Departure from Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, at the junction between the D27 and D72 roads (traffic lights). Two car parks are available:
- Along the D27, past the junction when coming from Rochefort-en-Yvelines and the A10.
- Behind the church, a few metres up the D72.
Blue and white signs
(S/E) Follow the main road (D27) towards Rambouillet (west-northwest). After about 100 metres, turn left towards Sonchamp (signposted). Follow the path that runs alongside the pond on your right. At the end of the path, take the small road on the right (Chemin de la Hunière, sign) and pass the Résidence Clairefontaine.
(1) At the fork, take the left path, which heads west (sign for "Chemin de la Hunière", yellow marker). Continue straight ahead through the woods, ignoring the perpendicular paths. At a crossroads near a fence, turn left. Continue south-west, climbing gently, with the fence on your right. After a flat section, you will come to a wide path.
Red and white markings
(2) Turn left onto the GR®. Ignore the path that branches off to the right and follow the signs for Saint-Arnoult.
(3) When you reach the Fosse aux Loups, turn right and walk along the pond on your left. At the next crossroads, turn left at a right angle and take the path that branches off between trees numbered 6 and 7 (forest plots). Walk south-south-east, cross a few perpendicular paths, including a gravel lane, and you will come to a crossroads with a small house on the right. Then take the second path on the left (on the left side of this path, there is a tree marked with the number 18). The terrain begins to open up and you can see houses and meadows on the right. You will come to a small road after a forest gate.
No signposts
(4) Leave theGR® trail on your left and take the road on the right towards Loireux. After the sign indicating the entrance to the hamlet (spelled "Louareux"), go around the farm on the left, staying on the road (do not enter the tree-lined lane on the left). Pass in front of the Chapelle Saint-Jean. After the chapel, take the small road on the left (post box on the corner, signposted "Impasse"). Follow this road to Petit Loireux and, after passing the last houses, turn right.
(5) At the end of the tarmac road, turn left at a right angle and take the grassy path between two fields towards the woods. At the corner of the woods, turn left again at a right angle. Walk north-east, with the field on your left and the woods on your right.
(6) At the crossroads, take the path on the right that starts at the forest gate (on the right, tree marked with the number 27). After a few metres, at a fork, turn left between the two trees marked with the numbers 26 and 27 respectively. Then follow the path called "Route de Loireux" straight ahead for about 1 km (south-east). You will arrive at the Carrefour de Saint-Benoît, at the edge of forest plots numbered 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32.
(7) At the crossroads, take the third path on the left, which starts between plot numbers 32 and 31. Go down gently, cross a stream and go up briefly to come out onto a wide perpendicular path.
Red and white markings
(8) Take theGR® on the left. At the next crossroads, pass in front of an abandoned house (Poste de Saint-Benoît). Continue straight ahead on theGR® and keep heading north-west. Cross several paths and you will come to a forest barrier and a tarmac road.
No markings
(9) Continue straight ahead on the paved road (Route de Sonchamp), still heading northwest. Follow this road for about 250 metres.
Blue and white signposts
(10) Leave the road and turn right onto Chemin des Essarts, which starts at the foot of a water tower. The path descends, then climbs slightly and becomes sandier (pine and birch woods). Cross a perpendicular path (sign) and continue north. Walk through a more open area of wet meadows and birch trees. Walk alongside the water treatment plant on your left and cross a stream.
(11) At the next crossroads, turn left to reach a forest gate and a road. Cross a stream and follow the road that branches off to the left. Turn right onto this road and pass a playground and a tennis court. Climb slightly and you will reach Clairefontaine town hall and, immediately after, the starting point (S/E).
