In the Brotonne forest from Grand Maître to La Haye-de-Routot

This route winds its way through the Brotonne National Forest along all types of paths. Halfway along the route, in the centre of the village of La Haye-de-Routot, a sheltered picnic area provides a place to take a break between the church, thousand-year-old yew trees and eco-museums.

Details

363799
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 216 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 219 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 128 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 12 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking 100 metres from the RD40, at the Grand Maître reception area, a former forest house.

(S/E) Take the Grand Maître forest road. At plot 323, turn left and take the grassy path on the right between numbers 319 and 321. Opposite plot 338, turn left then right between numbers 336 and 338. Turn right again onto the gravel track to rejoin the Route du Grand Maître.

(1) Turn left, cross the crossroads, go through the barrier opposite and continue on the same path until you reach the five-way junction.

(2) Keep right on the dirt track running alongside plot no. 430. At the bottom, follow the track and at the end, turn left onto the road. 50 metres further on, turn right onto the small path. Take the first stone and grass path on the right for 500 metres to reach the junction with theGR®23marked in red and white.

(3) Turn right and follow theGR®23. Turn left onto the small road for 150 metres, then climb the steep path on the right, continuing to follow the GR®.

(4) At the top of the path, leave theGR®, turn left and continue straight ahead to the Petite Houssaye forest house.

(5) Continue straight ahead for 60 metres, then keep to the right. Next, turn left and go through the gate.

(6) At the crossroads, go up to the right and follow the grassy path. At the road, turn right and continue to the crossroads of the Route de Routot in the centre of the village, where you can make a return trip to the Ecomuseum.

(7) Take Chemin de l'Ortie on the right and follow it to the forest to reach the top of the path. Turn left and follow the track for 600 metres.

(8) Keep to the right so as not to go downhill. Turn left at the corner of plot no. 274, onto the Route Forestière du Plateau.

(9) Turn right onto the three-way junction at the three-way junction, opposite plot 258 and theGR®. After 500m, turn left onto the grassy path which continues as a track. Cross Route Mares de Timare to reach the RD40 250m further on.

(10) Cross and continue straight ahead between plots 82 and 77 to the end of this path, then turn right onto a gravel track that continues as a dirt track to the clearing known as Rond de Nagu.

(11) Take the first large lane on the right called Route Forestière de la Charmante between plots 64 and 68. At the first crossroads, turn left onto Ligne du Blaireau.

(12) At the junction with the RD131, do not cross, but take the second path with a barrier on the right. At the end of this path, go around the forest house to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 49 m - Grand Maître reception area
  2. 1 : km 3.6 - alt. 43 m - Turn left onto Route du Grand Maître.
  3. 2 : km 4.99 - alt. 34 m - Keep right at plot 430.
  4. 3 : km 6.55 - alt. 49 m - Turn right onto the GR23 (white and red trail).
  5. 4 : km 7.97 - alt. 87 m - Turn left onto the concrete track.
  6. 5 : km 9.03 - alt. 122 m - Continue straight ahead Forest house
  7. 6 : km 9.38 - alt. 108 m - At the crossroads, turn right onto the grassy path.
  8. 7 : km 10.57 - alt. 123 m - On the right: Chemin de l'ortie
  9. 8 : km 12.13 - alt. 113 m - Keep right
  10. 9 : km 12.82 - alt. 114 m - Turn right at the three-way junction onto Route de la Patte-d'Oie.
  11. 10 : km 14.48 - alt. 39 m - Cross the RD40 road.
  12. 11 : km 16.41 - alt. 51 m - Turn right at Rond de Nagu.
  13. 12 : km 17.83 - alt. 39 m - Turn right onto the RD131.
  14. S/E : km 18.81 - alt. 49 m - Grand Maître reception area

Notes

(3) In wet weather, the path is muddy.
(7) Sheltered picnic area. Café-restaurant.

Worth a visit

(7) Village of La Haye-de-Routot: its bread oven museum, its clog museum, its two yew trees over 1,600 years old and the Chaumière aux Orties.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
alainl1
alainl1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route. In La Haye de Routôt, there is a very nice picnic spot: a very clean hall with eight large tables. Very useful in case of rain. We didn't use the description, but only the route on the map and Visorando's GPS guidance. The route did not seem difficult to us (there were four of us). Is its difficult rating due to its length? 🤔. Some parts were quite muddy, but we managed without too much trouble. So, a nice circular.

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Papotam
Papotam

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In one of the largest forests in the Seine circulars, there is a pleasant trail with varied paths and a few steep but short sunny slopes (it was 26°C). The short detour to see the thousand-year-old yew trees at La Haye de Routot is a must!
However, one of the descriptions mentions a magnificent view of the Seine, but we couldn't find it, perhaps because it was hidden by the leaves. We'll have to come back in winter...
We were impressed by the peace and quiet of the forest. We didn't meet anyone during our four-hour hike on a Tuesday. Unfortunately, the return of road noise during the last two kilometres brought us back to reality.
This hike is recommended for those who love the forest!

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Julie_Lesage
Julie_Lesage

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, cool and sunny hike! A very well-detailed route.

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entredeuxlivres
entredeuxlivres

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In addition to the map, you can also use the plot numbers marked on the trees to find your way around. Check the wind direction before setting off on your hike, as westerly winds carry the smell of pollution from the petrochemical industry in Le Havre and Gonfreville.

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sophie la baronne
sophie la baronne

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent, very varied route with nice elevation changes... magnificent view of the Seine.

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MarcMichelPetitfour
MarcMichelPetitfour

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk to explore the Brotonne Forest.

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manu7612
manu7612

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely hike on 31 August 2018 in beautiful sunshine!
Definitely worth doing again in autumn!

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mh76
mh76

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We have made some changes because our group prefers to do two circular loops during the day, returning to the starting point at midday (a sort of figure of eight), which means we don't have to carry a picnic and walkers who find it a bit difficult can do just half a day. They usually join us for the picnic and do the afternoon circular.

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RANDOSSANDRA
RANDOSSANDRA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike on a sunny autumn day.
No risk of getting lost with the description (plot numbers, class!!!). I'm usually reluctant to go on unmarked routes, but in this case, no worries.
Go and see the thousand-year-old yew trees at La Haye de Routot and their chapels.
A breath of fresh air awaits you.

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