The Bois de Morval via the village of Banthelu

Whilst the Morval Departmental Forest is well known to walkers, the village of Banthelu lies off the usual routes. But this little village is well worth a detour, if only for its history, as is Cléry-en-Vexin, which you also pass through before discovering the covered walkway of Bois Couturier.

Details

46363162
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.69 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 83 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 84 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 177 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 107 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Bois de Morval car park. The car park is located in the commune of Guiry-en-Vexin, but outside the village, on the road from Banthelu to Cléry-en-Vexin.

(S/E) From the car park, head along the road towards Banthelu (south-west) until you reach the first crossroads. Take the path opposite, which runs alongside a property. Continue straight on until you reach a road.

(1) Take the road on the right, then the first path on the left. Follow the main path which turns right and eventually joins a road.

(2) Turn right, follow the road into Banthelu, and arrive at a small car park at the foot of the church.

(3) Turn right onto Sente du Pipard, then immediately left behind the first building to enter the cemetery and reach the ruins of Saint-Gédéon Church. Exit via the steps leading back to the car park, and take the small Rue René Panier which branches off to the left of the town hall. At the end, turn left into Rue du Plessis. You will reach the sign marking the exit from Banthelu.

(4) At the sign, three paths branch off to the left; take the one closest to the road. On the plateau, the path turns right, running parallel to the Cergy-Magny road (D14), and leads onto a small road. Follow it to the right for 300 m, until you reach the first building.

(5) In front of this building, turn left, pass the entrance to the Château du Plessis le Veneur (private, visible in the distance), and follow the path to Cléry-en-Vexin. In Cléry, take the first street on the right (Rue du Trou Millot). At a crossroads, continue straight ahead into Rue du Château, then take the first left (Rue de l’Église), and you will arrive opposite the church.

(6) Turn left, then immediately right, and continue straight ahead onto Route de Thilley.

(7) Turn right onto Rue de la Tour, then left onto Rue du Bâtiment, and continue along this street to the last house in the village.

(8) Turn right, then take the first path on the left, before a farm building. Head down towards the forest and take a grassy path on the right, at the edge of the woodland. After 500 m, turn left towards the covered walkway and arrive at a path.

(9) Head left to see the covered walkway, right next to you. Retrace your steps and continue straight ahead. Turn left onto a path that descends steeply. At the bottom, continue straight ahead, then, at a fork, keep right and arrive at the main path of the Morval Departmental Forest.

(10) Turn right onto this lane and continue straight on. At a junction, go straight up and you will reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 146 m - Morval Wood car park
  2. 1 : km 1.71 - alt. 136 m - Mantes Path
  3. 2 : km 2.47 - alt. 123 m - Road junction
  4. 3 : km 3.03 - alt. 122 m - Église Saint-Germer (Banthelu)
  5. 4 : km 3.68 - alt. 133 m - Exit at Banthelu
  6. 5 : km 5.21 - alt. 156 m - Junction
  7. 6 : km 6.44 - alt. 170 m - Église Saint-Germain-de-Paris (Cléry-en-Vexin)
  8. 7 : km 6.58 - alt. 172 m - Junction
  9. 8 : km 6.89 - alt. 169 m - Exit from Cléry-en-Vexin
  10. 9 : km 8.22 - alt. 134 m - Allée Couverte du Bois Couturier
  11. 10 : km 8.74 - alt. 115 m - Morval Wood Path
  12. S/E : km 9.69 - alt. 146 m - Morval Wood car park

Worth a visit

(3) Ruins of Saint-Gédéon Church: the church was bombed by mistake in 1944; the bombing was intended for the Nucourt quarries, a V1 manufacturing site.
Plessis-le-Veneur Castle.
(6) Church of Cléry-en-Vexin.
(9) Covered Walkway of Bois Couturier.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 3237029

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, which I did with my family and my dog.
Difficulty level: zero, it’s completely flat!
Highly recommended in good weather

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User 6895733

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route that takes just under an hour at a normal pace. No difficulties along the route. The scenery varies between fields, passing through villages and finishing through the Morval woods.
The route was quiet this Sunday, despite the clear skies and sunshine ☀️

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User 6895733

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route that takes just under an hour at a normal pace. No difficulties along the route. The scenery varies between fields, a stretch through the village and a finish through Morval Wood.
The route was quiet this Sunday, despite the clear skies and sunshine ☀️

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User 26753618

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk along easily accessible paths, mostly through fields, interspersed with charming villages.

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kelylamil
kelylamil

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route, whether you’re visiting Banthelu and the ruins of its church, or Cléry-en-Vexin. There are some lovely views and beautiful paths through the Bois de Morval, not to mention the attraction of the covered walkway.

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