From Montigny to Thomery via Long Rocher and Malmontagne

Starting point and access: Montigny-sur-Loing railway station.
- Transilien – Line R, on the section between Paris-Lyon and Montargis.
Take the Avenue de la Gare exit on the side of platform 2, which is the platform for trains travelling from Montargis to Paris (if arriving from the opposite direction, on platform 1, use the underpass).

No signposting

(S) On leaving the station, turn right. At the corner of the building on the left-hand side, go up a flight of stairs and you’ll come out onto a street running parallel to the previous one.

Red and white + yellow signposting

Follow the street to the right, which slopes slightly downwards. Between numbers 14 and 12, turn left onto a path between walls and garden fences. Cross a path running perpendicular to this and continue straight on. At the end, first turn left then right to follow Rue du Poirier de la Sauge.

After a few dozen metres, just before No. 2, turn right onto a path. At the end, first turn right then left to go down a street (Rue du Clos on the map). At the end, turn right. After about twenty metres, turn left at an acute angle and head up Ruelle de la Peloterie.

(1) At the next junction, head straight ahead onto Rue de la Peloterie. The tarmac soon gives way to a track. Ignore a path branching off to the right and continue straight ahead along the edge of a meadow, then through the woodland. At the T-junction, turn right. At the next fork in the road, veer to the right. Ignore the side paths and alternate between walking through woodland and along the edge of a meadow. As you approach a field, turn sharply left. At the next junction (elevation 81), turn right and walk alongside a field on your right-hand side.

Unmarked

At the end of the path, follow a small road to the left.

Yellow markings

After about 250 metres, at the next junction (marker 95), follow the road to the right. After about 100 metres, past a road sign on the left-hand side, turn left onto a path that leads into the forest. Head generally north-north-east.

No signposting

(2) At the junction, follow Route Desquinemare straight ahead. After about 75 metres and after passing through a sort of gap in an old wall, at the corner of forest plot no. 547, turn left. Climb gently up a pleasant path overlooking a small valley on the right, with a few small rocks higher up on the left (lovely fern-filled undergrowth). On a flat stretch, continue under the pine trees. Then begin a descent.

(3) When the path bends to the right (with the tree bearing the number 547 opposite on the left-hand side), take the discreet path to the left (keep a sharp eye out for this turn-off). The path winds through the undergrowth. At a fork in the road, ignore a faint track on the left. Cross a plateau-like landscape with rocks protruding from the ground, clumps of heather and a few damp patches. Then, on two occasions when you reach a fork in the road, take the left-hand path.

(4) At a clearly marked junction, turn left and head downhill. At the next junction, turn right and head uphill. Then veer left to come out onto a wider track (Route de Varsovie).

(5) Take the path on the left and head downhill. At the end, follow the Route du Croc Marin to the left. At the next junction, take the^first path on the right, the Route de la Grande Vallée. Climb gently and note a few engraved boundary markers on the left-hand side. At a fork in the road (not shown on the map), take the wider path on the right. At the next junction (elevation 133), go straight on (west) and head downhill. At a fork in the road, take the path on the right, still following the Route de la Grande Vallée. At a T-junction, veer to the right.

Blue markings (see the recommendations in the ‘Practical Information’ section)

(6) Shortly afterwards, near a tree marked with the number 549, turn right onto a faint path (take care to spot this turn-off) and immediately follow a blue-marked path to the right. After less than a hundred metres, you’ll see a small rock with markings in the middle of the path and, on the right-hand side, a tree marked with the number 11 painted in blue (the path number).

Unmarked

(7) Leave the marked path and take a track that branches off to the left. Climb up a few switchbacks and pass at the foot of a rock whose shape might resemble a cup-and-ball game. Descend a little, then climb back up via a few switchbacks at the foot of a large boulder on the right, which appears to be made up of several stacked layers. You’ll emerge onto the Denecourt-Colinet path no. 11 at a small rock marked with the letter F.

Blue markings + blue capital letters on some rocks

(8) Follow the marked path to the right. Wind your way between the rocks and trees, descending then climbing back up alongside erosion-control fences. Pass in front of the spectacular boulders D and C. Then pass through a rocky gorge and climb a flight of stone steps at its exit. Then turn right. Descend in switchbacks and ignore a path on the left. At a fork in the road, take the left-hand path and head uphill.

Markings: Blue + Yellow Circle + blue capital letters on some rocks

(9) Opposite a tree marked with a Yellow Circle, turn sharply left and head uphill. You’ll reach the edge of the plateau (Rock Z, panoramic view). Continue westwards, staying along the edge of the plateau, with a very open area on your right. Then turn right (north), still staying along the edge of the plateau. When you come to a rock marked with a blue star (elevation 136), veer left. When you reach a viewpoint, turn sharply right. Immediately take a few stone steps on the left leading down to the Grotte Béatrix (be careful to spot this start).

Blue markings + blue capital letters on some rocks

(10) With your back to the entrance to the cave (which is more of a large rock shelter), follow the path opposite which winds its way down. At a fork in the road, take the path on the right, which remains flat at first. Then continue the descent. Climb back up, passing at the foot of rocks O, N and M. Turn right, then pass rocks L and K. Walk alongside boulders I and H on your right and make a long, roughly level traverse (rocks G and F). Pass through a rocky gorge (rock E). After boulder B, turn right and arrive at a junction (signpost).

Blue markings

(11) Then turn left onto the connecting path no. 11-17. Descend via steep switchbacks, then continue straight on down a gentler slope. At the junction, take the Route de Fontainebleau to Montigny, the left-hand branch of the Denecourt-Colinet path No. 17, which runs between plots Nos. 523 and 522 towards Le Carrosse. Take the^first path on the right at a solitary oak tree, the Route du Courlis.

(12) At the next junction, turn right onto the Route de Russie and climb gently. At the next crossroads (parcels nos. 551 and 552), continue straight on. At the junction about a hundred metres further on, turn left onto the Route du Carrosse and descend slightly. Go round the rock known as Le Carrosse on the right and continue downhill. At the junction (elevation 101), take the path opposite, angling off to the right (north).

(13) At the next junction (parcels nos. 511, 512, 514 and 515), turn left onto Route Biron. At the Carrefour de la Malmontagne, turn sharply right onto the road of the same name. The path climbs gently at first, then steeply, curving to the right. At the top, turn right, immediately ignoring a path on the left, and you’ll reach a beautiful viewpoint. Then turn left and walk east-south-east along the edge of the plateau (unfortunately with little view). You’ll come to a crossroads.

Blue + Red and White markings (+ occasional Green and White)

(14) Take the^second path on the left (north). At the junction that appears straight away (there is a possible access on the left to the Puits Fondu… of no interest), continue straight on. At the next junction (plot no. 505), follow the Route du Haut Mont straight on and descend, first steeply (wooden steps) then more gently.

Blue markings

(15) At a three-way junction (piles of sandstone paving stones), take the path on the right. The path winds considerably, going up and then down: follow the track and the markings on the ground carefully. At a T-junction, turn left and continue along a gently sloping path. At the next junction, turn right. Pass through a forest gate and come out onto the D148 road.

No signposting

(16) Cross the road (with care) and take the path directly opposite on the far right (north-east), the Route de Montmorin, which starts between plots nos. 435 and 434. Go straight on and cross a path running at right angles. At the next junction, carry on straight ahead and cross the wide grassy embankment of the underground Vanne aqueduct. At the next junction, carry on straight ahead again.

Green and white markings (rare)

(17) Cross the Route du Chêne Feuillu and continue north. Carry on straight ahead until you reach a large road junction. Go round the roundabout on the right and cross the D606 in two stages ( this isa very busy road; however, this is the safest place to cross as motorists are obliged to slow down). Then take the^first track on the right, the Route du Rocher d’Avon, heading due east. At the Carrefour des Fraillons, take the road of the same name – the^second track on the left – heading due north. Carry on straight ahead until you reach Thomery station (E).

To get back home:
- Transilien – Line R, towards Melun and Paris (direct access) or Montargis (use the underpass).

Train timetables: see the Transilien website.

For motorists:
Both stations are on the same section of the R line: park in the car park at one of the two stations and take the train for either the outward or return journey. N.B. The car park at Montigny-sur-Loing station is on the side of platform 2, where the walk begins; the car park at Thomery station is on the side of platform 1.

Hiking boots are essential. Given the winding nature of certain sections, the elevation gain is likely underestimated: expect around 300m.

No water points have been identified along the route. There is a pizzeria opposite Montigny-sur-Loing station (S).

A 1:25,000 map is essential (at the very least the one accompanying this description) or follow the route using the Visorando app.

Recommendations regarding the blue-marked trails:
- The Denecourt-Colinet trails, marked in blue, mostly follow paths that wind their way through the rocks. It is impossible to describe the numerous changes of direction, and the description provides only the most important landmarks.
- Consequently, follow the markings closely; they are frequent and well maintained (thanks to the trail markers!). If you have not seen a marker for some time, do not hesitate to retrace your steps until you find the markings again.
- Markers may be situated on three types of supports, at three different heights: (i) on tree trunks at eye level; (ii) on rocks, at the same height or lower; (iii) on the ground, on exposed rocks.

Warnings:
Paths in Montigny-sur-Loing – The two paths taken between (S) and (1) are very narrow, appear to be poorly maintained and are partly overgrown with vegetation from neighbouring gardens. In wet weather, don’t be afraid of getting your feet wet… If you wish to avoid these two paths, continue along the street you reached via a flight of steps until it ends. Then turn left into Rue du Clos, take the^first right and rejoin the main route.
Sections on narrow, unmarked paths – The sections between (3) and (5) and between (7) and (9) follow narrow tracks or paths, where a good sense of direction is required. Follow the description carefully. Using a smartphone to track your route is a definite advantage here.

Hike completed by the author on 26 October 2019.

- Pleasant forest walks.
- Scattered boulders between (7) and (11).
- Béatrix Cave (10).
- Rocher du Carrosse, between (12) and (13).
- Beautiful views between (9) and (10) and before (14).