Forêt de Concise & Vallée de la Jouanne
Just 15 kilometres south-east of Laval, the Forêt de Concise and the valley of the Jouanne river form a pocket of genuine wilderness that feels a world away from the city. Marked trails wind through oak and beech woodland above a fast-running chalk stream rich in trout and kingfishers.
Hiking the Jouanne Valley
The GR de Pays circuit through the Vallée de la Jouanne covers approximately 18 kilometres in a full loop, but shorter sections of 5–8 kilometres are easily carved out for a half-day walk. The path drops repeatedly to the river's edge, crossing on old stone footbridges and passing through meadows where cattle graze in the shade of willows.
The Jouanne is a designated trout stream and its clarity is remarkable — on a calm day you can watch fish holding position in the current from the bridges. Kingfishers are a near-certain sighting between April and September if you move quietly along the bank.
The forest section of the trail passes through stands of ancient oak estimated to be over 200 years old. The canopy closes completely overhead in summer, making this a cool refuge even on the hottest July afternoons.
Practical Access & What to Bring
The village of Forcé, at the southern edge of the forest, serves as the most convenient trailhead and has a small car park. From Laval, drive the D24 south toward Forcé — the journey takes about 20 minutes.
There are no facilities on the trail itself, so carry water, snacks, and a paper map or downloaded GPX file. The IGN 1:25000 map sheet 1620 OT covers the area accurately.
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