Dampierre-en-Yvelines walks

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.

The first part of the hike takes in many points of interest. The second part offers a route through forest and quiet country lanes. This circuit is not recommended for young children as it includes some very steep and stony paths.

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

At the heart of the Chevreuse Valley Natural Park, a hike that allows you to wander through a protected natural site with a trail laid out by the Park. In the Bois de Maincourt, one can see ancient sandstone quarries. The course of the river Yvette, which the trail follows on the way back, finally allows a patrimonial approach with old mills and old washhouses.

A short hike in the Upper Chevreuse Valley, rich in heritage and offering beautiful views of the Vallon du Pommeret and the wooded hills that surround it.

A beautiful hike to discover the beautiful sights of the Chevreuse valley: the Chatillonmill, the castle of Dampierre, the blacksmith’s, the villages of Fourcherolles, Senlisse and Choisel, Méridon castle, the village of Chevreuse and its small bridges along the Yvette, and Château de la Madeleine.

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.

This hike will take you from castle to castle in the Chevreuse Valley: Coubertin, Méridon, Breteuil, Dampierre and La Madeleine. You will also discover Chevreuse, its small bridges and its Saint-Martin Church (with its remarkable ambulatory) and the surrounding countryside. The hike can start from Chevreuse or from the RER B station at Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse (departure and return details in italics). In this case, add 2 km to the length of the hike.

Near Rambouillet, the Vaux de Cernay offer many pleasant walks. The one suggested here gives a good overview of the variety of the site: ponds and wetlands, a passage through a chaos of sandstone and old quarries. This walk is pleasant in all seasons. 07/08/2023 Message from the moderator: hike modified at point 2 to avoid private property.

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.

Visit the Château de la Madeleine's belvedere, castle and cellars via a trail around the Plaine de la Madeleine. We recommend starting from the "Carrefour de Milon," which is accessible from the beautiful little village of Milon-la-Chapelle.

In the footsteps of Jean Racine, in places steeped in history. A walk through a variety of environments, between forests, meadows and cultivated fields, with a lovely view of the ancient Abbey of Port-Royal des Champs.

A short forest hike in two stages. After a lovely view of the former Port-Royal-des-Champs Abbey, you climb up the Vallon du Rodhon on a path and trails that wind through the undergrowth. The hike then follows the wide paths of the Port-Royal Forest.

A walk between ponds, country lanes and forest, passing through the small town of Mesnil-Saint-Denis. This hike is accessible to all. It takes you through a variety of places with lovely views. Please note that there is virtually no shade for two-thirds of the route between the points (1) and (6), so it is best to avoid it in very hot weather.

A very beautiful hike to discover the wonderful rural and natural landscape of the north-west of the Chevreuse Valley, offering a radical change of scenery from the urban and commercial area of Coignières.

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 where you play leapfrog with the Yvette River! The route is mostly close to the river and crosses a few woods and pretty parks, including the one in the western part of the Paris-Sud University campus.

From the RER B station at Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, visit the 11th-century medieval castle (1030) in Chevreuse and its ramparts, with a view overlooking the Chevreuse Valley. A day of nature, sport, excitement and gastronomy awaits you.

The first part of this walk alternates between woodland and fields. The return journey is through undergrowth, along the former railway line that used to link Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and Limours.

This magnificent route will allow you to discover the wonders of the Chevreuse Valley, passing through the Domaine de Coubertin, the Meridon Departmental Forest, the Bois du Vossery sandstone quarry, the village of Chevreuse with its shopping streets, its church, the Promenade des Petits Ponts and its medieval castle.

Loop around the source of the Yvette at Les Essarts-le-Roy.

A short walk between forest and fields without leaving Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. It will take you to the "Garde Manger", a shop selling local and short route products.

A short hike to discover the Mérantaise valley, the Croix du Bois, the Mérantais wash house, the village of Magny-les-Hameaux, the Maison des Bonheurs (family of 19th-century painters), the Domaine de Brouëssy, and the stele of Hélène Boucher (early 20th-century aviator).

A loop around the Bois de Montabé, following the edge of an old railway line, a short section across fields and ending on paths and lanes. A walk to get some fresh air in the afternoon.

A hike from station to station that takes us to the source of the River Yvette and then up and down through the woods that frame its valley. The route crosses the Maincourt Marsh and then an area of rocky chaos. The forest trails are interspersed with villages and hamlets rich in heritage.

Hike through the woods and pretty little villages.

A hike from station to station, yo-yoing between the Yvette valley and the Saclay plateau, with a few fairly steep hills. After a mostly wooded route with some elevation, you cross Gif-sur-Yvette and then walk along a wetland area framed by two rivers. You climb back up onto the plateau, near the Paris-Saclay University campus. After visiting the old Troche quarry and walking along the edge of the plateau, you descend back into the valley.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IT WILL NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE TO DO THIS ROUTE FROM SEPTEMBER 2022 DUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HILL FOR THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES. This route passes by many interesting sites and places: an old church, a lake, viewpoints and, in particular, La Revanche hill, the highest point in the Île-de-France region. It is advisable to do this route on a clear day if possible, so that you can enjoy the view of the entire region to the full.

Short hike in the Île-de-France region, from Élancourt Village to the Courance de Maurepas pond. The outward journey follows the left bank of the Ru d'Elancourt, the return journey follows the right bank. The first part (from (S) to (3)) can no longer be done. The entire Elancourt hill (la Revanche) is under construction in preparation for the Olympic Games and is therefore closed to hiking. This will remain the case until 2025... See reviews

A very short walk to get some fresh air around a pond that is home to many birds. Along the way, you will discover a Gothic-style church, the ruins of the keep of the former Château de Maurepas and a remarkable oak tree.

Starting from the Bassin de la Courance in Maurepas, you will walk through woods, fields and small hillside villages. This hike is accessible to everyone, young and old alike.

A pleasant walk through the forest and along the Minière ponds.

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.

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.

The Étang de Saint-Quentin, an artificial lake covering an area of approximately 150 hectares, is located in the municipalities of Trappes and Montigny-le-Bretonneux (Pas-du-lac district), within the new town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. It is part of a large leisure and outdoor recreation centre covering a total area of 600 hectares. Various leisure activities can be enjoyed there. It serves as a wintering ground for many migratory birds. More than 230 species of birds inhabit the 90 hectares of the reserve.

The upstream part of this series of three hikes devoted to the Bièvre river. A very pleasant walk along the river and its bodies of water, in a mostly rural setting. A hike from station to station, which can be used to adjust the length depending on the weather conditions or desires of the hikers.

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.

A short walk through the woods will take you to Saint-Pierre-de-Plaisir Church and Plaisir Castle.

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.

A very varied hike, showcasing the best features of the Hurepois, a small natural region in the south-west of the Ile-de-France. It starts with a few villages rich in heritage: churches, a castle, a keep, wash houses, etc. It continues through meadows with numerous horses. The hike ends with a very pleasant walk through the woods.

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.

This is the third stage of the GR® 11 Grand Tour of Île-de-France. It continues through the Yvelines, between Saint-Cyr station and Villiers-Neauphle-Pontchartrain station. This stage completes the 'radial' part of the GR® starting from Paris and joins the circular loop that circles the region from Villiers-Saint-Frédéric. The route passes through increasingly large wooded areas as you approach the countryside.