Circular route starting from Signy-l'Abbaye and its forest.

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This route allows you to discover Saint-Michel Church, its wash house on the Vaux and the national forest that stretches across several municipalities.
Moderator's note : many hikers seem to have had difficulties on this route, see reviews, use a GPS.

Details

n°794208
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 185 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 180 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 224 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 135 m
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Photos

Trail damaged between points 7 and 8.
View of the Ardennes countryside.
La Vaux in Signy l'Abbaye

Description of the walk

Parking on Rue de l'Abbaye in the car park near the college and school.

(S/E) As you leave the car park and head towards the church via theGR®12, you will see a stone on your right indicating that the abbey once stood here. Head south-southwest along Rue de l'Abbaye and take the first left. After a right-hand bend, you will come out onto the D27 road.

(1) Cross the road carefully and go down the steps opposite to walk along the Vaux. After about 50 metres, take the bridge over the river and look at the wash house on your left. Turn left and walk alongside the church.

(2) Turn left and return to the previous crossroads.

(1) Continue straight ahead towards the town hall.

(3) At the town hall, turn left into Petite Rue du Château (follow theGR® symbols). At the three-way junction, turn right onto Rue du Château. Then turn left onto Chemin de la Maison Debitte. At the end of the road, turn right.

(4) At the intersection, continue straight ahead to the entrance to the forest (follow theGR®).

(5) At Chêne Guérin, turn left onto Route Forestière de la Vierge. At the first crossroads, continue left to reach Étang de la Héronnière.

(6) Turn right, leave theGR® and head north-west up the Route Forestière de la Fontaine aux Aulx. Stay on the main path and ignore all the side paths until you reach a fork.

(7) Leave the forest road via a very wide track on your left. Walk along and cross the Maimby stream (low water in summer).

(8) Leave the track via a path on your right to join the Route Forestière de la Grande Terre. Follow this road on the right.

(9) At the crossroads, turn right onto the Route Forestière de la Vierge until you reach the Allée de Serre.

(10) Turn left and head into the forest along this path. You will come out onto a green lane; follow it to the right along the pastures. You will pass some tree houses on your right.

(11) Cross the road and turn right (south) onto theGR® on your right to walk to the Domaine de la Vénerie. You will pass the Chêne Guérin oak tree again (you can take a 1.5 km introductory trail to discover the flora and fauna in this area).

(5) Continue straight ahead towards the south.

(4) Leave theGR® and take the first road on the left. You will then have a lovely view of the Ardennes countryside. Descend to the D27.

(12) Turn right until you reach the entrance to Signy-l'Abbaye. Walk past the cemetery and then the town hall.

(3) Turn left and continue to the church.

(2) Take Rue de Thin on the left. Keep left at every junction.

(13) Take aGR® path on the left that descends towards the river just before a petrol station. Cross over the river and then join the car park on the left (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 141 m - Car park on Rue de l'Abbaye near the secondary school. - Abbaye Notre-Dame (Signy-l'Abbaye)
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 137 m - Route D27 - Vaux (rivière) - Affluent de l'Aisne
  3. 2 : km 0.46 - alt. 138 m - Church
  4. 3 : km 0.62 - alt. 139 m - Town hall
  5. 4 : km 2.01 - alt. 198 m - Intersection
  6. 5 : km 2.3 - alt. 195 m - Chêne Guérin (Signy-l'Abbaye)
  7. 6 : km 3.33 - alt. 150 m - Route Forestière de la Fontaine aux Aulx - Étang de la Héronnière
  8. 7 : km 5.03 - alt. 208 m - Laie on the left
  9. 8 : km 5.97 - alt. 196 m - Layon on the right
  10. 9 : km 7.15 - alt. 224 m - Route Forestière de la Vierge. Near the - Hurtaut (rivière) - Affluent de la Serre
  11. 10 : km 8.04 - alt. 203 m - Allée de Serre
  12. 11 : km 9.21 - alt. 162 m - Road and GR junction
  13. 12 : km 11.16 - alt. 148 m - Turn right onto the D27.
  14. 13 : km 12.31 - alt. 147 m - Path on the left
  15. S/E : km 12.49 - alt. 141 m - Car park on Rue de l'Abbaye near the secondary school.

Notes

Good shoes.

Worth a visit

At Parc de la Vénerie near the oak tree, you can take a 1.5 km trail to discover the forest, its trees and its inhabitants.
Tree climbing course, swimming pool, etc.

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.

Downloads
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Reviews and comments

3.6 / 5
Based on 12 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.5 / 5
Route interest
3.6 / 5
User 2941255

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short walk: easy on an accessible path

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C isa
C isa

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Unable to reach point 8, there was no way through, so we had to cut across the woods
to reach the forest road that led us to point 9, about halfway along the route.
Lots of forest roads and very few forest trails.

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olive
olive

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

No markings.
The route from the garlic fountain is called the heronniere route. We were unable to reach number 8 and turned back. There was no longer a visible path.
We did not find number 10, the Allée de Serre. Instead, we saw a tiny path barely 30 cm wide with a 20 cm high post with no sign.
We reached 121 via the road. We have been hiking for 30 years and this is the first department where we have not found the famous posts with yellow arrows engraved with the direction and time or distance.
It's a shame. However, the Meuse and Semois circular loops are magnificent.
Best regards

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Olivier&Sheena
Olivier&Sheena

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hello, the route was a bit disappointing, with too many tarmac roads open to traffic and long, monotonous straights. There is a lack of signposting; in some sections there are yellow, white or red markings that are not specified in the road book. At point 6, near the pond, the road to the north-west is not called Fontaine aux Aulx but Route de la Héronnière. Between points 7 and 8, the path is almost impassable, completely ruined by agricultural and forestry machinery (already difficult in dry weather, I can imagine how bad it must be in the rain; I can provide photos if you wish). Furthermore, it is impossible to find the crossing over the Maimby stream, the location of which is very vague. So this is a hike that could be much more enjoyable if it focused on "real" unpaved forest trails, and if the road book included information on signposting. Above all, hikers should be advised to avoid the section between points 7 and 8 because the path is completely destroyed.

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vivabfg
vivabfg

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very vague description in Signy l'Abbaye. What's more, the numbered labels (1, 2 and 3) placed on the map obscure the town plan and streets, making it impossible to match up with the description. For example, it should be specified that the town hall and market hall are one and the same building, and that you need to take the street that goes up just to the left of this town hall/market hall. Because point 3 is completely wrong:
It should say:
Take the street leading up to the small castle on the left of the town hall. After 150 metres, turn right onto the street leading to the castle.
After 150 metres, turn left onto Chemin du Tonnelier (formerly Chemin de la Maison Debitte).
In point 4, specify: continue straight on until you reach the forest (2 km).
And the icing on the cake: between 7 and 8, it says "cross the Maimby stream". But WHERE!? There is no indication of where to cross. I couldn't find it. Luckily, I have a good sense of direction and know how to read a map. In any case, not recommended for beginners unless equipped with a proper GPS.

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ctrochain
ctrochain

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

I confirm that the section: "(7) Leave the forest road via a very wide track on your left. Follow and cross the Maimby stream (low water level in summer)" is no longer possible: the path from the stream crossing no longer exists. I had to turn back.
Disappointing because there is too much road...

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Pascal Denis 51
Pascal Denis 51

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

I started this hike at point 5. I thought the forest was very beautiful but that it should be closed to traffic... so I was disappointed by the paved roads and long straight lines... a shame because the area is beautiful. I had no problems at point 8; I crossed the "stream" at a suitable spot and went straight up the slope to find the path at the top.

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Zozotc
Zozotc

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Well-marked route but of limited interest. It mainly follows roads or tarmac forest tracks. Long straight stretches between the trees quickly became tedious. A shame, especially as a long-distance footpath crosses the forest in the middle of the route. For those who enjoy clocking up the miles.

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Chaberton
Chaberton

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
Start at point 5, an easy hike following route 58 of the Ardennes ridges, 11 km.
A pleasant hike through the forest, with one slightly difficult section due to trees on the path, but this can be easily bypassed.
Have a good day.

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Francis BUREAU
Francis BUREAU

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

As I didn't have GPS and given the comments on point 8, I decided to play it safe and follow the PR 58 (very well marked in pink), which largely follows this hike (but is shorter) from 5 to 5 (circular route).
A pleasant walk.
Frequency: I put yes because I met several groups.

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Bigloof
Bigloof

The hike is quite long for me.
You'd probably need to explain that you have to go straight up to find the road, which is quite far away.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

"Incomplete description at point 8, requiring a GPS or compass to find the rest of the route."

The description caused problems at point (8). How can this be remedied? Can you make any suggestions?

See you soon

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cecilounette
cecilounette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful forest, nice,
same observation
"Incomplete description at point 8, requiring a GPS or compass to find the rest of the route."
So I turned back because it was very muddy and not well marked
Otherwise, nothing to report, beautiful site!

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Bigloof
Bigloof

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very nice hike
Incomplete description at point 8, requiring a GPS or compass to find the rest of the route.

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