Gâvre State Forest

This loop in the Gavre National Forest allows you to enjoy a pleasant time in this natural environment, with more than 80% of the walk on trails (no tarmac).

Details

1139617
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 8 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 8 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 40 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 24 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Le Gâvre (44130)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.521148° / W 1.747625°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1122SB, 1221SB, 1222SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The walk starts from the small car park at the École Saint-Pierre school, near the Maison de la Forêt, Rue du Stade.

(S/E) Exit the car park to the left and walk down Grande Rue. At no. 19, on the right-hand side of the road, go under the porch (Passage de l'Octroi). Continue across the school car park and take the road to the left.

(1) Turn right towards the campsite entrance, before the tennis court. Do not enter the campsite, go around the tennis court and continue along the pond. Cross the car park diagonally, go over the small bridge and continue along the road.

(2) After passing a group of houses, turn right onto the small road (red and yellow markings). Continue straight ahead on the path that leads to the forest. At the first crossroads in the forest, take the second path diagonally to the left (red and yellow markings) and continue.

(3) Follow Allée de la Grée to the right and continue straight ahead. Just before the Belle-Étoile roundabout, turn right onto the path, which is still marked red and yellow. This path crosses three roads in succession and arrives at Route Forestière du Coudray.

(4) Take this road on the right and continue straight ahead. After passing through a barrier prohibiting cars, continue straight ahead. Then turn into the first lane on the right, then take the first path on the right. Continue straight ahead on this path (marked in red and yellow). Cross a road (D15) and continue on the path opposite. When you reach another road, turn left and follow the road.

(5) Leave theGRP® markings here and continue straight ahead on the road. About halfway up the hill, turn right into the wide Allée de la Fontaine Robin. Continue along the lane until you reach a stream at the bottom of a descent.

(6) Turn right onto a small path just before the stream. The path is marked in yellow; it is not very visible at the entrance, but is well marked further on. The path leads to a forest road. Leave the yellow path which continues opposite, turn left and then, after the safety barriers, follow the small path (unmarked) on the right which runs alongside the stream on the left-hand side. Cross the first driveway and continue along the stream.

(7) Take the second lane (higher up) to the right and continue to a larger lane, which you should take to the left. Continue straight ahead.

(8) At the end of the lane, near the campsite and its pond, turn left onto the red and yellow marked lane. Continue following these markings. Cross the road and the school car park, then take the Passage de l'Octroi.

Return to the car park via the same route you took at the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 32 m - Saint-Pierre School car park
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 25 m - Turn right towards the campsite entrance
  3. 2 : km 1.16 - alt. 30 m - Small road on the right marked GRP
  4. 3 : km 3.22 - alt. 37 m - On the right, Allée de la Grée
  5. 4 : km 5.48 - alt. 40 m - Coudray Forest Road
  6. 5 : km 7.05 - alt. 32 m - End of the GRP markings, continue along the road
  7. 6 : km 8.38 - alt. 30 m - Path on the right, before the stream
  8. 7 : km 9.72 - alt. 30 m - Path, high up, to the right
  9. 8 : km 11.17 - alt. 26 m - Path on the left, before the campsite
  10. S/E : km 12.13 - alt. 32 m - Saint-Pierre School car park

Notes

A pleasant, easy trail, best enjoyed in good weather as several areas can be in poor condition after a period of rain (mud).

Worth a visit

All amenities are available in the village of Le Gâvre.
There are a few picnic areas near the campsite and the La Belle-Étoile roundabout.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 24 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
pierjac4477
pierjac4477

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, shaded walk through the forest, but we found the long, straight paths a bit monotonous.

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User 12425376

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Dry and cold weather, hardly anyone around, very pleasant hike. To be repeated next year between Christmas and New Year.

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User 14819094

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant walk

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User 19612776

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. It perhaps follows the main forest paths a little too much (although this could have been avoided without a small mistake at the start of the route). The paths near the streams are charming but can easily dry up during the summer.

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User 3587940

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

convenient for visiting unfamiliar areas

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tugny44
tugny44

Hello
That's really unfortunate. Indeed, we had rain in the days leading up to it. However, on Sunday the 8th, it wasn't very warm but the sun was shining.
I hope you have better conditions for your next outings.

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User 17984529

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We couldn't take the start of the route because it was flooded, but we were able to get around it by taking another path.

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tugny44
tugny44

Thank you for your comment.

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milb44
milb44

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very little tarmac, long forest paths and a very pleasant end to the hike in the undergrowth.
A lovely afternoon.

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tugny44
tugny44

Hello
I recently noticed that several trees had fallen, blocking the path. There are tracks on either side of the path that allow you to go around and find the right way through.
I hope that the forest maintenance services will quickly take the necessary steps to clear the affected paths.
If not, perhaps you don't have the Visorando app on your phone, in which case I would advise you to download it. It's free and more accurate. It makes it much easier to find your way around.
All the best

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Padrig ar brikir
Padrig ar brikir

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A few hesitations at times in finding the right direction, but overall good.

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Yored44
Yored44

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The only issue is that there is no network coverage at the Belle Étoile roundabout and in many other places. It is therefore important to have downloaded the route beforehand.
A few areas were a little too sunny for my liking, but overall it was a very nice walk with plenty of picnic areas at the roundabout.

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ZENOP44
ZENOP44

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

It is best to be connected to follow this route.

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moyalima
moyalima

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Excellent forest circuit

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JPNLG
JPNLG

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hiking is not permitted on Mondays and Thursdays during hunting season.
As this is a national forest, hunting takes place until 31 March.

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