Preparing your tour

Outdoor sport: tips and good habits

On foot, by bicycle, on horseback or by canoe, here are our tips for all forms of tours. Do not hesitate to report after your tour any anomalies encountered along the way (pollution, degradation, mistakes of marking or securing the path) by clicking on the “Meerkat”-button present on each description card.

Well preparing your hike

Before you leave, check the weather forecast (and for fire risk the forest weather forecast) and prepare clothing accordingly. Wear suitable shoes and, if needed, take walking sticks. Protect yourself from the sun (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) and take a first aid kit with you: compresses, anti-blister plaster, disinfectant, tick remover, cream to calm insect bites... Hiking with children aged from 4 to 7 years old means an hourly progression of half as fast, 1 to 2 km on average. With children from 8 to 12 years of age you can consider a walk of 10 to 15 km. Take regular breaks to hydrate -at least 1.5 litres of water- and snack (nuts, energy bars etc.). On your return check for ticks which cause Lyme disease. Do not forget the sensitive areas such as the hollow of the knee, the armpits, behind the ears etc.

Watch out for ticks

The tick lives in wooded and humid areas, high grass, parks etc. Its bite is recognizable when the animal is still attached to the skin. It is essential to inspect yourself carefully after being out in a natural environment. The tick “bites” whether it is an adult, nymph or larva. At every stage, it needs to gorge itself on blood before dropping and hiding underground. The bite is not painful. To reduce the risk of possible contagion the tick should be removed as soon as possible with the help of a tick-remover or tweezers. Never use ether or other products that numb the tick and cause it to regurgitate. The bite should be disinfected and kept under close watch. If a red plaque persists for more than 3 days do not hesitate to consult a doctor.

For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/prevention/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html

Limit your impact on nature

Stay on marked trails and comply with the applicable regulation.
Keep your dog close to you when near to other people or animals. Some protected areas require keeping it on a lead.
Do not pick wildflowers.
The breeding areas of the Loire birds such as terns, little ringed plovers etc. are protected by decree. These sensitive small islands or banks are usually signposted. Between Montsoreau and Saumur and between Le Thoureil and La Daguenière, the following are prohibited every year from the 1st of April to the 15th of August: access to islands and sandbanks; disembarkation, docking or landing nearby with nautical equipment; straying of domestic animals; bivouac, camping, transport and lighting of fires.
Bring a bin bag for your waste.
Fires are not allowed.
Well preparing your bicycle ride

Before each ride check the conditions of your bike (tire pressure, breaks, lighting, battery charge for electric assisted bikes etc.) and take a repair kit with you. Wear a helmet: it is compulsory on public roads for children under the age of 12, whether they are riders or passengers.
Beware, the weight of an electric mountain bike makes carrying almost impossible and cold temperatures cause the battery to drop faster. Wearing retro-reflective clothing is recommended and it is obligatory when riding outside urban areas in the dark or when visibility is insufficient. Never ride more than two side by side.

Well preparing your canoe-kayak trip

In summer, don’t forget your sunglasses, sun protection (hat, anti-UV T-shirt or sun cream). Make sure you have water shoes, a light microfiber towel, a change of clothes and sufficient water (2 litres per person).

Good nautical practices

Practising canoe-kayak is authorized on the Loire and Vienne Rivers, subject to the following safety rules:
It is compulsory to wear an approved lifejacket;

Provide closed shoes;
Be able to swim 25 metres and to submerge;
Be careful approaching bridges and follow the marked navigable channel
Beware of water movements behind bridge piers and obstacles.
In the Maine-et-Loire department, the navigable channel of the Loire River is marked between Montsoreau and Les Ponts-de-Cé: red and circular buoys on the right side of the channel, in the direction of the current; green and conical buoys on the left side.
Do not land on:

Small islands or sandbanks where birds nest whose eggs are invisible on the ground (biotope protection zone);
On private islands.
Avoid disturbing animals by shouting or by jumping into the water.
Respect other travellers.

Well preparing your horseback ride

Horseback riding involves being comfortable at all three gaits. Be suitably equipped: a standard helmet, water bottle, rescue kit, some blacksmith’s tools, and for your mount a saddle, a saddle cloth and a snaffle bridle. If you want to use a waterproof vest get your horse accustomed to not be frightened when unfolding it.
Inform a third party of your departure. At the beginning of the ride, walk for ten minutes alongside your horse, so that it warms up its back and that the equipment can take place. Respect the marked itineraries, slow down when passing other users and keep your distance.

Caution during the hunting season

The general opening of the shooting is at the beginning of September and finishes at the end of February. But extensions are possible for certain species what makes hunting potentially possible nearly all year round. The presence of hunters’ cars at the start of the trail or information signs is an indicator of hunting. These signs are compulsory on a national scale for beats of big game animals, but do not curtail your passage, however, stay vigilant and attentive to gunshots.
Some town councils display hunting dates on their territory: keep yourself informed.
Stay on the trails, preferably in open areas, and be audible and visible with brightly coloured clothing or even a yellow safety vest.

By the water, watch out for Cyanobacteria

When walking along the banks of the Loire, one of its tributaries or a pond: Beware of the presence of cyanobacteria, a thick blue-green or green algal bloom (toxic). These bacteria develop during intense heat and can cause skin, digestive or nervous disorders when swimming or by ingestion, as well as deadly poisoning for dogs. Check with the prefecture.