The Val de la Haye and the Roumare Forest

Parking and departure from the cemetery car park.

(S/E) With your back to the cemetery chapel, turn right onto the road leading down to the Seine. Go through the first hairpin bends to the left and right, pass a street on your left and continue to the intersection at the bottom of the hill, opposite the Napoleon Column.

(1) Turn left onto Quai Napoléon, walking on the shoulder, until you reach a small staircase. Go down the four steps, continue to the right past the town hall and go to the first street on the left, Rue de la Forêt. Turn left at the X-shaped crossroads and continue straight ahead, ignoring the first road that curves sharply to the left, Cavée du May. Continue up the road, Avenue Pierre Michon, to the edge of the forest, small sign.

(2) Ignore the street that branches off to the left, Rue Pierre Michon, and take the path directly opposite, which climbs into the forest. Ignore a path branching off to the left and, at the fork that follows, take the left-hand branch. Continue up the path, ignoring a path branching off to the right, and at the second path, located about 400 metres away, turn right. Go to the T-junction, Allée de la Bécasse, turn right and take the first path on the left.

(3) Turn left onto Route Forestière au Faisan, pass two crossroads and continue to the star-shaped crossroads. Continue on Route Forestière au Rossignol, which veers slightly to the left. Continue to Carrefour du Rossignol, with Le Hêtre Échelle on your left.

(4) Continue straight ahead, up a small slope, for about 610 metres. Ten metres before the private property, turn left, pass between the trees and join Route de Sahurs D351.

(5) Cross the road carefully, continue to the right and, a few metres later, turn left to reach the dirt car park. Continue along the right-hand side of the car park until you reach the tarmac, Route Forestière de Saint-Pierre.

(6) Turn left and continue until you reach the first path on the left, signposted Mare Épinay. Turn left and continue along this path, following the signs for the Arboretum, until you reach the tarmac road, Route Forestière Étienne.

(7) Turn right and continue to Carrefour du Petit Charme. Turn left at the first road, pass the entrance to the arboretum and continue to an X-shaped crossroads, Route Forestière de Caumont.

(8) Continue straight ahead on Route Forestière Unique. Walk for about 720 metres until you reach the sign for Route de la Borne, which branches off to the right. Ignore this sign. About 3 metres further on, take the small path on the left, which branches off between the young trees (fairly dense vegetation), and follow it until you reach the tarmac road, Route de Sahurs D351.

(9) Cross it carefully and continue straight ahead until you reach the T-junction. Turn right onto Route Forestière au Loup and continue to the next junction. Turn left onto Route du Val de la Haye à Quevillon and continue straight ahead for approximately 1,620 metres to reach the car park (S/E).

Please note that there are almost no signs for the road names in the forest (this information is only useful with an IGN map or GPS). However, the main crossroads are marked on the ground.

The animal park and arboretum in the Roumare forest.

The Napoleon Column, Quai Napoléon.

Le Méridien, an 18th-century house (former coaching inn) just around the corner from Rue de la Forêt.

The architecture of the houses and the names of some of the villas (Plume, Ma Normandie, Sanglier, Sans-Gêne, etc.).