From Coulommiers to Faremoutiers along the Grand Morin

Starting point and access: Coulommiers station.
- Transilien - Line P, terminus of one of the sections departing from Paris-Est.
Take the only exit (on the left in the direction of the train).

Red and white + yellow markings

(S) When leaving the station, cross the car park and follow the^GR®14opposite via Rue de la Gare. At the roundabout, take the second left towards the town centre. Cross the Fausse Rivière, pass in front of the war memorial and continue straight ahead on Rue Bertrand Flornoy. At the corner of a bar-tobacconist's, turn left into the narrow Rue Ménager. At the end, cross a stream and turn left onto Rue de Varennes. Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads.

(1) Cross the D402 (caution, busy road) and take Rue Delsol slightly to the right opposite. At the end of the street (which is a dead end), continue along a path that soon turns left between two meadows. Cross a path and go up the alley opposite. At the end, follow the street to the right. After passing a large brick building on your right, turn right and leave the water treatment plant on your left.

(2) Cross the Grand Morin and note an old disused mill on your left. At the end of the street, turn left towards the Hameau de Triangle (sign). Ignore a dead end on your right and stay on a small tarmac road that curves to the left. Walk alongside horse pastures on your right.

Red and white markings

(3) At a small square (houses), turn left onto Chemin des Moulins Neufs, where the tarmac gives way to a stabilised path. At a fork, go left and continue on flat ground. Walk alongside meadows on your left and gardens or hedges on your right. Continue through a more wooded area and reach the banks of the Grand Morin. As you approach a busy road, the path rises slightly and curves to the right.

(4) At a three-way junction, turn right and climb more gently between meadows. At a three-way junction, head right towards some houses and continue climbing. At the T-junction (with a house dating from 1864 opposite), follow a small road to the right which immediately turns left.

(5) At the start of a right-hand bend in the road, take a path on the left and walk along a large field on your right. Further on, ignore two paths on the left, turn right and continue along the edge of the field.

(6) At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead on the grassy path with a hedge on your left. At the end of the hedge, turn right, pass under an electricity pole and climb gently between the fields. At the top of the slope, turn left with the path towards some houses. Pass under another electricity pole and then walk along the edge of the woods on your left.

(7) At the end of the path, follow the small road to the right. Cross the hamlet on this road, ignoring a few paths branching off to the sides. At a fork, follow Rue du Bois Saint-Rémy to the left; the tarmac quickly gives way to a path. You will immediately reach the junction between the^GR®14and a^PR® path (worn signpost).

Yellow markings

(8) Leave the^GR®14trail on your left and follow the^{PR® trail} on your right. After a few metres, turn left and descend into a wood. Ignore two paths branching off, one on the right and one on the left. At the bottom of the descent, ignore several paths on either side and cross a stream via a bridge with green railings. Then climb up along the edge of the field on your left and the woods on your right. At the end of the field, continue towards the houses and ignore a path on your right and then a dead end.

(9) At the crossroads (bus stop), follow the D44 road on the right. At the next crossroads, leave the D44 on the right and continue straight ahead on Rue de la Croix des Grès. At the stop sign, turn left onto the same street. Cross a residential area and cross Rue de la Grange aux Dîmes coming from the left. At the next junction, turn left onto Rue Trouss'Cott. At the stop sign, continue straight ahead on the same street, against the one-way traffic. At the next junction, cross the D934 (caution, busy road) and take the path opposite.

(10) At the end, turn right onto Rue des Vignes and, at the next junction, continue straight ahead. At the next junction, turn left onto Rue du Cotoy. At the next crossroads, take the first left, downhill. Before a left-hand bend, turn right, still on Rue du Cotoy, and continue downhill.

(11) At the next crossroads, take the paved path opposite, marked Chemin de la République on the map but Ruelle Cricri on site (?). Descend between fences and then walk along a wood on your left. Stay on the main grassy path and ignore the side paths (not shown on the map).

(12) Return to the tarmac road, continue straight ahead and enter Le Tronchet. Cross a path then cross a stream. After no. 10, descend to the left into Allée Jeanne d'Arc, a steeply sloping path. At the bottom, cross the D15 and follow the D216 to the right towards Faremoutiers.

No markings
There are several yellow markings, but they are intermittent and correspond to different^PR® routes. Stick to the map and the description.

(13) Shortly before the bridge over the Grand Morin, ignore the yellow arrow pointing to the right and take the bridge. Immediately after, turn right onto Promenade du Grand Morin. On a good stabilised path (not shown on the 1:25,000 map but visible with a stronger zoom and on the satellite view), follow the river on your right. Ignore a path coming from the left (same remarks), cross the bridge over the Aubetin, ignore another path coming from the left and stay as close as possible to the Grand Morin.

(14) At the end of the paved road, turn left onto the D25 (Rue de Paris). At the crossroads, take the second left, still on the D25 towards the station (sign). Go up a steep hill and, almost at the top, ignore the street on the left leading to buildings. Cross the railway line at the level crossing and turn immediately right to reach Faremoutiers-Pommeuse station (E).

To return home:
- Transilien - Line P, towards Paris-Est or Coulommiers (single platform).

Train timetables: consult the Transilien website.

For motorists:
Both stations are located on the same section of the same line: leave one vehicle in the car park of one of the two stations and make the outward or return journey by train. It is also possible to organise two vehicles, one at each station.

Low-cut hiking boots or good trainers are sufficient for this route, which follows stable, well-maintained paths or quiet minor roads. This hike can be done all year round.

Bars, restaurants and shops:
- in Coulommiers between the station (S) and Rue Ménager avant (1).
- In Pommeuse, Place Vion, off the route, to the right of the bridge over the Grand Morin (14).

N.B. Between points (6) and (7), the hike takes private paths, with pedestrian access authorised by the owner. Dogs must be kept on a leash on this section.

A 1:25,000 map is useful (at least the one accompanying this description).

Alternative route:
For the end of the hike, if you prefer a more wooded route, at point (13), turn right into Rue des Nouettes and continue along the^PR® (yellow markings). At the river's edge, the tarmac gives way to a path; further on, turn right into the woods then left; continue straight ahead; when you reach the tarmac again, turn left onto Rue de la Vallée, cross Place Vion, turn left again onto Rue de Paris, cross the Grand Morin and return to the point (14).

Hike completed by the author on 14 February 2017.

On the route:
- Coulommiers war memorial, between (S) and (1).
- Moulin des Prés (19th century) (2).
- Several beautiful viewpoints between (5) and (8).
- Very pleasant Promenade du Grand Morin walk between (13) and (14). Numerous information panels.

Off the route:
The town of Coulommiers is worth a visit for its rich heritage: Commanderie des Templiers, Chapelle Sainte-Anne, Parc des Capucins, Halle aux fromages, etc.

Hike completed by the author on 14 February 2017.