Around Hermival-les-Vaux and Ouilly-du-Houley

Hike around the Paquine River, starting from Hermival-les-Vaux and passing through Ouilly-du-Houley.

Details

n°166838

Creation:
22 Oct 2015

Last update:
27 Mar 2023

Last review:
30 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 11.31 mi
Average duration: 6h 00
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 883 ft
Descent: - 866 ft
Highest point: 535 ft
Lowest point: 184 ft

Country: France
City: Hermival-les-Vaux (14100)
Start/End: N 49.166484° / E 0.283233°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1712SB, 1812SB
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Description of the walk

Parking along the D510 road, near the church.

(S) Turn left opposite the church, then left again onto the^GR®26.

(1) Turn right, cross the bridge over the La Paquine river and cross the D262. Turn left at the first intersection, then right onto the uphill path (elevation 99). Continue straight ahead to the small road at the end of the path, then turn right twice onto it. Continue straight ahead at the next two intersections.

(2) Leave the road and turn right onto the downhill path. Pass two turnings on the right and continue straight ahead at the next junction. Continue to the Calvary (Croix Malet) where you turn left uphill.

(3) At the crossroads, turn right, then at the fork, turn right. At the end of the path, turn right again, pass two turnings on the right and join the D510 road. Cross (take care), descend opposite for 300 metres, turn right and then, 50 metres later, left to cross the Fosse Picot stream (see Practical Information) and continue to the small road.

(4) Turn left and head north on the^GRP® du Tour du Pays d'Auge, follow the Chemin de la Motte, then, at the T-junction, turn left towards "Les Essarts".

(5) Turn right onto the "Les Essarts" path and, at the next crossroads, leave the^GRP® and turn right. At the first crossroads, turn right again towards Bois Dumont, then left downhill to join the D262.

(6) Turn left towards the east, cross the crossroads (take care) and then, 150 metres further on, turn left towards the Forêt du Houley.

(7) Pass in front of the castle gate and continue straight ahead.

(8) Turn right twice to descend towards the D262, ignoring all turnings on the right and left. Cross the road, first turning right then left, then climb the hill into the countryside.

(9) At the intersection, turn right. At the crossroads, cross the D137, continue straight ahead and continue straight on until you reach the junction with the^GRP® Tour du Pays d'Auge. Take the^GRP® on the right for about 200 metres.

(10) Leave the^GRP®, turn left onto the path and continue westwards through the forest to rejoin the^GR®26. Turn right onto the^GR® and descend to the D510. Turn right onto it to return to the Hermival-les-Vaux car park.

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 210 ft - Car park on the D510
1 : mi 0.33 - alt. 266 ft - At the intersection, turn right. Cross the - Paquine (rivière) - Affluent de la Touques
2 : mi 2.05 - alt. 449 ft - Leave the road and turn right.
3 : mi 2.81 - alt. 495 ft - At the crossroads, turn right.
4 : mi 3.97 - alt. 302 ft - Crossroads, left heading due north
5 : mi 5.07 - alt. 528 ft - At the crossroads, turn right onto the path.
6 : mi 6.99 - alt. 272 ft - D262, left towards the east
7 : mi 7.4 - alt. 453 ft - Go straight ahead in front of the castle gate.
8 : mi 7.68 - alt. 463 ft - At the intersection, turn right twice.
9 : mi 8.87 - alt. 476 ft - At the intersection, turn right.
10 : mi 9.45 - alt. 469 ft - Leave the GRP, turning left onto the path.
S/E : mi 11.31 - alt. 213 ft - Car park on the D510

Notes

Crossing the Fosse Picot stream: if the current is too strong, you will need to turn back, turn left and head south-southwest for 500m. At the first intersection, turn left and cross the hamlet of La Pincherie to rejoin the route at point (4) 900m further on.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

User 20915617

30 Sep 2025 at 20:33 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello and thank you for this very nice route.
We followed the GPS to complete this route. No problems.
The weather has been beautiful for several days, so our feet stayed dry. There may be a difficult descent before the animal park if it has been raining for several days.
There are a few paved sections, but they are on small, quiet roads.
Very varied overall, with some beautiful views of valleys, lovely buildings and lots of horses. We were treated to a visit from a draft horse who came up to us spontaneously despite our dog.
A very enjoyable time.
We are beginners at Nordic walking, so it took us a while. Six hours in the end and 19.5 km due to two small mistakes on our part.
We'll do it again in the other direction.

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User 7817479

01 Jul 2025 at 08:30 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk through wooded, hilly countryside.

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lehallier

03 May 2022 at 08:01 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A magnificent route that could be further improved at point 4.
After the place called La Motte, at the point marked 133, turn left to walk along the Cerza animal park and discover
some animals, including giraffes, rhinos, ostriches, etc. It's magical and free of charge. Then continue along the path
to reach point 5. It's impossible to get lost.

Bernard

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Cécile Aza

03 May 2021 at 12:34 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, varied in terms of both terrain and scenery: we passed through Cerza Zoo, where we had a picnic in front of the giraffes and rhinos, and enjoyed breathtaking views of Ouilly du Houley Castle.

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Lucette035

25 Jul 2020 at 10:23 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

On this walk, the description is not very reliable, so it is better to rely on the map.
The walk starts by taking the road opposite the church, then turning left.
An interesting walk alternating between countryside and woods. A few hills.
Enjoy a quiet picnic before the castle, by the stream and properties.
Well worth discovering.

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benoitrando

22 Jul 2018 at 09:26 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

2 Continue to Calvary de la Croix Malet, OK, but how do we get there? Do we turn left, right, or go straight ahead? There are lots of paths there.

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JJD14

18 May 2017 at 20:41 7200

Good evening
Thank you for your comments
See you soon

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pballay

18 May 2017 at 20:03 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,
A lovely hike with beautiful trails.
A dynamic and varied hike.
P Ballay.

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Author

JJD14
27 Walks

Visorando Member

City: Touques (14800)

Machine-translated walk - Original version

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