From Bois Guillaume to Le Houlme via the Forêt Domaniale Verte

The starting point is at the Saint-Anne car park in La Bretèque.

(S/E) Leave the car park via Route Forestière Sainte-Anne for about ten metres, then turn left onto Route Forestière du Bel Évent towards Mont-Saint-Aignan. After 800 m, just before the wooden bench, head down the path through the woodland on the right and join Route Forestière du Val Allard.

(1) At the bottom, turn left, head uphill to cross the D121 with care, then head down to the right to continue along the Chemin du Val Allard.

(2) Head down the path on the left. Continue along the Chemin du Val Allard to the end to reach the Route des Longs Vallons (D66). Follow it to the right for about 400 m.

(3) Just before the sign marking the exit from Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville, turn left onto the stony Chemin de la Coudrette, which climbs gradually for 600 m (the first challenging section of this route). At the end of the climb, turn left and then immediately right to join the D121.

(4) Turn left onto it, following the green-marked Chemin de la Coudrette. After 150 m, take the forest track on the right, still following the green markings. Leave the descending path through the woodland on your left and continue on level ground until you reach a junction.

(5) Leave the Chemin de la Coudrette, which turns left, and carry on straight down the slope leading to Le Houlme. You’ll come to a tarmac dead end which joins the railway line.

(6) Cross the tracks with great care, then carry on to the centre of Le Houlme. At the bottom, after the traffic lights, take the main road on the right (Rue du Général de Gaulle), towards Malaunay. You’ll pass the Town Hall on your left. At the next set of traffic lights, head sharply right up Rue Audière (the second challenging section of this route) until you reach the railway line.

(7) Cross the railway line again with great care and head straight up the forest track, crossing the road leading to the Domaine aux Loups. The second time you cross this road, continue to the right until you reach the entrance to the Château du Domaine aux Loups (holiday centre), then take the forest track on the right which runs alongside the Forêt Syndicale de la Muette. Continue along this path at the edge of the forest until you reach the entrance to the hamlet of La Ruaudière (Bois de la Ruaudière).

(8) Turn left and you’ll come out in the village of Malaunay, on Rue Audière. Follow this road to the left for a few dozen metres, then turn right onto Rue de la Renaudière and follow it to the end. Turn right again to walk alongside Rue de la Ville aux Geais via the narrow path that runs between two hedges. This will take you to the D121.

(9) Leave the village of Malaunay, take the Route d’Houppeville (D121) to the left for about sixty metres and head down the footpath on the right, near the entrance to the property at 1260 Route d’Houppeville. You’ll join the^GR® 210.

(10) Turn right: this section can be muddy in wet weather, but small paths have been marked out alongside the^GR®, allowing you to avoid the muddy areas. You’ll come to a T-junction.

(11) Turn right onto the^GR® 210, which leads onto a grassy path through the fields.

(12) At the end of this grassy track, turn right onto the Chemin de Saint-Maurice, then, after about 200 m, turn left onto a tarmac track in poor condition. Cross the D90, continue along the road opposite, running alongside a housing estate, and you’ll arrive at the entrance to the municipal stadium.

(13) Leave the road and the^GR®210and head straight on along the stony track which leads to the edge of the forest, opposite a metal gate marking the boundary of the Câteliers equestrian centre.

(14) Turn left, then right to go round it. At the next junction, turn left to head down the stony track lined with pine trees on the right. This track leads onto the Route des Longs Vallons (D66).

(15) Cross the road and head up the Route Forestière du Catelier directly opposite (the third challenge on this route) to reach a car park.

(16) Cross the car park, join a path leading to the Route Forestière du Grand Canton and turn right onto it.
At the next junction, turn left onto the Route Forestière Sainte-Anne and carry on straight ahead to reach the car park (S/E).

Wear good walking boots due to the terrain and stony paths.
Some sections of^{the GR®210}may be muddy in wet weather.
This route crosses the railway line linking Paris to Le Havre twice; it is essential to follow safety instructions and not to cross when the barriers are down. Trains run frequently and at high speed. It is forbidden and dangerous to walk along the railway line to join the two level crossings (6) and (7).

After your walk, do visit the Vallois rope-making workshop in the village of Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville, 2 km from Le Houlme. This historic rope-making workshop, situated on the River Cailly, still operates all its machinery using water power from the mill. Admission is free and guided tours are available in the afternoon.