[Stevie babe]

Can anyone give any ideas where best to go when based by the River Mayenne about 20 miles north of Angers. Been there before but the only walking / spotting to do is either the from the side of the roads or along the banks of the river but we want to go slightly further afield. it seems France doesn't have the network of countryiside footpaths that we have in the UK. I guess we are spoiled so any suggestions would be most gratefully received.

Unless we get really desperate the wetlands near Nantes might be s drive too far.

Thanks anyone / everyone

Stevie

[Chris in France]

Originally Posted by Stevie babe

Can anyone give any ideas where best to go when based by the River Mayenne about 20 miles north of Angers. Been there before but the only walking / spotting to do is either the from the side of the roads or along the banks of the river but we want to go slightly further afield. it seems France doesn't have the network of countryiside footpaths that we have in the UK. I guess we are spoiled so any suggestions would be most gratefully received.

Unless we get really desperate the wetlands near Nantes might be s drive too far.

Thanks anyone / everyone

Stevie

The French equivalent of the RSPB publish a handy book on bird sites in France and what you are likely to see at each of them. There are one or two sites in the Angers area which look interesting. I haven't been there myself and so I can't confirm what's in the book. Try Prairies des Baillies (seems to be lakes and marshland between Chateauneuf-sur-Sarthe and Le Lion d'Angers (12 km tour) or Lac de Maine, Angers (both of these are closest to Angers). Halfway between Angers and Nantes there is the Marais de Grée and north of Angers there is the Forêt de Bellebranche/étang de Curécy, the Plaine de Parcé-sur-Sarthe and to the north west there is the Lac de la Monnerie.