Abbey and Brotonne Forest in Saint-Wandrille-Rançon

Shaded hike in the Brotonne Forest. Views of the Seine and Saint-Wandrille Abbey.

Details

2501004
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 111 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 111 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 120 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 17 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Town hall car park (D64 towards Duclair).

Green andGR®2markings.

(S/E) When leaving the car park, turn left to return to the intersection. Take the first street on the left, Rue de la Coutume. It climbs between the houses and offers a view of the Pont de Brotonne bridge.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin du Relais (opposite number 46 Rue de la Coutume). This road, which is initially tarmac, becomes a footpath. It runs along the edge of the forest and then enters it. After the first 800 metres, which are uphill, the path becomes almost flat.

(2) At the small tarmac forest road, continue to the right. Pass theGR®2, the beech tree on the right-hand side of the path (information panel about this tree) and then take the third path on the left. It is located on a bend in the road and forms a real Y-junction.

(3) Just before you reach the houses, do not leave the woods; take the path on the left. Follow this main path to the D64 road at the hamlet of La Mercerie. Turn right and follow the D64 for a few metres.

(4) Follow the small road on the left, which is almost opposite. Turn into the first path on the left. It runs through fields to join another road.

(5) Turn left, follow the road for about 200 metres and take the first path on the right into the woods (GR®2). Follow this main path, which descends gradually and then more steeply over the last 400 metres, until it joins a tarmac road and houses.

(6) At this point, there is a picnic area and a view of Saint-Wandrille Abbey. Follow the street, take the first street on the right and then the first right again (D64, Rue des Caillettes) to descend to the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 18 m - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 31 m - Chemin du Relais
  3. 2 : km 2.88 - alt. 109 m - Forest road
  4. 3 : km 4.56 - alt. 114 m - La Planquette
  5. 4 : km 5.63 - alt. 115 m - La Mercerie
  6. 5 : km 6.51 - alt. 115 m - Road junction
  7. 6 : km 8.66 - alt. 41 m - Viewpoint over the &gt - ABBAYE SAINT WANDRILE
  8. S/E : km 8.94 - alt. 18 m - Town hall car park

Worth a visit

Visit Saint-Wandrille Abbey and its shop.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 27050198

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very easy hike with clear signage. The paths are well maintained in a very clean forest setting

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Lydmil
Lydmil

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent, this beautiful spot covered in the violet blue of bluebells

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macgyver
macgyver

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very muddy after a period of rain.

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Bertra
Bertra

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, but best done in summer because by the end of November the trail is extremely muddy (high risk of slipping)

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randonnee76
randonnee76

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy route through woods and countryside, ending at a viewpoint overlooking the abbey, which you can visit, and a nearby market hall where you can have a picnic.
For the more adventurous, you can round off the day with the Abbaye St Wandrille Caudebec en Caux loop. This makes a total of 20 km.

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Greg1810
Greg1810

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very well indicated, very easy to follow

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Larando76
Larando76

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk on a beautiful autumn day...

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vince1901
vince1901
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed at the end of August, no particular difficulties, very enjoyable. Perhaps after heavy rain some sections become more difficult to navigate, but that remains to be tested...

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Geraldine76
Geraldine76

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike on forest trails. After point 3, the path has many ruts and may be difficult to walk on after rain. Similarly, between points 5 and 6, there are some very muddy areas. Between these two points, stay on the path and only turn when you see the marker.

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Hollu
Hollu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice route. I would point out that at point 5, it is better not to turn right because the path is overgrown with bushes, but to continue more or less straight ahead for 20 metres, then turn right onto the path coming from Val de Noyers.

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Randoanrrouen
Randoanrrouen

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Good description. Beautiful forest.

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MousseMousse
MousseMousse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The undergrowth at this time of year is covered in blue hyacinths.
A very beautiful walk
It's very interesting to take the guided tour of the abbey and finish up at the shop

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binetf
binetf

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant short loop in the Trait-Maulévrier forest, very well marked.

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matthieusoudet
matthieusoudet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike, mostly in the forest - Wear suitable footwear after periods of rain

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tatouille76
tatouille76

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The circuit has been around for a very long time and has been marked out by the local authority (No. 25 - La coutume)
There is a small change: the path (green marker) cuts slightly to the left before point 3.
Personally, knowing the area, at point 4, I don't go out onto the plain (which is often quite windy) but follow the path along the edge of the forest and rejoin the GR, which means that the hike is entirely in the forest.
at plot 107 (on the edge of the D64)
Otherwise, nothing to report, lots of ruts at this time of year but they are easy to avoid.

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