A circular walk from L’Isle-Adam to Presles

Start from the car park at the L’Isle-Adam-Parmain swimming pool, 1 Avenue Paul Thoureau, L’Isle-Adam. For access by train, see the practical information.

(S/E) Take the south exit from the car park onto Avenue du Général De Gaulle. Turn right twice onto Chemin Pierre Terver.

(1) Turn left onto the towpath that runs behind the ‘Esquisse de la première danse’ statue. After the footbridge near L’Isle-Adam Beach, pass under the bridge on Rue de Conti.

(2) Join the^GR®1. Take the footbridge over the Oise, then turn right onto the street running alongside the Oise. Continue to the end of Quai de l’Oise. Turn left onto Avenue Jules Dupré. At the end of this avenue, at the ‘Stop’ sign, turn right onto Rue Saint-Lazare. Cross the D 922 at the pedestrian crossing, then follow it to the right.

(3) Take the path on the left to join the Chemin des Belles Vues. After the no-entry sign, carry on straight ahead.

(4) At the junction, turn left. At the next junction, about a hundred metres further on, turn right. Keep going straight on (south-south-west).

(5) At the end of the path, turn left (follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®1}). Ignore the path coming from the left. Keep a low wall, more or less overgrown with vegetation, on your right. Then follow the wooden guardrail along the path, which overlooks the quarries, right to the end. You’ll come out onto another path.

(6) Turn left onto this path, then turn right onto Route Capitaine. At the junction about 150 m further on, turn left. At the next junction, turn left onto the GR^®. Cross a footpath and continue straight on.

(7) At the next junction, turn right twice. Continue along the^GR® and, at the next junction, take Route du Sarcelet, the^second on the left.

(8) At Carrefour Vicaire, take the second track on the right, the Route du Bois Franc. At the Chêne au Loup crossroads, continue along the^third track on the left. At the end, cross the bridge over the N 184.

(9) At the ‘give way’ sign, carefully cross the slip road leading to the four-lane carriageway. After the wooden barrier, leave the cycle path on your left and continue straight on along Route Glaiseuse. Climb up to the (now missing) Poteau de la Tour. Opposite, take Route Pierreuse. At the^third junction (after plot 38), change direction by turning left onto Route du Pommier.

(10) At the end, turn right. Ignore the paths branching off to the right and follow a wire fence on your left. Once on the road, head left and immediately turn right onto Chemin des Tuileries. After a shed, cross a wide track. Ignore a grassy path coming from the right and follow a track to the left.

(11) Cross the bridge over the motorway. Stay on the main track through the fields. After passing the edge of a woodland, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(12) Carefully cross the D 64E and follow it to the left, keeping to its right-hand verge. After a small copse on your right, turn right onto the yellow-marked path leading to the Blanc Val covered walkway.

(13) Continue along the path, cross the Ruelle à Ponthus and carry on north-west. At the end of the path, take the^second road on the right, even though it’s a no-entry road. At the next junction, first turn left then right, passing a large cross on your right.

(14) At the corner by the cemetery, turn left onto Chemin de L’Isle-Adam (fire hydrant). Then turn right onto Chemin des Cathelinettes. Pass a private road on your left, then, after another crucifix, turn left onto Rue de L’Isle-Adam.

(15) Ignore the paths leading to the golf greens. Before a sign warning of a speed bump, leave the yellow-marked path on your right. At the sign indicating the exit from Presles, go straight on. At a right-hand bend, do not take the one-way road.

(16) As you approach the roundabout, walk along the right-hand verge to follow the road towards Mours. Cross Rue de L’Isle-Adam at the pedestrian crossing to join Chemin du Bac on the left. Pass under the D 922 and emerge at the banks of the Oise.

(17) Turn left and walk alongside the River Oise on your right. Pass under the two road bridges and continue along the river. Cross the Ru du Goulay and rejoin the tarmac a little further on.

(18) When the road bends to the left, carry on straight ahead, passing a campsite on your left, and enter the Rosière biodiversity area. Follow the path to the right and reach the banks of the Oise.

(19) Leave the Rosière area, then pass the Avenue des Carrières de Cassan on your left and continue along the banks of the Oise.

(20) Take the footbridge opposite a restaurant. Walk to the right of the restaurant and, a little further on to the right, join the narrow path along the banks of the Oise. Walk alongside the Isle-Adam lock.

(1) At the statue you saw right at the start of the walk, there are two options depending on your mode of transport:
- If you’ve come by car, turn left onto Chemin Pierre Terver and you’ll soon come to the swimming pool car park on your left (S/E).
- If you’ve come by train, carry on straight ahead along the river. Take the bridge over the Oise on your right. Then cross the railway line and turn immediately right to reach L’Isle-Adam – Parmain station.

Access to the walk:
- By car: The car park at L’Isle-Adam swimming pool has limited capacity (110 spaces); if full, look for a parking space in the adjacent streets.
- By train: L’Isle-Adam – Parmain station, Transilien line H (Paris-Nord network). For timetables, visit the Transilien website. From the station, head left along Rue Raymond Poincaré or right along the towpath, depending on which exit you take. You’ll soon reach Rue de Conti (D64); take the second bridge over the Oise to start the walk at point (2), heading down to the right to reach the riverbank.

(20) Bar and restaurant

La Plage de L’Isle-Adam has been the location for numerous film shoots from the 1930s to the present day.

(2) The walk: The L'Isle-Adam to Auvers-sur-Oise circular route allows you to follow the^GR®1from this point to Auvers-sur-Oise.

(12) The circular walk from Viarmes to Presles follows the^GR®1from Viarmes to this point.

(15) Isle-Adam Golf Club.

(19) Near the natural island of Champagne-sur-Oise lies the Rosière biodiversity area.

(20) L’Isle-Adam river port.