Cinglais Forest starting from Boulon

A beautiful walk awaits you. It will introduce you to a forest world far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Located on the edge of the dry plains and the watered bocage, the Cinglais Forest, covering 1,475 hectares, is an example of a ZNIEFF-classified forest.

Details

3433000
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.17 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 114 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 109 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 136 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 70 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Boulon (14220)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.047735° / W 0.394145°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1513SB, 1613SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the Boulon wash house car park.

(S/E) From the car park at the wash house, head towards the crossroads in front of the church, cross carefully to take Rue Godet and continue to the end of the street. At the intersection where there is a blue signpost marked "Parcours du patrimoine - Boulon au Moyen Âge" (Heritage Trail - Boulon in the Middle Ages), take the path on the left.

(1) At the next crossroads, after the house known as "de la mère Pageot", follow the yellow markings and turn right onto the dirt track surrounded by embankments. Depending on the weather conditions, this path may be wet or even waterlogged. After descending to the ford, cross the Tourtout via the wooden footbridge and then climb back up the hill.

(2) Take the forest path on the right. The Cinglais Forest covers 640 hectares of Boulon, or just over half of the municipal area. All along the path you will find the markings for plots C5 to C1. After 1.7 km, you will come to a tarmac road at a bend.

(3) Follow the yellow markings and turn left. Continue along the path, pass the gate of the EPC-FRANCE company and continue to the intersection of five forest paths at approximately 1.5 km.

(4) Take the second path on the left, follow the yellow markings "Entre Cingal et Vallée de l'Orne" (Between Cingal and the Orne Valley), and pass the A6 plot marker.

(5) At the crossroads, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Château de Fresney-le-Puceux and where there is a fire hydrant marked FP01, follow the edge of the Forêt de Cinglais along the left-hand path and walk alongside the remains of a stone wall. Join the route taken on the way there.

(2) Then turn right, follow the blue markings for "Parcours du patrimoine - Boulon au Moyen Âge" (Heritage Trail - Boulon in the Middle Ages), go down the hill, cross the Tourtout again and go up the dirt track lined with embankments.

(1) At the top, at the crossroads, after the house known as "de la mère Pageot", do not follow the blue "Parcours du patrimoine" markings, but turn left. At the next crossroads, turn right to return to Rue Godet. At the end of the street, cross carefully and head opposite to the wash house car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 107 m - Boulon wash house car park
  2. 1 : km 1.13 - alt. 104 m - Crossroads, house known as "de la mère Pageot"
  3. 2 : km 1.86 - alt. 104 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  4. 3 : km 3.53 - alt. 136 m - Tarmac road, on the left
  5. 4 : km 5.1 - alt. 117 m - Star-shaped crossroads
  6. 5 : km 6.47 - alt. 94 m - Crossroads, fire hydrant, on the left
  7. S/E : km 9.17 - alt. 108 m - Boulon wash house car park

Notes

ZNIEFF: Natural Areas of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest.

This hike (no. 3433000) has a variant (no. 12354790) available here

Worth a visit

The Cinglais Forest

A beautiful walk awaits you. It will introduce you to a forest world far removed from the outside world. Then, as you follow the little paths, you will find traces of its history in the old stones, admiring its wash houses, houses, castle, chapel and church. Boulon invites you to savour the history of its rural heritage.
Located on the edge of the dry plains and the irrigated bocage, the Cinglais Forest, covering 1,475 hectares, is an example of a ZNIEFF-classified forest.
Belonging to the seigneury of Thuit in the 9th century, the first known owner was Raoul d'Anjou. His descendant, his eldest son, Raoul Tesson de Cinglais, was said to own a third of the land in Normandy. During the Battle of Val-Es-Dunes, he and his hundred knights joined the ranks of Duke William and led him to victory. The Tesson family played a major role in William the Conqueror's conquest of England, for which they received numerous rewards from him.
Declared national property in 1793, the forest was returned to its former owners in 1814. During the 19th century, it underwent a wave of deforestation (less than 320 hectares). In addition to the lily of the valley it supplied to the Caen area, the forest produced a great deal of wood, particularly that which fuelled the boiler of the slow train connecting Caen to Falaise via Bretteville-sur-Laize.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
rothranv
rothranv

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk that’s easy to follow thanks to the signposting; there’s a slight difficulty on a sunken path as it’s quite stony, so make sure you wear sturdy shoes,

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bil6mo
bil6mo

Overall rating : 2 / 5

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

Hello,
In fact, this route can no longer be used as it follows a SEVESO-classified area in the Cinglais forest.
About two years ago, this SEVESO zone was extended to include one of the sections of the "Cinglais Forest from Boulon" hike.
I therefore advise you to remove this route from your database.
Best regards,
Loïc Bischoff

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Randoserge
Randoserge

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very easy and pleasant hike in the Cinglais forest.
At the metal gate, remember to go around it and follow the fence on the right, then continue straight ahead (there are no signposts).

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jeanlouisveronique
jeanlouisveronique

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Before reaching point 4, the road is closed (green metal gate). You have to go around the site along the fence. The yellow signposts need to be replaced.
A very pleasant walk, especially in hot weather.

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MARTDomi
MARTDomi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note: EPC France has closed the road. You will need to bypass the site by walking along the fence. There are no signs, and this adds a little to the length of the walk.

Otherwise, the hike is pleasant.

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FredoS
FredoS

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike almost exclusively in the woods, ideal in summer.
Very few visitors.
View of the castle at the end of the walk.

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Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU

Hello Lascoge,
Thank you for your feedback. Walks in the forest are indeed very pleasant when the sun is shining brightly and the temperature is rising.
I look forward to reading your comments on another hike I publish.

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lascoge
lascoge

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short hike on a warm July day, no difficulty, straight forest paths, beautiful view of Fresney le Puceux Castle.

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Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU

Hello Lucie,
Thank you for taking the time to post your comment. It's always interesting to hear how users perceive things in the field.

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Lucie Gosselin
Lucie Gosselin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed on 23 November in the middle of the week.
Good description, beautiful hike with information about the history of the region.
Part of the hike is in the forest; just follow the "heritage hike" signs
so you don't get lost.

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Jack=24
Jack=24

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At this time of year, the route was particularly muddy. The description and layout are very good.

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rando14
rando14

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, best done in autumn to admire the colours.

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le traspy
le traspy

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike with lots of undergrowth

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