Guyancourt walks

The upstream part of this series of three hikes devoted to the Bièvre river. A very pleasant walk along the river and its bodies of water, in a mostly rural setting. A hike from station to station, which can be used to adjust the length depending on the weather conditions or desires of the hikers.

A green loop around the ponds of Moulin à Renard, La Minière, Val d'Or and La Geneste in the Bièvre valley, with an optional detour to admire the Arcades de Buc.

This route allows you to discover both the Minière ponds, upstream of the Bièvre river, and to pass close to the Palace of Versailles by crossing the Parc des Suisses. It is also a route through the Versailles National Forest, allowing you to enjoy a pleasant walk along the Bièvre. It is a route for all seasons, as the landscape changes with the weather.

A short forest hike in two stages. After a lovely view of the former Port-Royal-des-Champs Abbey, you climb up the Vallon du Rodhon on a path and trails that wind through the undergrowth. The hike then follows the wide paths of the Port-Royal Forest.

An unsuspected corner of wild nature, just twenty kilometres from Paris. In the Parc Départemental des Côtes de Montbron, the Ru de Saint-Marc and three ponds are home to a variety of flora and numerous birds. A short walk for nature lovers! 15/11/2024: A landslide has been reported just past the point (6) and it seems impossible to get through at the moment.

In the footsteps of Jean Racine, in places steeped in history. A walk through a variety of environments, between forests, meadows and cultivated fields, with a lovely view of the ancient Abbey of Port-Royal des Champs.

A tour of the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, including the Swiss Garden and a visit to the King's Kitchen Garden.

A hike which is mostly in the forest, with lovely sections along the Mérantaise river and the ditches which run down from the Saclay Plateau.

A short walk along the streams of the Plaine de Versailles, including the Ru de Gally, which rises in the castle grounds. The charming village of Rennemoulin boasts a chapel, a wash house and an old bridge, while the Fontaine de Maltoute is a pleasant place to stop and rest in the shade.

A short walk on either side of the Ru de Gally, with beautiful views of the plain and the Palace of Versailles and a rich heritage in the charming village of Rennemoulin.

This magnificent route will allow you to discover the wonders of the Chevreuse Valley, passing through the Domaine de Coubertin, the Meridon Departmental Forest, the Bois du Vossery sandstone quarry, the village of Chevreuse with its shopping streets, its church, the Promenade des Petits Ponts and its medieval castle.

The first part of this walk alternates between woodland and fields. The return journey is through undergrowth, along the former railway line that used to link Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and Limours.

From the RER B station at Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, visit the 11th-century medieval castle (1030) in Chevreuse and its ramparts, with a view overlooking the Chevreuse Valley. A day of nature, sport, excitement and gastronomy awaits you.

This hike will take you from castle to castle in the Chevreuse Valley: Coubertin, Méridon, Breteuil, Dampierre and La Madeleine. You will also discover Chevreuse, its small bridges and its Saint-Martin Church (with its remarkable ambulatory) and the surrounding countryside. The hike can start from Chevreuse or from the RER B station at Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse (departure and return details in italics). In this case, add 2 km to the length of the hike.

A beautiful hike to discover the beautiful sights of the Chevreuse valley: the Chatillonmill, the castle of Dampierre, the blacksmith’s, the villages of Fourcherolles, Senlisse and Choisel, Méridon castle, the village of Chevreuse and its small bridges along the Yvette, and Château de la Madeleine.

A beautiful walk through open woodland and along two charming ponds, ideal for a simple half-day outing.

You pass by the Etang d'Ursine, a nameless pond, then the Etang du Trou aux Gants, before reaching the Chêne des Missions, a remarkable tree surrounded by pseudo-megaliths. This route starts in the Mare Adam forest park and continues through the Meudon National Forest, with a brief detour into a pretty residential area. Allow half a day for this walk.

A beautiful, challenging hike in the forest, just a stone's throw from Paris. Choose between 25 km or 35 km, with 700 and 900 m of elevation gain respectively. Despite a few urban sections, most of the route is in the heart of the forest, shaded by deciduous trees. The forest is beautiful, and there are some lovely views, but the appeal is more athletic than touristy. The route includes many quick changes of direction, making it difficult to follow without GPS. The entire route is less than 10 km from the western part of Paris.

A hike from station to station that takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the Fausses-Reposes Forest and Saint-Cloud Park. Along the way, you can enjoy the Étangs de Ville-d'Avray, the park's ponds and statues, and a superb view of the Val de Seine and Paris.

A short hike in the Upper Chevreuse Valley, rich in heritage and offering beautiful views of the Vallon du Pommeret and the wooded hills that surround it.

A former royal estate (Louis XIV liked to entertain his friends here, away from the court), the Parc de Marly combines a rich heritage with the pleasure of strolling along woodland paths, wide avenues and vast lawns.

A half-day walk, mainly in the woods, with a beautiful pond and the vast lawn of the Domaine de Beauregard.

The first part of the hike takes in many points of interest. The second part offers a route through forest and quiet country lanes. This circuit is not recommended for young children as it includes some very steep and stony paths.

At the heart of the Chevreuse Valley Natural Park, a hike that allows you to wander through a protected natural site with a trail laid out by the Park. In the Bois de Maincourt, one can see ancient sandstone quarries. The course of the river Yvette, which the trail follows on the way back, finally allows a patrimonial approach with old mills and old washhouses.

A mainly forest route with several remarkable trees here and there. The site of the Croix Saint-Michel offers a view stretching as far as Paris. A short but fairly challenging hike, given the alternating ascents and descents (the total elevation gain is probably underestimated; allow for around 200m).

Around Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche station - Marly Forest, a walk in a beautiful deciduous forest. It suffered greatly from the great storm of 1999, which flattened the oak trees on the motorway like straw, but this hike has a high density of remarkable trees (oaks, hornbeams, beeches). As the Marly forest is crossed by several busy roads, this hike focuses on the quietest part. It also offers a few viewpoints.

A walk of many faces! On forest tracks interspersed with paths through the city, you follow an old railway line with a tunnel and viaduct, finishing along the course of the river Yvette. A walk to enjoy at any time of year.

A loop in the Chevreuse Valley, with magnificent landscapes, in a wooded and rural setting close to Paris. The first part is a walk through the woods on the plateau overlooking the Yvette Valley. The return journey, parallel to the outward route, is mainly on flat ground. Most of the walk is well shaded and flat, but there are also some fairly steep ascents and descents. The area is very popular with walkers and mountain bikers, but it is well worth a visit.

A loop around the Bois de Montabé, following the edge of an old railway line, a short section across fields and ending on paths and lanes. A walk to get some fresh air in the afternoon.

A mainly forest route with a pleasant section along the Etang de Saint-Cucufa and a brief detour through a residential area and old orchards to enjoy a beautiful view from the Belvédère des Gallicourts. A half-day walk.

This bike ride will take you from the Parc de Villeneuve-l'Étang to the Étang de Saint-Cucufa, in the heart of the Malmaison National Forest. Along the way, you will pass through the village-like towns of Marnes-la-Coquette and Garches, just a stone's throw from Paris.

A walk that allows you to discover the places favoured by the Impressionists and the beautiful old villas that dot the banks of the Seine. The route is perfectly passable even when it has rained.

A loop starting from Cernay-la-Ville. Head west towards Le Perray and Vieille-Église. Return via the Rambouillet Forest. 75% of the route is in the forest. Start and finish in the town centre.The circuit is almost flat (a small descent and climb towards the end), with a little road at the start and end (2 x 1.5 km) and the rest on forest paths. No technical difficulty, but it's not a leisurely ride (not suitable for families), as the paths can be very bumpy (stones, ruts, etc.) but are nevertheless often very beautiful.

Near Rambouillet, the Vaux de Cernay offer many pleasant walks. The one suggested here gives a good overview of the variety of the site: ponds and wetlands, a passage through a chaos of sandstone and old quarries. This walk is pleasant in all seasons. 07/08/2023 Message from the moderator: hike modified at point 2 to avoid private property.