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Our day in a pushchair in the Pays Loudunais
It’s not always easy to go on a family outing with toddlers. So when we discovered all the possibilities for aday out with a pushchair in the Pays Loudunais, we got in our car. Our choice: Les Sentes de Fondoire. It was the perfect outing for us and Sacha. Simple, easy to get to and right in the middle of nature! The kind of walk where everyone finds their own rhythm, where you can really breathe and where the pushchair fits in everywhere.
A truly accessible walk
As soon as you arrive, you’ll discover a network of three paths that are perfectly suitable for pushchairs: the Sente de la Source, the Sente des Mares and the Sente des Acacias. It’s easy to see that the Sentes de Fondoire have been designed with all walkers in mind. The paths are wide and stable, and the slightly wilder sections are perfectly passable with a pushchair. Sacha settled in like a prince, observing the scenery without a care in the world.
He marvelled at everything: the birds singing, the leaves rustling… Naïma and I took full advantage of the peace and quiet that we sometimes forget when we live to the rhythm of our schedules.
Three paths to explore during our day out with a pushchair in the Pays Loudunais
For this family day out, we started with the Sente de la Source.Gentle and cool, it’s ideal for getting into the mood. The water flowing discreetly nearby brings an immediate sense of calm. We then continued along the Sente des Mares, where Sacha got out of the pushchair to observe the damp vegetation, the reflections and the little creatures scurrying about in the water. Finally, the Sente des Acacias offered us some slightly brighter sections, scented by the trees that line the path. When he was in his pushchair, Sacha turned his head everywhere, fascinated by the diversity of the scenery, even over a short distance.
Discover nature from a child's point of view
Sacha contemplated the natural world around him in the pushchair, and then, at the first branch that fell to the ground, he asked to get out. He’d walk a few metres, stop, observe, go back… and come back to rest when his little legs got tired. Every detail attracted him: a leaf gently turning in the wind, a flower he’d never noticed before, a butterfly he tried to catch but never could. Naïma and I followed the movement with a smile. We savoured this quiet rhythm where we walked at the pace of our loulou, without hurrying, just enjoying nature and the softness of the paths.
A journey punctuated by fascinating information
Along the three trails, a number of panels explain the history of the area, the wealth of flora and fauna and the special features of this unspoilt little corner of the world. Sacha loved it when we stopped to read aloud. He would listen, ask questions and relate what he saw to the words he heard. Sometimes he would get back into the pushchair to “think while he drove”, as he puts it. It was an outing that turned into a fun learning experience before we knew it.
A gourmet break in the heart of the Loudun countryside
When hunger started to set in, we looked for a quiet spot in the shade to set out our picnic. Naïma brought out the little canvas bag in which we’d stored the local produce we’d bought that morning: bread, still crusty, from a bakery in Loudun, fresh local goat’s cheese, some seasonal fruit and a home-made terrine that made Sacha’s eyes light up just looking at it. We’d also brought along a flask of homemade herbal tea, made with local herbs, just to keep in the local spirit.
As we’re trying to be careful about our impact, we always use reusable crockery, stainless steel cutlery that Sacha loves “because it shines” and small glass boxes to avoid unnecessary packaging. Everything we took out went back in the bag, and our rubbish stayed with us all the way home. It’s a simple habit, but a good one when you’re out and about in such an unspoilt area.
While we enjoyed our meal, Sacha sat on his blanket, watching the birds flying from branch to branch and telling us what he’d seen along the way. It felt so good to be together, having a meal in the middle of nature, with nothing but the trees and the birds singing. It reconnected everyone.
What a beautiful day at Les Sentes de Fondoire!
On the way back, Sacha climbed into the pushchair “just to rest a bit” and eventually fell asleep, lulled to sleep by the gentle sounds of nature. The end of the route was just as pleasant as the beginning. The softer light, the calm of the paths and the steady breeze created a real calming bubble. Naïma and I told ourselves that we’d be back soon to do another trail or just to rediscover that rare feeling of relaxation.
Les sentes de Fondoire, with its three accessible paths, offers the perfect family getaway: nature, gentleness, discovery and simplicity. An essential break to refocus and enjoy the moment.
