THREE SAINT'S WAY - DAY FOURTEEN

GENETS TO PONTAUBAULT - 11.83 MILES

Summary:- From Genets we followed the coast to La Chaussee and then cut inland to St-Leonard to avoid going around the headland of Le Grouin du Sud and returned to and followed the coast again. Walking away from Mont St-Michel we had to get around and across the estuary of the River See. Once over it and below the cathedral city of Avranches it was along the other side of the estuary only to have to follow another estuary inland to our hotel which was just before we reached Pontaubault and the crossing of the River Selune. A wet day was forecast and tremendous storms passed either side of us and apart from a few drizzle spells we avoided them all and the sun came out for a while in the afternoon.

Route description:- It had rained overnight and it was overcast as we left Le Moulin, turning left onto the D911 but after crossing the stream feeding the mill race turned right down the Rue des Granges (0.05 miles). At a staggered cross roads the route was left down the Rue des Granges which took us to the boundary between the agricultural land and the extensive marshes which I shall call the coast. Following the road around to the left at 0.39 miles, where it went inland we followed a muddy path along the coast. Mont St-Michel could be seen out in the bay and that was as close as we were going to get to it today. See picture below.

The coast path goes around the promontory of  Pointe du Monet Manet (1.07 miles) after which you get the view below along the "coast".  At 1.18 miles the coast path meets the end of a road from where another coast path continues. 

At 1.18 miles the coast path meets the end of a road from where another coast path continues. Later it continues with a road on the left and at 1.48 miles the D41 comes down to the coast at a place called Le Grand Port. Keep to the coast path as the road goes inland and the path runs on the seaward side of houses. At 2.03 miles La Chaussee is reached where a road comes down to the coast. Here you have to choose between following the coast path around Le Grouin du Sud, or like us cutting the headland off. We turned left through some gates across the end of the road and headed inland in the direction of St Leonard passing the Bar L'Abri du Saunier which was closed. At 2.25 miles it was straight on at a cross roads up hill into the older part of the village. Keep straight on ignoring two roads on the left the second being where the church is on the left take the next road on the right (2.41 miles) which starts the descent out of the village into the countryside. (see the photo below). 

It was here we had to put the waterproofs on because of the drizzle. The road bends to the left (2.66 miles) and along the next section I took this picture of a cow whose spotted brown pattern is very typical of this region.

At 2.86 miles turn right at a T-junction and then next left at 2.91 miles. It was here that I first noticed the cathedral in Avranches at the top of a hill. At the next T-junction it was right (3.31 miles) and at 3.34 miles it is back to the coast. Leave the road and pick up the coast path and go left. At 3.56 miles another track comes down to the coast, keep to the coast path until at La Rue Chevret (4.09 miles) you get close to the River See for the first time on the your right. (See picture below). 

The coast path joins a track and passes inland of a horse race course reclaimed from the marshes. (4.96 miles) Keep to the track next to the coast after that until the D911 is reached (5.40 miles). Cross the road bridge over a stream and leave the D911 by taking the track on the right which keeps to the side of the estuary and reclaimed fields. The horse and trap in the picture below passed us here. 

The track runs parallel with the River See and then returns to the D911 at 5.84 miles. After 50 metres fork right through some barriers onto a cycle path made from what looks like a section of disused railway. This traverses the valley floor and at 6.06 miles there is the bridge in the picture below across the River See. Here we sat on some concrete blocks and had a picnic lunch.  

On the other side of the bridge is a road and here we went right with a section of the active railway on the left and with Avranches above us on the hill. At 6.25 miles at a road junction where a road on the left crosses the railway fork right. At 6.53 miles the road gets back to the side of the estuary and shortly after close to the river. Continue along the road and just after where there is a farm on the left at 7.06 miles there is a bend in the river and it goes away from the road. (see picture below).

At 7.32 miles the road turns left and goes inland, continue straight on along a vehicular track that is a no-through road. When it comes to an end (7.51 miles) it is through a pedestrian gate and along a path just within the marshes. Continue working a way through the puddles and rivulets until at 8.17 miles go through a side gate next to a larger one onto a road and continue along it towards the Aerodrome buildings and wind sock ahead. The runway is out in the marshes and below is a photo across the runway towards Mont St-Michel.

Follow the road to the left of the airport buildings, but note a monument on the right just after (8.35 miles) The road continues along the coast gradually bending left as the route enters the next river estuary. At Le Gue de l'Epine 9.09 miles ignore a road away from the coast and keep going with the River Selune now on the right. The road starts a long bend right with the river. At La Maraicherie (9.80 miles) ignore another road going inland and keep to the coast. At 10.23 miles the road starts to bend left and at 10.40 miles it turns inland. Here go across a footbridge on the right and continue along a footpath along the coast which leads to the mill of Flaget visible ahead (now converted to a residence). A footbridge is crossed over a stream next to the building and then turn left to its approach road. (10.51 miles). Follow the road to a fork and take the right fork (10.73 miles) and just beyond go through a gate on the right back onto a path in a field next to the river. Below is the view at this point downstream.

At 11.19 miles a tarmac road comes down to the river, here our route to the hotel was inland. The road led to the hamlet of Argennes. Here at 11.40 miles it was right and then right again immediately and out of the hamlet. At 11.67 miles the road bends left and then crosses the main coast railway line at a level crossing. Ignore the road immediately on the left and continue to the main road the D43E2 (11.83 miles) and there is a hotel on the left.

Accommodation:- We had booked accommodation in the Hotel Les 13 Assiettes, Route de la Quintine direction Pontaubault, Le Val St Pere, Basse Normandie 50300  Telephone +33 2 33 89 03 03 Email 13assiettes@wanadoo.fr We had booked what was described as a room for 5 persons with mezzanine, shower wc and terrasse. The hotel has a series of structures looking like posh garages with a porch and table and chair outside. Inside there was an excellent double bed, a basic kitchen and table and chairs and en-suite facilities and up a step ladder was a very low loft with a double mattress and a single mattress. Jim volunteered to go upstairs but found the conditions cramped and considered it was only acceptable for children. There was a heated enclosed swimming pool in the garden. The restaurant was of a very high standard and reasonably priced.