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Parking is available in a car park opposite 137 Rue de Versailles, at the traffic lights (on the right when coming from Ville-d'Avray, on the left when coming from Versailles).
Most of the hike is off-trail. Only one marked section is indicated here, between points 1 and 2. There are a few other marked sections which, being relatively short, do not need to be mentioned. However, the forest plot numbers painted on some trees are indicated here and there as landmarks.
(S/E) Take the asphalt road (closed to traffic) that climbs gently towards the north-west. At a fork, turn right and continue uphill. Reach the Carrefour de l'Étoile Royale (sign), cross the road (which is busy) and continue opposite (north-west) on a path (Route forestière des cerisiers, sign).
Cross a bridle path and continue straight ahead between two recently cleared plots of land. At the corner of plot no. 37 (on the left), turn left onto a path not marked on the IGN map. This will take you to one of the entrances to the Parc départemental des Haras de Jardy.
(1) Turn left into the lane coming from the park and continue to the road. Cross the road, veering to the right to reach a small car park. At the end of the car park, take the lane opposite with the "stabilised" surface. Stay on the main lane and follow the green owl silhouettes on a white background. At the Carrefour du Prieuré (sign, plot no. 77), continue straight ahead, slightly to the right. The lane curves to the left to reach the entrance to Versailles (road, sign).
(2) Do not take the road but stay on a path below on the left. Walk along a car park and turn south onto Route du Cordon (asphalted but closed to traffic). At plot number 81, take a path on the right that runs alongside a fence.
Shortly before reaching some buildings (visible from a distance), leave this path and follow a trail not marked on the IGN map. The trail is narrow and winds through the woods (when the weather has been wet, this trail is muddy in places). At the junction with a path, turn left (there is a beautiful solitary beech tree in the middle). Join the Route du Cordon, which you take on the right to immediately reach the road from Ville-d'Avray to Versailles (signposted "Hauts-de-Seine").
(3) Cross the road and continue south-east on the Route du Cordon (this is the only part where traffic is allowed). After just a few hundred metres, turn into a car park on the right-hand side of the road. Stay on the right-hand side of the car park and, when it bends to the left, continue along the path opposite (plot no. 117). The path, which is quite sandy, curves slightly to the left but continues generally eastwards. Continue until you reach the Carrefour de la Sablonnière.
(4) At the crossroads, take the second road on the right and briefly follow a fenced-off installation belonging to the Syndicat des Eaux d'Ile-de-France (sign) on your left. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead, heading east-south-east. You will reach a crossroads (ONF sign).
Take the path straight ahead, which remains fairly flat (do not take the path slightly to the right, which descends gently but is clearly visible). You will reach a small esplanade that used to be a viewpoint (marked on the IGN map) but is no longer visible due to overgrown vegetation. Although there is no view, this esplanade is open and south-facing, making it a pleasant place to stop and enjoy the sun.
(5) Continue along the path that turns sharply to the left. At the successive crossroads, stay on the main path which, despite a few bends, continues northwards. You will reach the Carrefour des 4 Bornes (numerous signposts).
(6) Look for a paved road (closed to traffic) coming from the left and heading right down towards "Ville-d'Avray-Etangs" (signpost). Do not take this road, but instead take the forest lane that branches off immediately to the right, heading north-west and gently downhill. At the next crossroads, turn slightly left and continue gently uphill.
(7) Take a narrow path on the left, marked by two horse riding signs (green horseshoe on a white background) on either side. The path descends steeply, crosses another path and joins the asphalt road, which you take to the right. After a few metres, at a fork, take the right-hand branch and reach the boundary between the two ponds of Ville-d'Avray.
(8) Turn right and follow a path that runs along the southern bank of the pond. At the end, turn left onto the dike. After about 100 metres, turn left again to follow a path along the northern bank of the pond. At the end of this path, at a fork, take the right-hand branch and follow the small road that separates the two ponds.
Turn right and then left and follow the other pond along its northern bank. The path bends to the left and crosses a stream via a small footbridge. You will reach a lane, which you take on the right.
At the next junction, turn right between the houses. You will reach the road to Versailles in Ville-d'Avray, which you take on the left and cross after a few steps to return to the starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Very difficult 
