From Étang Rompu to Pierre Ardoue

de fr

Pond and dolmen: hike in the Rambouillet National Forest near Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines.

Details

n°2683138
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.85 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 57 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 52 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 180 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 135 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

A not very early spring
Dew on a spider's web.
Sunlight through the trees

Description of the walk

Coming from Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines or Montfort-l'Amaury via the D138, park at the Étang Rompu car park.

(S/E) Leave the car park by continuing along the path that led to it, heading west-northwest, along the Ruisseau des Ponts Quentin stream on your right.

(1) Ignore a path on the left and continue straight ahead. Further on, ignore three paths on the right and stay on the main path marked in red and white.

(2) Opposite a small bridge, turn left (south) onto a rocky path that climbs uphill (follow theGR®1).

(3) At the first crossroads (Carrefour des Ponts Quentin), continue straight ahead.

(4) At the top of the hill, at Carrefour Bailly, continue straight ahead (leaving theGR® trail on your right). Follow a tarmac road (Route Monnereau) and pass some beautiful properties on your right.

(5) At the stop sign, cross the D111 and turn right onto a small road marked "no entry except for residents". At the next crossroads, go straight ahead and rejoin theGR®1. Pass the Château de Pincourt on your left and go through a gate. At a fork (elevation 159), take the left path (marked). At the next fork, turn right to reach the Pierre Ardoue dolmen.

(6) Continue north-west along theGR® for a few dozen metres. Then leave theGR® on your left and continue straight ahead (north-west). At the end, turn left onto Chemin des Buttes Rouges (bridle path). At the crossroads that you will soon come to, go straight ahead.

(7) At the Carrefour de la Pierre Ardoue, turn right onto the Route du Haut Planet. Go straight ahead (north-east) at each junction. Cross the D111 and continue straight ahead.

(8) At the next crossroads (Carrefour d'Isoret), take the first path on the right (east-southeast). At the intersection 300 metres further on, continue straight ahead and rejoin theGR®1.

(4) At Carrefour Bailly, turn left.

(3) At the next crossroads (Carrefour des Ponts Quentin), turn right. Continue straight ahead at thefirst crossroads and reach asecond crossroads (elevation 169). Then turn left (north-northeast).

(1) Find the path you took on the way there, follow it to the right and you will soon reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 156 m - Étang Rompu car park - Etang rompu
  2. 1 : km 0.14 - alt. 155 m - Crossroads of the small loop
  3. 2 : km 0.93 - alt. 149 m - Bridge over the Ponts Quentin stream
  4. 3 : km 1.14 - alt. 171 m - Carrefour des Ponts Quentin
  5. 4 : km 1.4 - alt. 178 m - Bailly crossroads
  6. 5 : km 2.33 - alt. 177 m - Les Bruyères
  7. 6 : km 3.78 - alt. 141 m - Dolmen of La Pierre Ardoue
  8. 7 : km 4.47 - alt. 136 m - Carrefour de la Pierre Ardou
  9. 8 : km 5.63 - alt. 180 m - Isoret crossroads
  10. S/E : km 7.85 - alt. 157 m - Étang Romp car park - Etang rompu

Worth a visit

(S) The Étang Rompu is famous because it was here that the body of former minister Robert Boulin was found. If you have time, it is worth taking a detour to see it.

(6) La Pierre Ardoue is a rectangular Bauceron-type dolmen

Along the way, you can make a round trip to an old cistern (not very spectacular) by following theGR®1 trail:
- on the right after the point (5).
- on the left after the point (8).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
LSEML
LSEML

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very satisfied with the hike, ideal for average walkers between forest and plain
Good walk

Machine-translated

RV94800
RV94800

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This walk is unlikely to be muddy, even in winter. The straight stretch before reaching point 5 is a bit tedious. There is little elevation gain. The dolmen mentioned is easy to find on the right-hand side of the bend at point 6, but difficult to imagine given how sandy it is.

Machine-translated

hoetcoudray
hoetcoudray

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice course, not too muddy despite recent rains

Machine-translated

RaoulFolfoni
RaoulFolfoni

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We are very satisfied with the accuracy of the route and the interest of the walk, and look forward to repeating walking trips with your application.
Kind regards

Machine-translated

Collin loic
Collin loic

Hello.
Please, is there a PICNIC SHELTER on the
BOIS STE APOLLINE CHATEAU DE PLAISIR 8.4KMS
IMPOSSIBLE to see the route.
Kind regards
LOIC COLLIN
2 rue GARNIER
92200 NEUILLY

Machine-translated

JeanTitouan
JeanTitouan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, as always, in the Rambouillet forest.
The main attraction is discovering the many different varieties of trees along the route.
At point 8, instead of turning right, you can descend towards the stream via the Roulée road and return to the starting point via the GR22.

Machine-translated

BrB
BrB

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and very peaceful nature walk.

Machine-translated

Fred2978
Fred2978

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

This route consists of long straight stretches, either tarmac or very sandy, and we ended up missing the turn-off to see the dolmen, which I think is the only interesting thing about this rather boring route.

Machine-translated

hauteluce
hauteluce

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Varied terrain and views, all in two hours. Great!

Machine-translated

yvesBLR
yvesBLR

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Spring hike on this sunny Easter Sunday. Arriving at 10 a.m., we were the first ones there, and in fact we only encountered two walkers and one cyclist on the entire route. The route is perfectly marked. It is partly similar to the "Dolmen de la Pierre Ardoue" route, specifically the section that passes by the dolmen and the Pierre Ardoue crossroads. The slight disappointment was that we didn't see any rhododendrons in bloom, whereas the other route, which we did at the end of May, had treated us to a festival of colours. Mid-April was probably a little too early, although specialist websites indicate that they bloom from April to June. Perhaps the recent frost delayed them?
Two emotional moments: the memory of Robert Boulin at the Rompu pond, a case that has remained unsolved since 1979, and the stele (rather than a grave) to a horseman ("Christian") who died in July 1965, perhaps from a fall from his horse on the Chemin des Buttes Rouges

Machine-translated

footsore
footsore

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A nice little hike for early spring. The accuracy of the description was essential because of the lack of signage at crossroads and paths, and even at the car park entrance. I came across quite a few walkers, but that was to be expected on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Machine-translated

waiwaite
waiwaite

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant autumn hike. No difficulty. The sandy sections (bridle path) are a little less pleasant for walking.
A map is essential, as the names of crossroads and roads are not always indicated.
The network of small roads in the Rambouillet forest is in very poor condition. You have to drive very slowly and watch out for potholes, which are numerous and large.

Machine-translated

Mariel@7859
Mariel@7859

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike - Sandy terrain at the start - Not easy to walk around the pond.
Easy to follow
Pleasant route.

Machine-translated

herve59
herve59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

close to the town, the circuit reminds us of trails further south, with beautiful pine trees on sandy ground

Machine-translated

Steve5
Steve5

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk in the Rambouillet forest. Magnificent rhododendrons in bloom, a variety of trees (fir, birch, oak, etc.) and a poignant moment at the Rompu pond, sadly made famous by the death in 1979 of a French politician who was a well-known Secretary of State and Minister.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking From Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines to Villiers-Saint-Frédéric

Visorando member
↔19.88 km ↗+147 m ↘-214 m ◔6h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines (Yvelines)
This is the penultimate stage of the GR®1. It takes you out of the Rambouillet Forest and to the Villiers-Saint-Frédéric RER station. Halfway along the route is the pretty medieval town of Montfort-l'Amaury. The ruins offer superb views of the surrounding area. Half of the stage is through forest, i.e. up to Montfort-l'Amaury. The other part of the stage is more rural.

Walking In the Rambouillet Forest from the Étangs de Hollande

Visorando member
En Forêt de Rambouillet à partir des Étangs de Hollande
↔6.75 km ↗+11 m ↘-11 m ◔2h 00 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Les Bréviaires (Yvelines)
A pleasant walk along small paths and footpaths in the Rambouillet Forest. The hike ends with a short tour of the Étangs de Hollande.

Walking Les Bornes du Planet

Visorando member
Les Bornes du Planet
↔9.84 km ↗+81 m ↘-81 m ◔3h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines (Yvelines)
Hike in the Rambouillet Forest

Walking The Dolmen of Pierre Ardoue

Visorando member
Le Dolmen de la Pierre Ardoue
↔9.50 km ↗+97 m ↘-97 m ◔3h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines (Yvelines)
In the heart of the Rambouillet Forest, a walk tinged with ferns and heather, discovering a Neolithic dolmen and a charming valley along a stream.

Walking Some remarkable trees in the north of the Rambouillet Forest

Visorando member
Quelques arbres remarquables dans le Nord de la Forêt de Rambouillet
↔13.15 km ↗+42 m ↘-44 m ◔3h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines (Yvelines)
A forest trail featuring several remarkable trees, including the particularly tall Hêtre du CERF and the majestic Chêne de l'Ascension. The route generally follows very well-maintained paths. A section on a poorly maintained path requires a good sense of direction.

Walking L'Etang Neuf, Haut Beaussart and Bois des Longues Mares

Visorando member
L'Etang Neuf, le Haut Beaussart et le Bois des Longues Mares
↔13.30 km ↗+108 m ↘-108 m ◔4h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Gambaiseuil (Yvelines)
Between ponds, oak forests, pine forests and birch woods, this is a beautiful hike in the north of the Rambouillet Forest. A varied route in a peaceful setting.

Walking Grosrouvre circular

Visorando member
Boucle de Grosrouvre
↔11.24 km ↗+42 m ↘-42 m ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Grosrouvre (Yvelines)
Varied landscapes and paths: pine, oak and birch forests, fields and greenhouses, thatched cottages and streams, boundary stones bearing coats of arms and a billionaire's castle.

Walking Armed boundary markers in the Rambouillet Forest

Visorando member
Bornes armoriées en Forêt de Rambouillet
↔6.79 km ↗+20 m ↘-20 m ◔2h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Grosrouvre (Yvelines)
On the edge of the Rambouillet National Forest, the Old Road from Nogent-le-Roy to Montfort-l'Amaury is marked by boundary stones dating from the Ancien Régime and decorated with fleurs-de-lis. This short hike, which requires a good sense of direction, starts in the heart of the forest in search of these boundary stones and ends in a rural setting.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.