Circular route between Thorigny and Villevaudé via the Dhuys Aqueduct

Start from Lagny-Thorigny SNCF station.

(S/E ) Exit thestation via the south exit (Marne side)and head straight across to the banks of the Marne. Turn right and follow the Marne. Climb the stairs onto the Pont Joffre, turn right and cross at the pedestrian crossing.
Follow this busy road on the left-hand pavement and cross over the railway tracks. After the roundabout, cross the road, then the small car park, and you will reach another roundabout.

(1) Walk up the wide Avenue Claire (closed to traffic) and, at the top, turn left. At the fork, continue to the right and, after 100 m, take the narrow cobbled lane that climbs to the right. At the end, turn right onto the street, then immediately left onto Rue des Pierres.
At the end, continue left onto Rue Berthelot, then, after 80 m, at the Pomponne town sign, take the path on the right. As you leave the woods, the path continues as a street lined on its left by a residential area.

(2) About a hundred metres further on, take a well-maintained hard-surfaced path on the right. At the end, turn left onto a tarmac track, then continue along a farm track heading due north between two hedges.

(3) After about 250 m, having passed a building in a pasture on the right, take a forest track on the left (marked with a ‘No Motor Vehicles’ sign). Continue along this track, which crosses over the high-speed rail line, then turn right. The track follows the fence, turns left, then right.

(4) At this right-hand bend, leave the track and take the path opposite, which becomes a track and then a road running alongside the hamlet of Le Grimpet. After the hamlet, pass under a power line, then take the first grassy track on the left. Pass under the power line again and continue to the road. Turn right along the road, crossing the bridge over the busy D404.

(5) Continue, then at the crossroads, turn right onto Rue de la Tour, which climbs into the hamlet of Montjay-la-Tour. Pass under a series of high-voltage power lines, then, 150 m further on, arrive at Place Saint-Christophe on the right, with a few parking spaces.

(6) Go to the far end of the square and take the path that runs along the edge of a very large mobile home site until you reach a road. Follow it to the left until you reach a children’s playground next to a school (4 benches are available for hikers to rest on). Turn right before this playground and continue to the foot of the water tower.

(7) Turn right into the forest track, cross a road and arrive at the Dhuys Aqueduct, easily recognisable by its distinctive features (sturdy metal barriers to prevent vehicle access, a wide trench in the vegetation usually with two walkways, and typical hemispherical inspection chambers).

(8) Follow the aqueduct to the right. After about 2 km, cross over the high-speed rail line, under the D404 and the high-voltage power lines.

(9) Continue along the aqueduct. Just under 2 km further on, cross a small tarmac road, continuing along the aqueduct. 500 m further on, on the left, note the old PR® route, now marked with a Yellow Cross. Continue along the aqueduct for another 30 m.

(10) Then head up to the left along a new signposted path that climbs through a grassy area. The path turns left and then, at the crossroads 100 m further on, turn left. In the centre of the village of Carnetin, turn left in front of the church and continue to the remarkable viewpoint overlooking the Jablines base and the sites of the Marne battles of the Great War.
Two double benches provide a place to rest whilst admiring the view.

(11) Turn back towards the church. Take the road opposite, which becomes a track, then a path, leading back to the aqueduct; follow this to the left for about 100 m. Then take the path that descends to the right. There are several junctions on this section: keep going as far as possible in the same south-westerly direction. As you leave the forest, walk along the edge of the field until you reach a good farm track.
Turn left until you reach the ostrich farm (and the chickens, geese, goats and llamas!).

(12) At the farm, continue straight ahead and you’ll reach the outskirts of Thorigny. Cross the main road, continue straight ahead along Rue Parmentier, then along its extension, Rue Jeanne d’Arc. At the crossroads, take the small path straight ahead which leads to the gate of the Old Abbey of Chaâlis.

(13) Turn right onto Rue de Chaâlis, then take the first street on the left (Rue Thiers), then right onto Rue de la Gare and head towards the station (S/E).

No difficulty, but we are in Seine-et-Marne: some sections are muddy in wet weather. Wear suitable footwear; walking poles may be recommended.

Shops around the station.

No "proper" picnic area, but a few benches at the playground between (6) and (7), and at the viewpoint (11)