the coastal path and learn about the waters for which the Côte de Jade, the pearl of the Pays de la Loire, is famous. More isolated and wild areas are accessible just a few kilometres from Pornic, around Préfailles or Fontaine aux Bretons.

For an animalière évasion, visit à Legendia Parc. An animal park and indoor showground set in the heart of nature, it offers visitors a unique opportunity to discover and discover legends. It remains one of France's 10 favourite parks (Tripadvisor ranking). You will be able to visit it at a preferential rate thanks to the Passeport Vacances Gîtes de France®. 

Between Nantes and Pornic, the canal de la Martinière is a haven for walkers and pêcheurs. Along its 15 kilometres, you can follow the towpath in the shade of plane and poplar trees, isolated from the rest of the world. Set your own pace on foot for a day, or take a half-day trip. A not-to-be-missed highlight is the cloze on the Loire: a strange shaped boat ("Misconceivable" by artist Erwin Wurm, part of the Estuaire art trail). 

La Presqu’île de Guérande, between the Atlantic and Brière

Around Guérande there are some exceptional natural sites to discover during your day out in the Loire-Atlantique. The medieval town is close to the wild coast and the Brière marsh. Places that offer unique and unforgettable nature outings. 

Go for a stroll along the paths that cover the coastline and coastline, offering different and surprising landscapes at every change of direction. At Le Croisic, treat yourself to a tour of the peninsula on which this pretty town of character was built. 10 kilometres of wild coastline, fresh air and charming panoramas. At Asserac, take a walk around Pen Bé on the shores of Pont Mahé Bay, where beaches and cliffs alternate. You'll discover landscapes that change with the tides.

Removed from the côte, it is a écrin of unique nature that is à découvrir with the Parc naturel Régional de Brière. The second largest freshwater natural area in France, Brière is a world apart, away from the hustle and bustle of nearby tourist towns. A place where you can connect for a stroll. Starting from the village of Sandun, a superb circuit will take you to the edge of the marsh where you can observe the wild and discreet fauna. Then, from the Chaussée Neuve à Saint-André-des-Eaux, embark with L’Arche Briéronne, partner of the Passeport Vacances Gîtes de France. They will offer you a ride on a barge, the typical marsh boat, to allow you to enter the marsh and discover all its magic. End your day at the village of Kerhinet with its typical thatched dwellings. 

Nature outings around Nantes

In Nantes but want to find places to explore outside the city? Take a stroll or a bike ride along the banks of the Erdre, the most beautiful river in France, as Franck 1st once said. You'll find plenty of nature and peace and quiet along the water's edge, just outside the town centre. It's a very popular walk with the people of Nantes, and one they'll be happy to recommend to you with their eyes closed!

South of Nantes, it's the Grand-Lieu lake that we recommend you visit. This natural area is unique. A natural reserve created thanks to the perfumer Guerlain, who owned half of it and handed it over to the state. Its former hunting lodge has been converted into a place for visiting and observing the lake. Visit the Maison du lac de Grand-Lieu in Bouaye, which offers 3 visits in one (an exhibition in the reception building, a walk along a landscaped path and observation from the pavilion). You can take advantage of the offer included in the Holiday Pass. 

The Loire-Atlantique region offers a multitude of places to discover and learn about nature. Accessible to all and to suit all tastes, these walks will allow you to experience unique moments and bring back the most beautiful memories of a holiday in the countryside!

To find out about other nature walks and places close to your Gîtes de France accommodation, take a look at the story-guide provided in the description of your accommodation. 

Photo credits: V.Bauza, A.Lamoureux, J.Bosger

Text credits: Ma Vie en Loire-Atlantique