Les Andelys and its wooded surroundings

de fr

A lovely walk through the Seine Valley. From the top of the white cliffs, the view of Les Andelys dominated by Château Gaillard is unforgettable. The tall forest you pass through is colonised by ferns and sometimes looks like the beginning of the world as we imagine it.

Details

n°126293
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.97 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 421 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 416 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 148 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 15 m
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Photos

The Seine
On the way back, you will have a view of Château Gaillard
Nice view
The Seine and the Château Island

Description of the walk

Go straight down the main street of Les Andelys and park in the small car park on the right, just before Le Petit Andely.

(S/E) Take theGR®2(red and white markings) which starts at the back of this car park. Climb steeply up to the top of the cliffs and reach a paragliding launch site.

(1) Follow thisGR® trail along the cliffs. For a long time, you will be riding a roller coaster along the contours of the terrain. This is the most difficult part, but also one of the most beautiful, as the view is often magnificent.

(2) Turn left at an acute angle with the GR®. You will immediately come to a road and follow it downhill to the left to Val Saint-Martin.

(3) Follow the D313 to the right and immediately turn right onto the road that goes uphill. After about 100 metres, take the path on the left (still onthe GR®). The path follows the road from a distance, crossing it twice, then leaves the road on the left and heads straight towards the wall surrounding the castle grounds.

(4) At the wall, turn right and head towards the hamlet of Thuit. Follow the D313 to the left for a few dozen metres.

(5) At the crossroads, take a look at the castle on the left: the gate is magnificent and the castle in the middle of its grounds is worth a look. Then turn right (leaving theGR®2, which continues straight ahead). After about 150 metres, turn right onto a narrow, unpaved road that descends towards the forest (yellow signpost). After a while, ignore the path that starts on the left in a hairpin bend and continue to the wash house.

(6) Leave the main path and take the track on the left. This path leads to the hamlets of Noyers (magnificent farmhouses and some very beautiful houses).

(7) At the crossroads, go straight ahead (south-east) and follow the path that runs along the edge of the forest and the hamlet. You will come out onto a narrow, very quiet road. Follow it to the right. A few metres after a wayside cross, you will reach a magnificent viewpoint over Les Andelys and Château Gaillard.

(8) Continue along the grassy path that descends in line with the road (south-east). The path curves to the left and descends gently towards the road to Petit Andely. Follow the road to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 17 m - Parking is available before Petit Andely
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 135 m - Paragliding area - View of the - Seine [la]
  3. 2 : km 2.29 - alt. 28 m - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : km 2.64 - alt. 17 m - Val Saint-Martin
  5. 4 : km 3.9 - alt. 132 m - On the right at the park wall
  6. 5 : km 4.45 - alt. 137 m - Thuit Castle
  7. 6 : km 6.01 - alt. 39 m - The path branches off from the main road at the wash house
  8. 7 : km 7.36 - alt. 141 m - Noyers
  9. 8 : km 8.93 - alt. 138 m - Magnificent view of the valley of the - Seine [la]
  10. S/E : km 9.97 - alt. 17 m - Parking is available before Petit Andely

Notes

There are no water sources except those provided by the inhabitants of the hamlets you pass through. The start is in full sun, so it is best to aim for the cooler hours of the day. Good walking shoes are recommended.

Worth a visit

We are at the beginning of Upper Normandy and there are many half-timbered houses.
The views of the Seine Valley dominated by Château Gaillard are truly spectacular.
The dense greenery, sometimes bordered by very white cliffs, makes for some surprising images.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 33 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 3740499

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Thank you for this lovely and very interesting route – although it was estimated to take over four hours, we completed it in 2 hours and 48 minutes

However, I think it should be classified as: VERY DIFFICULT – please specify in a few places that high-quality equipment is required: shoes with crampons and good ankle support

The first section is VERY tough and the stony paths are physically demanding; you’ll need to use your hands at times on the slippery rocks

In short, a real challenge! And a stunning route with exceptional views

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TiboLapi
TiboLapi
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wow factor guaranteed!
I'm very happy to have completed this hike, which I abandoned a few months ago due to vertigo and wet weather.
Yesterday the weather was dry and with the help of walking sticks, it seemed easier.
It still took me an hour to cover the first kilometre, and I couldn't take a photo of the view because I was shaking so much!

The rest was much easier, and the whole route is perfect!
As in previous reviews, I recommend suitable shoes and walking sticks.

Thank you to the author for sharing.

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AnMa
AnMa

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. As I was looking for a challenge, I really enjoyed the start, which is a bit challenging. The view is very peaceful, with lots of places to stop and enjoy it.
Once you've passed the first part, it's more like a nice walk. The section through the forest is particularly pleasant in warm weather.
Well marked and described. I still almost took the wrong path at the wash house, but I'm no expert.

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Chris 27
Chris 27

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good route, despite the steep climb after the start, but nothing too difficult. The reward is the magnificent view from the castle. The little town of Les Andelys is also very pleasant.

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waiwaite
waiwaite

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike. It's really steep during the first part. The erosion makes climbing the steps a little tricky, especially for someone as short as me (1.57 m)!
There are quite a few shaded sections, which are nice when the weather is good.
The views are definitely worth the effort.
Good shoes are recommended, and even walking sticks if you're used to them.

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Pervenche
Pervenche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful and original hike among the cliffs of Normandy (a challenging route) with stunning views of the Seine, forest and fields. As a bonus, there is a very beautiful descent on the way back. A perfect route in every way, but best enjoyed in good weather and on dry ground.

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habanera
habanera
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first part was extraordinary, just as I remembered it from my childhood (although some parts of the path have been upgraded with steps). The rest was more typical of the Normandy landscape, but still very pleasant.
Thank you for this tour.

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MOUKY
MOUKY

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thrilling circuit. On the day of my ride, it was quite windy, which was impressive.
It does get slippery when it rains a little, but the first 2 km are fantastic

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ABJPG
ABJPG

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, varied route, both in terms of scenery and physical exertion. The first days of spring attracted many walkers and hikers, but it remains very pleasant. Avoid when it has rained or when it is raining (the ground becomes slippery). Do not suffer from vertigo (in some places, the path runs very close to the edge of the slope).

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pelios
pelios

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent hike, quite challenging during the first few kilometres. The ground was slippery and muddy, which made the trail technical in places at the beginning. Hiking boots are essential.
Nice views.

Not recommended in the rain.

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frafau47
frafau47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

thank you for this beautiful tour and these beautiful views

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Matchop
Matchop

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Quite a technical section along the cliffside, best avoided in rainy weather, but with stunning views and a pleasant stretch through the forest.

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manorandoluka
manorandoluka
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Between the start and point 3, good shoes and walking sticks are strongly recommended, especially in rainy weather. A very beautiful hike that we extended with the Château Gaillard loop, which takes you back through the centre of Les Andelys (about 6 km). We did the hike on a Tuesday and there was no one else on the trail

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A pied
A pied

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Technical hike near the cliffs.
To be done in dry weather, otherwise slipping is guaranteed.
Walking poles are recommended for safety.
The reward is magnificent views of Les Andelys,
château Gaillard and the Seine.
Thanks to visorando for this hike
and all the other walks available.
Best regards, hikers

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ogouret
ogouret

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The whole hilly section is very nice, for once there's some elevation not too far from the Ile de France region!
At point 5, I continued along the GR to the Notre Dame de Bellegarde viewpoint (allow around 1 hour 15 minutes/1 hour 30 minutes for the return trip).
High walking boots are recommended.

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