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Parking in Gambaiseuil, a village located 7 km south-west of Montfort-l'Amaury. Park in one of the spaces provided along the D112, between the town hall and the junction with the road to Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines.
Apart from the signposts, where they exist, there are signs (not always) indicating crossroads and paths. On site, these are usually designated as 'Route de lieu-dit n°1 à lieu-dit n°2' (road from place name no. 1 to place name no. 2). On the IGN map and in this description, only place name no. 1 is indicated.
Red and white signposts
(S/E) Take the D112 towards Gambais.
(1) When the road turns left, turn right onto a path that enters the forest. Follow a fence on your right and, at the end, continue straight ahead on Route du Champ Mauduit. Cross a perpendicular path and walk between a pine forest on your left and a birch forest with beautiful fern undergrowth on your right.
(2) Cross a small road and continue on Route du Champ Mauduit. Walk west-northwest, then northwest, through a landscape of sparse forest with fern undergrowth. Cross several perpendicular paths and reach a T-junction near the Etang Neuf.
(3) Then turn right and cross two bridges without railings, one made of stone and the other of wooden planks. Follow the Etang Neuf dyke due north. Then turn slightly to the right and you will reach the Poteau de l'Etang Neuf (picnic table, shelter).
No signposts
(4) Leave the markedGR® trail and turn right (southeast) onto the Route de l'Étang de Vitry. When the road turns right, take a wide path on the left. Climb gently uphill through pine and birch woods. Cross a sandy path and then a small trail. Continue climbing slightly, heading east. You will come out onto a flat area in the middle of a sparse oak forest. The path is wide but, paradoxically, not very well marked: continue eastwards until you reach the Carrefour du Haut Beaussard.
(5) Take the Route du Haut Beaussard, which is the third path on the right (sign). At the next crossroads, near a break in the slope, turn left onto the Route de la Vallée Forée, which stays high up and winds its way to the Carrefour de la Vallée Gavard.
(6) After two trees on the right-hand side, close to each other and bearing the signs "Route de la Vallée Forée" and "Route du Rendez-Vous" respectively, look for a solitary oak tree bearing the sign "Route de la Vallée Forée". Turn your back to this oak tree and take the path opposite, heading south-west (Route de la Butte Rouge). Go straight down the path, which becomes hollow, then turn left and join Route du Haut Beaussard, which heads south-east. Stay on the main path until you reach a crossroads.
(7) Cross a perpendicular path, then climb up opposite (south-east) between two open plots of land that are being regenerated. The path becomes sandy, enters a pine forest and then descends slightly. After passing under a telephone line, join the Route de l'Etang de Vitry. Turn left and take the steep path that climbs up to the D112 road.
Cross the road (be careful) and take the path that climbs behind the barrier on the other side of the road, just opposite (ignore the car park on the right and the path that leads off from it). When you reach a flat area, the path becomes less distinct: continue east to reach the Poteau du Roi (small tarmac road).
(8) The route described below and shown on the map should only be taken in dry conditions. For an alternative route in wet weather, see the practical information.
Continue along the Route de l'Etang de Vitry: compared to the path you arrived on, it is the second road on the right, the first after the tarmac road. N.B. The sign "Route de l'Etang de Vitry" on the post may be misleading: due to the limited space on the post, it actually indicates the small path that starts opposite the arrival point and heads north-east towards the edge of the forest. Head east-southeast (azimuth 120) along a wide lane (a few dozen metres after the post, there is a tree on the left with the plot number 03.18).
Walk east-southeast to the Carrefour de la Mandreuse. Turn slightly left and continue to the Carrefour des Longues Mares (small house).
(9) Take the first road on the right, Route Monnereau, and head south until you reach Carrefour Monnereau. Turn right (west) onto Route Forestière du Parc d'en haut, which is a gravel track, and continue until you reach Carrefour du Grand Baliveau.
(10) At the crossroads, take the Route Roulée to the south-west: when you are facing the shelter, it is the path that branches off to the left. The path starts off flat and becomes less distinct. Before the slope breaks, look for an oak tree marked with the plot number 04.14 (in September 2020, only a "4" remained) and, to its right, a large isolated beech tree. The path passes between these two trees: go under the pine forest and descend sharply, making a left-right turn. You will reach a crossroads.
Red and white markings
(11) Turn right onto theGR®22trail and walk through the birch trees, with a stream on your left. At the first fork, turn left. At the second fork, turn right. Walk along a fence on your right and climb up above the stream on your left. Descend and you will come to a three-way junction (very large beech tree on the right).
(12) Then turn left and take the wooden footbridge over the stream. Walk alongside a pond on your right. After the pond, at the corner of a fence, turn right. Leave the forest and walk alongside the meadows.
No signposts
(13) Shortly before reaching Gambaiseuil (path barrier in sight), leave theGR® and turn right (red and white cross on a tree). Reach the side of the church. Turn left along the church. Continue between the houses until you reach the D112 road. Turn left and return to the starting point (S/E).
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