From Bécon-les-Bruyères to Bois-Colombes

Starting point and access: Bécon-les-Bruyères station.
- Transilien - Line L, on the section between Paris Saint-Lazare and Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche.
Take the footbridge at the front of the train when coming from Paris, then take the Rue de la Sablière exit, on the Asnières side.

(S) At the bottom of the footbridge, turn right onto Rue de la Sablière. Then turn left onto Rue de Strasbourg, then right onto Rue Denfert-Rochereau. At the junction, head diagonally left into Square Gilbert Thomain. Go straight on to cross the square diagonally. As you leave the square, continue diagonally left into Rue de Lorraine. At the end, turn right and take the^second left, Rue du Rocher, lined with some beautiful houses.

(1) At the end, take the^first left, Rue des Bruyères. Walk up and down the^second left, Villa Paule (beautiful houses). Continue along Rue des Bruyères and pass Saint-Marc Church on the left. At the traffic lights, cross Avenue Chevreuil and follow it to the left. At the next set of traffic lights, turn right onto Rue Pasteur. Go straight on and cross the railway bridge.

As you leave the bridge, turn left onto the Promenade Verte, a paved footpath running alongside the railway line below on the left. After about 150 m and before the next set of traffic lights, climb a flight of steps on the right and follow Rue du Capitaine Guynemer as it continues. Go straight on, ignoring the side streets and alleys.

(2) At the end, enter the Parc des Bruyères. Head towards a pond and go round it on the left. At a shelter (a sort of small hut), turn right into a path bordered by a parapet on the right-hand side. In a circular motion, walk along a large lawn on your right and ignore all the paths branching off to the left.

Turn sharply left onto the final path before the park exit and pass between some artificial rock formations. Climb a spiral path up to a modern replica of a small ancient temple. Descend on the other side. At the bottom, turn right at a sharp angle (the straight path alongside a modern sculpture is blocked; as of April 2021). Take the^first path on the left at a sharp angle. At the next junction (with small columns), turn right and leave the park.

(3) Continue straight ahead between the buildings along Allée Auguste Rodin. At the end, turn left into Allée Louis Blériot. At the traffic lights, turn right onto Rue du Moulin Bailly. At the roundabout, take the^first left, Avenue Marie Juliette (a few beautiful houses). Then take the^first right, a short, unmarked lane. At the end, turn right.

Then take the^first left, Rue du 8 Mai 1945, and go round the Marché des Vallées on the left. Take the^first left, still on Rue du 8 Mai 1945. At the junction, take the^first right, Rue Gustave Rey. At the next junction, turn left onto Rue André et Marie-Louise Roure.

(4) At the crossroads (with the Gare des Vallées opposite), turn right into Rue des Peupliers and, after about 50 metres, take the avenue of the same name (several beautiful houses). At the end, turn left. At the T-junction, go right and, at the next T-junction, go left. At the traffic lights, continue straight on, along Rue Pierre Joignaux.

After about 250 m, rejoin the Promenade Verte and follow it to the left. At the next junction, turn right and you will immediately come to a three-way junction.

(5) Turn right onto Rue Jean Jaurès and immediately turn left for a short detour through Villa Lecoeur, lined with beautiful houses. Continue along Rue Jean Jaurès and take the^second left, onto Avenue des Châtaigniers. At the end, turn right onto an avenue bordered by a railway line running below on the left. At the traffic lights, turn right into Rue Heynen.

(6) Return to Rue Jean Jaurès, follow it to the left and, after about twenty metres, turn right into Villa Logerais for a short walk there and back. Continue along Rue Jean Jaurès, pass Villa Saint-Thibault (private) on your left and take the next left into Villa du Bois (the belfry of Bois-Colombes Town Hall is clearly visible).

At the end, take the Passerelle Saint-Germain opposite, set back to the right, which crosses the railway line. Turn right at the end of the footbridge. After about 75 m, turn left into Villa du Château (go through the gate). At the end, first turn right then left at the traffic lights and you will immediately reach Bois-Colombes station (E).

To get back home:
- Transilien - Line J, towards Paris Saint-Lazare or Ermont-Eaubonne or Mantes-la-Jolie via Conflans.
- Bus - Routes 167, 178.

Train timetables: check the Transilien website.

Trainers are sufficient for this route, which is entirely on tarmac, cobbled or stabilised paths. Bars, restaurants and shops near the stations (S), (4) and (E).

A detailed map is required (at the very least the one accompanying this description).

Opening hours for public parks:
Square Gilbert Thomain
- Opening: 07:30.
- Closes: 7.00 pm from October to April; 8.00 pm from May to September.
Parc des Bruyères
- Opens: 8.00 am.
- Closing: 6.30 pm from October to March; 8.00 pm from April to September.
Promenade Verte: 24 hours a day.

Recommendations:
The “villas” along this route are private roads where pedestrians are permitted. On some of these roads, dogs are not allowed, even on a lead. Please respect the property and the peace and quiet of local residents. This walk is probably not suitable for large groups.

Hike completed by the author on 28 April 2021.

- Townhouses with varied architectural styles.
- Green alleyways.
- Parc des Bruyères.