Mayenne, named after the river that runs through the department, welcomes walkers! It is a beautiful department of over 5175 Km of glorious countryside. Saint Denis de Gastines is located within easy reach of many walks, some of which start 100 metres from our gates. You could spend a year walking a different route every day and choose a different restaurant for lunch each day! Some of the long – distance walks go through our village so you can join up for a few section’s of those, maybe striding out towards Le Mans or Mont St Michel. Returning at the end of the day to your gite, you can relax in the pool or cook dinner in the outside kitchen. There are numerous sources for walking guides and suggestions and of course your hosts will be pleased to assist with suggestions and local knowledge.
Link to walks in local area of Saint Denis de Gastines
https://sig.lernee.fr/adws/app/ccf50f0a-8073-11ed-8bd8-7fa120b88ba1/index.html
Link to hiking sheets in the local Mayenne area
https://mayenne.ffrandonnee.fr/rando-fiches/
The GR365 is a long distance walking route of the Grande Randonée network in France. It stretches for over 1000Km across France from East to West. It passes through our village of Saint Denis de Gastines. An example map and details are found in this link:
https://mayenne.ffrandonnee.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/68/Documents/Etape-8.pdf
The walk shown below actually passes our gates! A pleasant 2 hour stroll.
Cycling in Mayenne
You’ll quickly discover that France is a paradise for cyclists! Once you leave the main roads, you’re more likely to encounter fellow cyclists than cars, whether around our gîtes or throughout Mayenne. Whether you prefer road cycling, scenic trails, or off-road adventures, there are endless routes to explore. You can follow well-mapped cycling paths or simply freestyle your journey. Start with 128 km of repurposed railway lines and 85 km of towpaths along the Mayenne River, offering stunning, traffic-free rides. You’re welcome to bring your own bikes—we provide secure storage—or take advantage of the bikes we have available for guests. For a unique experience, why not explore the cheese route, visiting local producers right on their farms? A delicious way to enjoy the ride!
Check out some of the recommended trails:
https://www.francevelotourisme.com/destinations/pays-de-la-loire-a-velo
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