I found a bunker that I'd never seen before, with a view that was absolutely breathtaking. I had noticed an intricate pattern of well worn paths on the north side of Mt Rossignol :
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=49.216953~-2.211495
and this looked like something that deserved a look on the ground :
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=49.218097~-2.213412
First you'll probably find a bunker some distance away from the one with the great view. Clamber down to this trench and you may find that an old armchair has gone here to die, spilling its stuffing all over.
The first entrance is well blocked up...
.. but farther along and there's one for those of you who always carry a torch and are happy to venture inside. I didn't :)
Instead, I was eager to proceed onwards to where I expected great views to lie in wait...
.. and I certainly wasn't disappointed. We'll have a look at the awesome views from the flat top on the left, after one quick shot down a shaft on the right here...
.. looks like you intrepid explorers could be very happy with this one as well!
So what can we see from here? All the way from south to north taking in so many of the Best of the West features.
Right a bit, Corbiere and La Rocco Towers enough for starters?
A ribbon of light, the road from La Pulente to Le Braye.
I think I may have mentioned these, beyond the driving range near Le Port.
There's a lot of pleasantly green fields, and water features...
.. the White House...
.. the Lord of the Manor's pond...
.. with its new bird hide.
And the sights continue all the way to the north...
.. with two more old towers...
.. another Bailiwick in the distance, beyond Lewis's Tower and the bunker at..
.. L'Etacq, etc. Trust me, there's so much to see from here you'll be wondering what to stare at next!
Another bunker some way away, the
"doctor's house" one on Mt Matthieu.
.. plus there's a view up a little valley up to the St.Ouen's Mill and Church.And you'll get a good view of airport movements too. Etc.
What a great place to find!
If you want to take a look, it's probable that the bunker is on private land so proceed at your own discretion. The track may well be public, it's difficult to tell. The well worn paths suggest it's open to the public, at least no attempt has been made to limit access.
I'll leave choice of parking spots up to you, as far as walking to the site goes, there is the track from here :
https://maps.google.com/?ll=49.220029,-2.209003
From the lower end, it has the hallmarks of a private track but could well be a public right of way for all we know :
https://maps.google.com/?ll=49.216924,-2.212232
On more detailed maps you may find names like Chemin du Vau a Charriere suggesting a very old right of way. There's a house down there for which the only access is along these tracks, it doesn't have its own direct access to the lane Rue du Val de la Mare.
Also there's a gap in the hedge here on the main road hill, with a footpath of sorts that leads up to the heights :
https://maps.google.com/?ll=49.215607,-2.210634
If you have a great time, mention this blog when you tell people all about it! :)
UPDATE : Sept 2014
I have been informed that the bunker with the great view was the HQ of the First Battalion of the Army Coastal Artillery Regiment 1265 (
or HKAR : Heeres KΓΌsten Artillerie Regiment). In the mid 1980s it was discovered that it was being developed into accommodation in contravention of the local planning laws, so that work was stopped and the bunker was 'buried'. Not very well, I'd say, thankfully!
The nearby bunker a little inland is apparently a Type 622 Personnel Shelter.
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