The Rambouillet Forest by bike

Departure from Montfort-l'Amaury, from the Brulins car park south of the town, after the Etang de la Plaine.

(S/E) From the car park, head south, following the^GR® trail (red and white markings).

(1) After crossing the Route du Haut Cornu, turn right onto the cycle path that winds its way through the trees (let the^GR® continue straight ahead).

(2) Further on, cross a stream and make a U-turn at a crossroads.

(3) Continue along the cycle path, cross a stream, follow the winding path and rejoin the^GR® at a crossroads.

(4) Continue straight ahead, south-southwest, on the Belsédène road (leaving the cycle path that branches off to the left).

(5) At the crossroads of the same name, turn right and follow a track on the right for a good kilometre.

(6) At a fork, turn left. You will reach a road (D138).

(7) Follow the D138 to the left, cross a stream and immediately turn right onto the Parc d'en Haut road.

Follow this road for about 3.5 km, heading due west to the Carrefour du Grand Baliveau, then gradually curving north. You will reach the D112.

(8) Take the D112 on the left and descend to Gambaiseuil.

(9) At the crossroads, turn left onto the D111 towards St-Léger-en-Yvelines. The road climbs to a fork at an elevation of 165 metres.

(10) Take the small road on the right, south-southwest, and pass the Bocquet forest house.

(11) At the junction with Route des Quenouilles, find a cycle path on the right that runs parallel to Route Forestière du Bocquet.

(12) At the Joubaire crossroads, continue on the cycle path, which turns right. After about 350 metres, the cycle path branches off from the forest road.

(13) At the Carrefour des Barillets junction, turn left and continue along the cycle path, which winds through the forest until it reaches the D936 road.

(14) Cross the D936 and follow the small road that passes successively through La Colonie, La Chesnaie and La Briqueterie, ending at the Carrefour du Mesle.

(15) Take the cycle path on the right and climb into the forest. Then turn left just before the Lieutenant de Louveterie crossroads.

Stay on the cycle path at the top or edge of the slope. Continue for approximately 3.6 km, crossing several forest paths and passing Carrefour du Haut Planet (shelter).

(16) The track then winds along the^GR®1. Turn left at the Archet crossroads to reach the Carrefour du Hourvari.

(17) At the crossroads, turn left onto the Route Forestière de la Vignerie. Keeping a general eastward direction, pass a road coming from the left, join another road coming from the right and then come out onto a larger road, the D936.

(18) Cross the D936 and continue to the Carrefour du Débuché junction, go through a barrier and turn left onto the Route Forestière de la Billeterie. You will reach the Croix de Vilpert (a large roundabout with a small obelisk in the centre topped with a cross).

(19) Continue straight ahead (north-east), still on the Route de la Billeterie.

(20) At the next crossroads, turn right onto the D61. Cross Le Matz, staying on the D61, which turns left into the village. Arrive at Les Bréviaires.

(21) Turn left (leaving the D61 road on your right, towards St-Perray-en-Yvelines).

(22) About 100 metres after leaving the village, at a fork, leave the D61 on the left towards Les Petites Yvelines and continue right on a smaller road.

At the next fork, turn left at a right angle. Pass between two ponds (reed beds). At Le Corbet, turn right to reach a larger road.

(23) Take this road on the left, pass a forest path and then a small road coming from the left, and you will reach a crossroads with car parks.

(24) Then turn right at an acute angle. Drive straight ahead, heading south-west, until you reach the Essarts crossroads.

(25) Turn right at a right angle.

(26) At the next crossroads, turn left, then immediately left onto Rue de la Haie aux Vaches and immediately right onto Rue de la Forêt. Drive through the village on this road, which veers to the right to reach the Route de Mantes (D191).

(27) Follow the D911 on the left. Cross the bridge over the RN10.

(28) At the roundabout (take care), continue straight ahead and cross the bridge over the railway line. Turn left towards Les Essarts-le-Roi, into Rue de l'Artoire.

(29) Before entering Les Essarts, find a cycle path that branches off to the right, the Route Forestière des Cinq Cents Arpents. Follow this cycle path to the right for approximately 6.6 km.

The path is initially straight and runs along the edge of fields and woods. It then enters the undergrowth and winds its way, remaining more or less distant from the forest road. You will reach the Cambude crossroads.

(30) At the crossroads, the cycle path turns left and heads north to the D202 road, at a place called La Petite Houssière.

(31) Follow the D202 to the right and descend to Garnes.

(32) In the village, leave the D202 and turn right onto Rue de la Glacière. Ignore the streets coming from the right and reach the D91.

(33) Take the D91 on the right towards Cernay / Les Vaux-de-Cernay. Pass successively by the Ferme des Bouillons, the Moulin des Roches (car park) and the Petit Moulin.

(34) Cross the D24 at a place called La Vallée, then continue up to the Calvaire des Pucelles.

(35) Take the D906 on the right towards Rambouillet. Pass the Dallonerie forest house, set back on the right, then the D61 which branches off to the left towards La Celle-Les Bordes.

(36) At the next fork, turn right onto the D61 towards Saint-Benoît.

(17) At the entrance to the village (cross), leave the D61 and turn left onto Rue de la Croix Picard. Turn right onto this street, then left onto Rue de Vieille Eglise. Continue west on a small road.

(38) At the crossroads after Les Brûlins and before the cemetery, turn left onto Route d'Auffargis. Ignore a small road on the right and then turn right.

(39) At the T-junction, follow Route de l'Etang de la Tour to the left and immediately turn right onto Route de Rambouillet, which then continues as Route de la Grange Colombe.

Pass La Guitonnerie (crossroads) and continue to another crossroads, near the Pâtis forest house.

(40) Turn right, pass a car park and take the cycle path that enters the forest, heading north-west. The path winds through the undergrowth, crosses the Route du Pâtis and joins the three-way junction.

(41) Turn left and go under the railway tunnel. The cycle path turns right and heads north, first along the Route de la Grimace and then veering off to the left. You will reach the Croix Saint-Jacques at the entrance to Le Perray-en-Yvelines.

(42) Do not take the very first road on the left, which is a no-entry road. As if you were going to take the RN10 towards Rambouillet, take the slip road on the left, where there is two-way traffic (take care), which runs alongside the Croix Saint-Jacques on the right-hand side (obelisk topped with a cross). Cross the bridge over the RN10 and immediately afterwards turn right.

(43) At the crossroads, turn sharply left onto Route de la Croix Saint-Jacques. Follow this road, heading generally west. You will reach the Carrefour de la Renardière crossroads.

(44) Pass a car park and a barrier. Take the cycle path on the right, which continues west. Join another cycle path that is roughly perpendicular.

(45) Turn right onto the track that runs more or less parallel to Route de Rambouillet. Continue north then north-west, crossing several forest paths until you reach Croix de Vilpert.

(19) Continue roughly opposite on the cycle path, the second lane to the left of the forest house (in the direction of travel). Go around the Mares de Vilpert on the left. Continue north on the cycle path.

(46) Cross the D61, wind along the edge of the slope on your left, descend to cross a stream, then climb back up to cross the Route des Bergeries.

(47) Stay on the cycle path and continue north.

(48) Cross the Route aux Vaches to reach the Carrefour du Poteau de Hollande (shelter).

(49) Continue along the cycle path to the north-east, pass Carrefour Neuf and reach Carrefour du Comte de Toulouse (shelter).

(50) Continue north then north-west to reach the Carrefour des Maurus.

(4) Turn right onto the cycle path and follow Route de Belsedène on your right. Then turn left and follow the winding cycle path.

(3) Turn left again, still following the cycle path.

(2) Take a sharp right turn.

(1) Turn left and return to the car park (S/E).

The route mainly follows tarmac cycle paths and small roads and, in a few places, gravel tracks: a bicycle with tyres that are not too thin (hybrid type) is ideal.

The route consists of two circular loops that meet at the Croix de Vilpert. It is therefore possible to do both loops, as in this description, or just one of them. In the latter case, there are two options:
- Circular route (37km), starting from Montfort-l'Amaury or Croix de Vilpert, passing through points (4) to (19) and (49).
- Circular Route (42km), starting from La Croix de Vilpert, passing through points (21) to (44).

Possible shelters, in addition to the villages crossed: between points (7) and (8), (10) and (12), (15) and (19) and (49) and (4).

Bring sufficient water supplies. Map required (at least the one accompanying this description).

Hike completed twice by the author, with various variations, the first on 17 May 1997, the second on 14 June 2009.

- High forests, remarkable trees here and there, close up thanks to the cycle paths running through the undergrowth.
- Hollande ponds.
- Mares de Vilpert, which provide a pleasant setting for a picnic (a very popular spot, so it is often crowded).

In Rambouillet: Park, Castle, National Sheep Farm.