The Grimbosq forest at the start of Mutrécy

A pleasant hike, starting from Mutrécy, crossing the Caen plain and the Grimbosq Forest in turn. Please note that the final climb may prove difficult for some.

Details

5103491
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 85 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 85 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 107 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 11 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking: Rue du Pont du Coudray, in the car park on the left opposite the eco-station located after the Mutrécy town hall in the direction of Pont du Coudray.

(S/E) Cross Rue du Pont du Coudray with caution, then cross the sports field, keeping to the right towards the town hall while following the hedge. Turn left near the town hall to take the passageway and reach Rue d'Auge. Turn right into this street to head towards the church.

(1) At the church, cross the street carefully and turn left onto Rue de l'Église (D 257) towards Laize-Clinchamps (unfortunately not signposted at this point). Walk about 300 metres to the path on the right after the end of town sign (ignore the first path before the last houses).

(2) Turn right onto a flat path and follow it for about 1,700 metres.

(3) At the end of the path, turn right and follow a small road lined with a hedge. Negotiate the two bends (left then right) and, in the hamlet of Les Huets, turn left onto Route des Hameaux. Follow the road, cross the Coupe-Gorge stream at Bas de Saint-Laurent-de-Condel and continue to the fork. Turn right onto Chemin Gougeon and continue to the D156.

(4) Cross the D 156 with great caution and take the path leading into the forest. Follow this path, which descends slightly and then climbs again. Turn right immediately and follow mountain bike route no. 7.

(5) 30 metres before the Chêne Guillot car park, turn right onto the path that runs alongside the Coupe-Gorge stream. Follow this path, cross the D257 with caution, pass along the stream below the oppidum (feudal ruins) and join theGR® 36.

(6) Turn right, cross the Grande Vallée stream and follow theGR® 36 to the confluence of the Coupe-Gorge stream and the Orne river.

(7) Turn right, cross the Ruisseau du Coupe-Gorge, walk along the Orne for a few hundred metres and follow theGR® 36 which climbs into the Bois des Rocs to the hamlet of Le Drollet. At the intersection, turn left towards the Place du Calvaire and on this square, turn slightly left to leave theGR® 36.

(8) Do not cross the D156 (Rue Principale), but instead take the pavement on the left (caution: it is very narrow and almost non-existent in some places) then, at the roundabout, turn left, still on the left-hand pavement, into Rue du Pont du Coudray to pass in front of the town hall and reach the car park opposite the eco-station near the town hall of Mutrécy (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 79 m - Car park opposite the Mutrécy eco-station
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 86 m - Église Saint-Clair (
  3. 2 : km 0.55 - alt. 89 m - Plain road after the end of the built-up area
  4. 3 : km 1.89 - alt. 102 m - Chemin des Huets
  5. 4 : km 3.43 - alt. 103 m - Route D156
  6. 5 : km 4.35 - alt. 79 m - Near the Chêne Guillot car park
  7. 6 : km 5.53 - alt. 31 m - Entrance to the GR 36
  8. 7 : km 6.17 - alt. 12 m - Confluence of the Coupe-Gorge stream with the - Orne (fleuve)
  9. 8 : km 7.37 - alt. 81 m - Rue Principale (D 156)
  10. S/E : km 8.06 - alt. 79 m - Car park opposite the Mutrécy eco-station

Worth a visit

The Grimbosq Forest
Covering an area of 475 hectares, the Grimbosq Forest is the "green lung" of the region. Acquired in 1972 by the city of Caen, its purpose is to welcome city dwellers without detracting from its character as an educational forest. Things to discover: the animal park (covering an area of 8.5 hectares, where you can see wild boars, stags, hinds and fallow deer), the arboretums, the botanical trail, the walking, mountain biking and cycling routes, and a small cemetery for small pets.

The Church of Saint-Clair in Mutrécy
Contemporary with William the Conqueror, the church of Mutrécy, dedicated to Saint Clair, preserves some very interesting remains fromthe 11th and12th centuries. Its north wall, built in a herringbone pattern, is the best example of this type of construction in the Caen plain.

The Chapel of Sainte-Anne (Grimbosq)
In the forest, Trivia, the three-faced mother goddess, was honoured there, as was later Diana and then Saint Anne, to protect hunters, to whom she guaranteed an abundance of game, or to implore rain, the source of a fruitful harvest. After a night-time sacrifice, the goddess was said to wash the blood-stained linen in the water of a fountain. Saint Anne, honoured by the Christian devotion of pilgrims, still has her chapel in the Grimbosq Forest, sheltered by a rocky cliff bordering the Orne River, facing the Val de Viard. Numerous processions from neighbouring churches would make their way there on 23 July, accompanied by the sound of tinterelles (traditional musical instruments). Once their wishes had been granted, the return home was hastened by the arrival of sudden, heavy rain.
(excerpt from "Voyage en Suisse Normande médiévale" by M. Thiesse)

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
jeangazon
jeangazon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nice hike but a lot of road, almost half of it (from 8 to 4).
In my opinion, it should only be through the forest; the road and village sections are less interesting.
Takes 1 hour 40 minutes at a brisk walking pace.

Machine-translated

chouchou 14
chouchou 14

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

markings in the forest unclear

Machine-translated

Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I have just made a small change to draw attention to the final climb.

Machine-translated

kolet
kolet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In addition to my previous message, I don't think this hike should be classified as easy given the long, long final climb... I'm not as young as I used to be! Kolet

Machine-translated

kolet
kolet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, even if the final climb was difficult.
A hike off the beaten track. I walk often, but I wouldn't have found it myself.

Just one comment: at the start, the route recommends taking the second path on the right when leaving Mutrecy, but in fact the first path on the right is much better. It leads directly to the hamlet of Les Huets and avoids the small road.

But well done to the author of this route, just the kind I like!

PS: The GR36 section is busy, but the path along the Coupe Gorge stream is not at all. It's a shame that the Motte d'Olivet isn't marked.
To make the most of this peaceful day in the fresh air, we set off with a picnic, which we ate at the Guillot oak tree. Superb.

Machine-translated

Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU

Hello,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. It is nice to know that other hikers enjoy this route.

Machine-translated

Michelzaza
Michelzaza

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is very pleasant, especially in the Grimbosq forest section and its arboretum.
The climb up the Orne valley is very pleasant.

Machine-translated

Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU
• Edited:

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. There is no doubt that Grimbosq Forest is very popular and that visitor numbers will only increase with the arrival of warmer weather.

Machine-translated

nmg14
nmg14

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk on this first sunny Sunday. Everything was there: water, forest, countryside and tranquillity. Grimbosq is a very popular forest, but this route takes us away from the crowded gathering spots. I recommend this very pleasant two-hour walk.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.