Carnelle Forest Route

Starting from Mours, take a walk to discover a few paths linking Presles and Nointel, following the railway line and taking the hidden footpaths through the beautiful Carnelle forest.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.40 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 371 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 361 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 472 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 98 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Mours (95260)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.133503° / E 2.270076°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2313OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the designated spaces on Rue de Nointel, near the town hall.

(S/E) Opposite the town hall, turn right to follow the Ru de Presles, which is raised above street level. Keep right at the crossroads to follow Rue du Moulin, then pass in front of a large building housing the White Fathers. Continue along the road.

(1) Turn left between two houses to head towards the fields and pass under a power line.

(2) Shortly afterwards, cross the small bridge over the stream. During the war, a railway line used to run through this spot. Then turn left onto the small path running alongside the stream: be careful of the nettles in spring, as the path can be difficult to navigate.

(3) Cross the waterfall over the low wall, taking care not to fall into the water, then turn left onto the path towards Nointel. Take great care when crossing the RD78, as cars travel at high speed on this road.

(4) Before reaching the level crossing, turn right onto the small path through the fields that leads to the railway line. Do not cross the level crossing, but follow the railway line on the right until you reach Presles-Courcelles station.

(5) Turn left to cross the railway line, go straight on at the junction with Rue Danièle Casanova, then take the first street on the left, Rue des Cocagnes: this is the most difficult climb of the walk. Then turn right into the cul-de-sac and continue along the path that follows it. You will come out onto Rue des Vallées. Turn right until you reach the star-shaped crossroads.

(6) Turn left onto Rue d'Étienne d'Orves and negotiate the right-hand bend.

(7) Take the path on the left to enter the Forest of Carnelle. Turn right at the three-way junction just after the junction and continue straight on to Carrefour Neuf, where you will join aPR® trail: yellow markings.

(8) Turn left onto Route du Bosquet des Princes, following the yellow markings. Cross two side roads, then turn right and continue for about 100 metres until you reach the junction with Route de la Carrière.

(9) Leave thePR® and the yellow markings by turning left. Join Route du Beau Point and turn left again to follow a path through the woods that descends to Nointel, which you reach via Avenue Fauchier Magnan.

(10) Once at the end, turn left onto Avenue de Paris. Continue to the junction with Rue du Croissant on your left.

(11) At this point, turn right onto a footpath and head to the viewpoint.

(12) Be sure to take the time to stop here and look at the beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary on the left and the incredible, magnificent avenue leading to Saint-Denis Church on the right. Then continue straight ahead along the path, skirting the gardens, until you reach Rue de l'Orangerie. Turn left, then left again a few metres further on to start along a new path. When you reach the obelisk, you will see the alignment with a large tree-lined avenue, the stone ruins and the castle. Continue along the path that will take you to the cow pasture, which you will follow on the right until you reach Rue des Bohémies.

(13) Cross at the pedestrian crossing, then turn left onto a footpath running parallel to the street, which runs alongside a field and joins Rue Jean Saunier, opposite Nointel-Mours station.

(14) Turn left to cross the railway line, then immediately right towards Mours. As you enter the town, before reaching the football stadium, turn right and walk along the cemetery to reach the small chapel, which has been completely restored and now houses a cultural centre. Here you can hear the Mours choir and sometimes attend lectures.

(15) Turn left onto the road (Chemin du Cimetière), continue along Rue de l'École and keep going straight until you reach Rue de Beaumont. Turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 112 ft - Mours Town Hall, Rue de Nointel
  2. 1 : mi 0.23 - alt. 112 ft - Fork in the road
  3. 2 : mi 0.53 - alt. 118 ft - Pont des Allemands
  4. 3 : mi 0.96 - alt. 118 ft - Waterfall
  5. 4 : mi 1.31 - alt. 161 ft - Path on the right
  6. 5 : mi 2.26 - alt. 177 ft - Presles-Courcelles station
  7. 6 : mi 2.74 - alt. 200 ft - Star-shaped crossroads
  8. 7 : mi 3.12 - alt. 328 ft - Entrance to the forest
  9. 8 : mi 3.54 - alt. 463 ft - Junction PR°°®°°
  10. 9 : mi 4.09 - alt. 443 ft - Route de la Carrière junction
  11. 10 : mi 4.87 - alt. 200 ft - Avenue de Paris
  12. 11 : mi 5 - alt. 180 ft - Start of the Nointel footpaths
  13. 12 : mi 5.07 - alt. 177 ft - Viewpoint
  14. 13 : mi 5.34 - alt. 151 ft - Rue des Bohémies
  15. 14 : mi 5.62 - alt. 135 ft - Rue Jean Saunier - Nointel-Mours Station
  16. 15 : mi 6.17 - alt. 118 ft - Chapel
  17. S/E : mi 6.4 - alt. 112 ft - Mours Town Hall

Notes

In wet weather, the path can be muddy, so waterproof footwear is recommended.

Be careful with your ankles as there are a few ruts along the path. Watch your step.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Katia95
Katia95

Thank you for your very positive feedback 👌🌝

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Gege77500
Gege77500

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting route, alternating between following the stream, passing through villages and walking along country lanes. A very pleasant walk on this sunny Sunday morning.

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Kax
Kax

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A few climbs in built-up areas that didn’t exactly thrill me (though they do combine my two pet peeves) and quite a few people walking their dogs on this Saturday near the towns, and I had to make my way to Carnelle Forest. The best part is undoubtedly the start, running alongside the stream and the railway line. It was starting to get tricky with the nettles, but it was still manageable in shorts. I’d recommend trousers otherwise...

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Katia95
Katia95

Thank you for your feedback.

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cfrancon
cfrancon

Very nice hike. Pleasant walk along the stream. The only downside is along the railway track, but it doesn't last very long. Worth doing again

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charlieduf
charlieduf
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful walk. The path along the stream is impassable for 100 metres due to nettles and brambles. Simply go down into the field on the right and follow another path along the edge of the field, then rejoin the stream path a little further on.

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Katia95
Katia95

Thank you for following this itinerary.

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cfrancon
cfrancon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route for a sunny Sunday. The walk along the stream is very enjoyable, as is the detour into Carnelle Forest.

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Katia95
Katia95

I love it too 🤩

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didiero
didiero

Well done on this route. I live in the town and I think it's great that you chose this hike, with the section through Carnelle Forest. Thank you.

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Katia95
Katia95

Thank you for your positive feedback 🥰

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clamed95
clamed95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is really very pleasant and varied.

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Katia95
Katia95

Thank you for your feedback 😁

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ozogiminy
ozogiminy
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A small clarification is needed between points 9 and 10, the path through the woods that descends to Nointel. I followed this path but ended up on a street below Avenue Fauchier Magnan.
Otherwise, the detour to the alley that leads to St Denis Church is really worth it, and you also pass by the castle.
There is also a pleasant path along the stream between 2 and 3.

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Katia95
Katia95

Indeed, while the work is being done, it's better to walk along the street that runs alongside the river.

Glad you liked it 😍

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