Around the Clos Verger

Starting from Fresne-Camilly, walk along the edge and then along the Thue valley, from Cainet to Bout de Haut near Amblie, then return, enjoying the unobstructed view of the countryside in this part of the Caen plain.

Details

n°21973365

Creation:
15 May 2022

Last update:
30 May 2022

Last review:
11 Aug 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.07 km
Average duration: 2h 45
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 44 m
Descent: - 44 m
Highest point: 59 m
Lowest point: 14 m

Country: France
District: Le Fresne-Camilly (14480)
Start/End: N 49.257359° / W 0.490572°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1512OT
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Panoramic view of Fresne-Camilly from the surrounding countryside

Description of the walk

Parking is available at the Chemin aux Prêtres car park near the new Fresne-Camilly cemetery.
Chemin aux Prêtres is one of four roads leading to the Calvary crossroads near the town hall.

(S/E) Turn left onto the road, head towards the new cemetery (hidden by a hedge), turn right onto the path and head towards a huge hay barn. Take the left turn and go around the cemetery, then continue for about 600 metres until you reach a crossroads. Continue straight ahead towards Cainet and walk for about 500 m until you reach a T-junction.

(1) Leave the village of Cainet on your left, turn right and follow the road for about 800 m until you reach the church of Pierrepont.

(2) Pass in front of the church and then the castle, continue along Rue du XIIe Siècle, walk alongside a lake and reach Route de Caen (D22). Use the pedestrian crossing to cross this road, turn right and walk for about 20 metres.

(3) Turn left onto Chemin d'Amblie and walk along the Thue river on your left. Follow Chemin d'Amblie for about 1.3 km, ignoring the intersections on your left, until you reach Bout de Haut and a large right-hand bend.

(4) Follow the bend to the right and go up Cavée à Marcel. Continue for about 400 metres, cross the Caen road junction and continue straight ahead for another 800 metres.

(5) At the end of the road (T-junction), turn right and continue for about 500 m until you reach the D141 (Route de Creully).

(6) Cross the D141 (Route de Creully) and continue straight ahead for about 500 m. Take the right-hand bend, ignore the first path on the left and continue for about 300 m. Take the left-hand bend and continue until you reach the D22 (Route de Caen).

(7) Cross the D22 and continue straight ahead for about 800 m until you reach the first road on the left.

(8) Turn onto the road on the left and head towards the church. At the entrance to the village, follow Rue du Champ Câline and continue to the church via Rue du Platane.

(9) At the plane tree, turn right onto Rue de l'Église and follow it for about 250 m until you reach the crossroads near the town hall.

(10) Turn right onto Chemin aux Prêtres and follow it to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 58 m - Car park, Chemin aux Prêtres, near the cemetery
1 : km 1.1 - alt. 51 m - Cainet
2 : km 2.7 - alt. 27 m - The Church of Pierrepont
3 : km 3.08 - alt. 17 m - The Amblie Path - La Thue
4 : km 4.34 - alt. 16 m - Le Bout du Haut
5 : km 5.55 - alt. 55 m - T-junction
6 : km 6.03 - alt. 57 m - Route D141
7 : km 7.27 - alt. 49 m - Route D22
8 : km 8.08 - alt. 54 m - Intersection towards the church of Fresne-Camilly
9 : km 8.64 - alt. 55 m - The Church of Le Fresne-Camilly
10 : km 8.91 - alt. 57 m - Chemin aux Prêtres
S/E : km 9.07 - alt. 58 m - Car park, Chemin aux Prêtres, near the cemetery

Worth a visit

Notre-Dame Church in Fresne-Camilly
The church is dedicated to Our Lady. Arcisse de Caumont's description of the building allows us to date certain elements. "The tower is largely modern; only the lower parts are Romanesque. M. de Camilly, Archbishop of Tours, had the quadrangular pyramid that surmounts it built at his own expense. The prelate's name can be seen on one of the sides, along with the year 1731, the date of the reconstruction. The choir, with its stone vaulted ceiling, is separated from the nave by a Romanesque arch; it displays this architectural style in some of the parts closest to the nave, but the rest, which features lancet windows, a cornice decorated with sawtooth mouldings and a few modillions, appears to date from the 13th century. A chapel was recently built and added to the north side." (A de Caumont 1-340) The building was listed as a historic monument in 1840.

Saint-Martin du Cainet Church
Arcisse de Caumont describes this building as follows: "The choir is vaulted; the capitals of the columns and the vault date from the^secondhalf of the 12th century, as does the rest of the building. The nave is less distinctive and less old than the choir; a modern tower with two windows rises above the wall separating the nave from the choir." (A de Caumont 1-342)

Pierrepont Castle (private property)
The castle, built in the 18th century, was the home of the Saint-John de Crèvecœur family, a Norman nationalised American, French consul in New York, famous for his "Letters from an American Farmer" (1792), considered a founding text of American literature.

Saint-Julien Church in Pierrepont
Also known as the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4.1 / 5

User 15066393

11 Aug 2025 at 09:25 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and fairly easy hike (little elevation gain and no difficulty following the route). While crossing the fields, especially after harvest time, may seem monotonous (and make you wish there were hedges), this is a great opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. The passage through Pierrepont is full of charm for those who love old stones.
I'll definitely be back, thanks to the author of the route!

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VAL14

04 Nov 2024 at 10:29 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

There are many fields, so it is best to do this hike when the fields have not been cut so that the landscape does not look "deserted". Please note that in hot weather, most of the route is without shade.

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Isabelle Bournier

18 Apr 2023 at 18:28 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short walk but a very pleasant surprise. A lovely route, beautiful houses and beautiful scenery.

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pmahieux@aliceadsl.fr

06 Mar 2023 at 10:34 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike offering beautiful views. Beautiful churches, castles and manor houses.
At point 1, we went to the hamlet of Le Cainet: beautiful church near a wash house, sculpture by Serge Saint.
Some long stretches through fields, but certainly more pleasant in spring or summer.

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Vivrenature19

15 Aug 2022 at 15:45 7200 • Edited: 15 Aug 2022 at 15:46 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike along partially cleared paths through farmland. Beautiful landscapes that surprise you with the colours of Normandy during this dry spell; green colours are replaced by gold.

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Jean-Paul BUTEAU

04 Jul 2022 at 18:38 7200

Hello Zako,
Thank you for taking the time to post your comment.
Enjoy your hikes, and I look forward to hearing from you again soon.

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zako14

04 Jul 2022 at 09:32 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A pleasant route, not very busy, including the short stretch of road used.

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Jean-Paul BUTEAU

30 May 2022 at 12:01 7200

Hello Valoulou,
Thank you for your positive feedback and your insightful comment, which I have taken into account.
Please check that the change meets your expectations.
See you soon on another of my posts.

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Valoulou

30 May 2022 at 09:18 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
A superb walk, the ideal time of year to do it, discovering several cultures. To be done again at harvest time.
One small downside: at the start, perhaps indicate that it is the car park opposite the town hall, and that you need to head towards the new cemetery and not the one around the church.
Thank you for this route.

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Author

Jean-Paul BUTEAU
65 Walks

Visorando member

District: Aucey-la-Plaine (50170)

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