Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines walks

A loop with several faces... You start along a river and a pond. You then climb up a path to cross a section of the Rambouillet Forest where there are some remarkable trees. You finish through reeds and along a pond.

A route mainly through forest, with some remarkable trees and a beautiful pond, and a heritage detour through the hamlet of Loireux.

In the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Natural Park, a hike mainly through forest, with a variety of tree species and ponds hidden in the fern undergrowth. The Fontaine Sainte-Anne, which was a place of pilgrimage for many years, is a pleasant spot to stop for a rest.

Hike through the woods and pretty little villages.

A circular hike around Rochefort-en-Yvelines. The first circular loop goes north-west into the Bois de Rochefort and then returns to the town centre with a view of the cemetery and the Church of Saint-Gilles-et-de-l'Assomption. The second circular route goes around the village to the south and then east, reaching the Gloriette (river) before temporarily rejoining the route from the first part. The return journey is again through the Bois de Rochefort to reach the starting point at the Carrefour de Luynes. An ideal circular route in May with lily of the valley between the Fief de Belloy and the Butte de la Justice.

A walk through the Rambouillet Forest to discover the Étang d’Or, which you’ll come across at a bend in a forest track, and walk all the way round it. This pond is aptly named, as it is so beautiful and peaceful: the perfect setting for daydreaming. You can spot coots, mallards and grey herons. This walk mainly follows theGR®1, marked with red and white signs.

In the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Natural Park, this hike alternates between forest paths and small roads through meadows and woods, revealing a rich heritage including the Fontaine Sainte-Anne, which was a place of pilgrimage for many years.

A pleasant little walk to explore the Rambouillet Castle Park and the Bergerie.A walk that allows you to visit either the Bergerie or the Museum located in the Palais du Roi de Rome.

A south-north crossing of the Rambouillet and Quatre Piliers forests, from station to station! The route, mainly through forest, is long and requires a good sense of direction for the first half. Several ponds and remarkable trees line the route.

The Rambouillet Forest is one of the largest forests in the Paris region. This section ofthe GR®®1 trailallows you to explore the western part of the forest. It is full of charm and features remarkable sites such as the Chêne de la Pocqueterie oak tree, the Rochers d'Angennes rocks and the Pierre Ardoue stone. The route starts in a town with great cultural potential, including the Château de Rambouillet, the Hermitage, the Laiterie de la Reine and the Chaumière aux Coquillages.

This hike explores part of the hydraulic network built during the reign of Louis XIV to supply water to the Palace of Versailles. After a very pleasant walk along the Vieille-Eglise Aqueduct and through the Bois des Vindrins, the trail continues through cultivated plains alongside small irrigation channels.

A hike in the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Nature Park, where you can play leapfrog with the Rémarde river. You will encounter old mills, two beautiful churches and an oratory dedicated toSaint Arnoult, patron saint of walkers! You will follow paths along horse pastures or the edge of woods, quiet roads, lanes and footpaths.

A pleasant short walk to explore the surroundings of Rambouillet Castle, its park and gardens, as well as other sites to visit such as the Bergerie. A walk that can easily be combined with sightseeing for the whole family. Please note: Before setting off, check the opening hours of the Rambouillet Castle park, as they may vary depending on the season. Moderator's note, October 2021: Bergerie closed, see comments at the bottom of this page

A hike with varied landscapes. The route is mainly through the undergrowth of a beautiful forest with sections along the riverbank. 07/08/2023 Moderator's note: hike modified at point 2 to avoid private property.

A loop starting from Cernay-la-Ville. Head west towards Le Perray and Vieille-Église. Return via the Rambouillet Forest. 75% of the route is in the forest. Start and finish in the town centre.The circuit is almost flat (a small descent and climb towards the end), with a little road at the start and end (2 x 1.5 km) and the rest on forest paths. No technical difficulty, but it's not a leisurely ride (not suitable for families), as the paths can be very bumpy (stones, ruts, etc.) but are nevertheless often very beautiful.

A hike that allows you to discover centuries-old chestnut trees.

This walk from Bonnelles to Rochefort-en-Yvelines alternates between woods and meadows. You will discover the charming hamlet of La Bâte. As you climb up to Saint-Gilles Church in Rochefort, you will enjoy a magnificent view of this ancient feudal town. On the way back, you will cross the Étangs de Bonnelles Nature Reserve.

This short walk combines natural and built heritage. In the first part, you will discover Bonnelles and its old castle by following the paths that wind through the village. In the second part, you will walk through the commune's nature reserve, surrounded by wetland vegetation and two beautiful ponds.

Near Rambouillet, the Vaux de Cernay offer many pleasant walks. The one suggested here gives a good overview of the site’s variety: ponds and wetlands, a passage through a sandstone boulder field and through the old quarries. This walk is enjoyable in all seasons.

A short half-day hike in the forest, with several ponds along the way.

A walk alternating between woodland and farmland, mostly on footpaths with a few sections on roads with very little traffic.

Starting from the car park at the old sandpit, walk slightly uphill through the forest, then downhill along a stream, past the farm and continue along the stream.

A hike from station to station with a water theme! In the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Natural Park and then in the Rambouillet Forest, this is a pleasant route, mostly shaded, along ponds, small canals and a charming river, the Drouette.

Hike in the Rambouillet forest, but in the lesser-known and less frequented part. The Rochers d'Angennes are impressive; you don't expect to find yourself in a blue-collar atmosphere in this place. Hike from station to station with a fast TER at the end, if returning to Paris.

A hike from station to station that will take you through the forest of the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Nature Park. Ponds, castle, forest, ramparts and museum: everything you need for a wonderful day out with family or friends.

Hike along steep paths then through the narrow streets of a picturesque village.

A walk in the Rambouillet forest between two small ponds connected by a stream. Many species of mushrooms can be seen when the weather is right. A nature walk around several vital natural elements.

Starting from the Coupe-Gorge Pond, you will encounter fantastic creatures hidden in the Tête d'Alouette Oak. You will pass through forests of different species and, if you are lucky, you may come across a family of wild boars.

The first part of the route follows the upper reaches of the Orge river in a very bucolic setting. The second part is on a cultivated plateau with extensive views. The end of the route is in the forest, with beautiful trees here and there.

This walk will first take you on a tour of Auffargis’s heritage. Then, following only footpaths, you’ll walk alongside streams and watercourses to discover the Étang du Perray. You will then walk through the Bois des Vindrins to reach a well-known sand pit. Continuing your walk through this woodland, you will arrive at Les Vaux de Cernay, where you can see its abbey.

A mostly shaded circular route that takes you through woodland and open countryside, where you’ll encounter charming Limousin cows, before following the course of the Orge river, crossing a small ford (or a footbridge).

The undergrowth is dotted with flowers in March and April and there are remarkable trees all along the route.

An easy walk to discover ponds, a beautiful lightning-struck tree and a beautiful viewpoint, all in the Dourdan National Forest, so the route is well shaded. The ground may be muddy in places in wet weather.

A long walk through forests, ponds and the banks of the Orge river, passing through the beautiful villages of Sainte-Mesme and Saint-Martin de Bréthancourt. Includes a visit to Dourdan, which you cross via parks and walking trails along the Orge river or the old fortifications, avoiding the suburbs and their buildings.

Discover Dourdan and its national forest.

A hike from station to station, crossing the Dourdan Forest, the Bois de Saint-Benoît, the Bois de Pinceloup and the southern part of the Rambouillet Forest. Several lakes adorn the route and the church of Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines adds a superb touch of heritage.

A hike from station to station in the upper Orge valley, following the river. Discover the rich heritage of Dourdan town centre (fortified castle, 12th-13th century church, wash houses, etc.) as well as beautiful churches along the way.

The Orge river flows through the Essonne department, first from west to east and then diagonally from south-west to north-east. This route follows the valley as closely as possible, where it is accessible by train. The route alternates between paths along the river, including a promenade in the downstream section, passages through the undergrowth, residential areas and urban routes.

A lovely woodland walk with a cultural touch.

This short route alternates between forest paths and paths along fields, following a small stream called Rouillon de Valence. It ends with a return to Dampierre-en-Yvelines in front of the château and its majestic park.

This stage is the last of the GR®1 and is over 30 km long. It crosses the western part of the Rambouillet Forest. The entire stage is through forest, except for the crossing of Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines. The route connects two towns with a rich history: Dourdan and Rambouillet. There are many straight lines on this route, which is mainly flat. There are a few notable ponds at the end of the route, such as the Étang de la Tour and the Étang d'Or.

This route is the third of the four sections of the Chemin Charles Péguy. It follows in the footsteps of the poet Charles Péguy, who made two pilgrimages to Chartres (in 1912 and 1913, each lasting four days there and back), celebrated in a poem that has gone down in history. The route alternates between the landscapes of the Beauce region and other, more hilly and charming landscapes that you might not expect.