Long walk around Milly-la-Forêt

The walk starts at Château de Bonnevaux, Rue de Buno Bonnevaux. There’s a small free car park for a maximum of 3 to 4 cars.

N.B. You can also start from Maisse station (RER line D) if you’re using public transport or if the castle car park is full. From the station, cross the level crossing to the right, then turn left onto Rue Buno-Bonnevaux until you reach the castle, about 1,300 metres away.**

(S/E) Head south-east. Cross the railway line.

(1) Continue for about thirty metres along the road, then take the path on the left (south-east). Follow this gently ascending path, ignore the first path on the left and, at the next junction, turn left.

(2) At the top of the hill, on the edge of the forest, at the first Fork in the road, turn left. At the second Fork in the road, immediately afterwards, turn right. Continue across the plateau through open fields.

(3) At the junction with the^GR®1, turn right and then take a path on the left leading to the Menhir de la Pierre Droite, in the middle of a field. This path is very narrow and may not be accessible depending on the season and the crops being grown. Then turn back to the junction.

(3) Continue north-north-west along the^GR®1. At the first junction, turn right and head towards Le Paly. Pass a factory on your left.

(4) At the next crossroads, at the Corbeau farm, turn right.

(5) At the next junction, follow the D1 to the left (pond on the right), and immediately afterwards take the first path on the right (south-east). At the end, continue left (east) along a road. Pass a road on the right.

(6) At the junction, take a small road to the left (joining the^GR®111). Follow this road to Oncy-sur-École.

(7) At the first junction in Oncy, turn right, then carry on straight ahead until you reach a path facing the fields. There, turn left.

(8) At the crossroads, cross the main road (D410) and take the small road on the right. At the next junction, turn left. Pass two roads on the left and continue along a track.

(9) At the T-junction, turn left onto the Chemin de Chambergeot. Carry on straight ahead, ignoring all the side roads. You can admire some magnificent houses along this stretch!

(10) Cross the D16 and carry on straight ahead along the Route des Grandes Vallées.

(11) Take the second right, Rue du Rocher d’Argout, and pass in front of a riding centre.

(12) At the end, turn right, then go round a roundabout and carry on straight ahead. At the T-junction, turn left.

(13) At the end of the road, take the path furthest to the right (east-north-east). At the next junction, turn left onto the path marked in red (Route des 25 Bosses). At a fork in the road, leave this marked path and turn right. Cross the red-marked path again, stay on the main path and climb the slope until you reach the junction with the Denecourt-Colinet path no. 16.

(14) Before the slope becomes any steeper, turn left onto a steep path between the rocks, marked in blue. Get off your bike. Once past the hillock, turn immediately right.

(15) At the crossroads, take the second path on the right, the Chemin de la Justice de Chambergeot, and head east.

(16) At the crossroads where seven paths meet, take the third on the left. At the next crossroads, veer slightly to the right onto a wide path (Chemin de la Gorge aux Chats).

(17) After about 900 metres, take a path on the left – one that’s actually quite hard to spot. Cut across the rocks and ferns. On the uphill section, you’ll probably need to take your shoes off again. Follow this path as best you can; it crosses the Dénecourt No. 16 again (beautiful view from the summit).

(18) At the T-junction, turn right. Enjoy a gentle descent towards easier-to-walk paths. At the crossroads at the bottom, continue straight ahead along a wide path.

(19) Before the car park along the D409, turn left. At the end, turn right.

(20) Cross the D409, ignore the first track after it and carry on straight ahead uphill.

(21) At the junction, take the path furthest to the left and in the worst condition. Turn right at the first junction. Carry on straight ahead (north), ignoring all side paths.

(22) At the T-junction, turn right.

(23) Take the main path again, to the left (Chemin de la Passée aux Moutons), and ignore any paths branching off to the right or left.

(24) At the Petit Montrouget junction, follow the^GR®11to the left along the Chemin de la Roche qui Tourne.

(25) At the Carrefour des Côtes de Courances, first turn right then left, staying on the GR^®. Again, ignore all paths branching off to the right or left.

(26) Let the^GR®11branch off to the left, pass under the arches of the aqueduct and continue straight on along the widest path.

(27) Join the^GR® again and carry on straight ahead (west).

(28) At the fork in the road, turn left onto the Chemin de Milly à Melun. Stay on the^GR® and ignore a path branching off at right angles to the left.

(29) At a fork in the road, turn right and stay on the^GR®, following a narrow path.

(30) Cross the D372 (take care) and continue straight ahead. Then take the D946 on the right towards Moigny (watercress beds).

(31) Turn left twice and follow Rue de Cochet. Continue along a track following the^GR®32.

(32) Near Le Cyclop, follow a^PR® path (yellow markings) to the left. At the end, first turn right then left, then turn right onto the track.

(33) At the junction, turn left. Climb over a gate and cross what may look like wasteland. At the end, go through another gate, then first turn left then right. You’ll come out onto the D105; follow it to the right for about 250 metres.

(34) Then take a track on the left (gate), cross another track straight away and head south-south-west. Take the first track on the right (marker 76). At the Fork in the road, turn left.

(35) At the junction, first turn right then left. Continue along the winding path, ignoring all turn-offs to the left. Carry on straight ahead until you reach the Maisse ZAC. Turn right and then left at a barrier (you cannot go through this one) and go round the waste collection centre on the right.

(36) Cross the D837 and follow the^PR® path opposite. Stay on the^PR® path and, further on, join the^GRP® du Hurepoix. Follow this west-south-west, along the hillside, until you reach a quarry.

(37) Then turn left along the railway line until you reach the level crossing.

(1) Turn right and head back towards the castle (S/E).

N.B. To return to Maisse station, turn right at the quarry (37), then left onto the D837. The station is a little further on, on the right.

Watch out for scratches. I took a lot of paths with brambles. Don’t worry if there are several paths running side by side. Just follow the trail closely. I had to check my bearings very often.

A menhir in the middle of a field, with no path leading to it.
Several sumptuous mansions.
The Forêt des Trois Pignons: superb, challenging, but with some splendid views.