Les Grandes Brosses - Les Usages de Chilly - Le Caillou Rouge

Park north of La Ferté-St-Aubin before the hamlet of La Jacquinerie.

(S/E) Start heading towards Étang de Monrepas east-southeast. Cross a green lane, reach a clearing and continue along the path that runs alongside the forest (the parallel path is private). At the end of the clearing, a huge white sign marked CR points the way forward. Reach an X-shaped junction.

(1) Continue straight on, following the CR signposts. Cross two green paths, first turning right then left; a final CR sign indicates to go straight on. Cross a pine forest, then ignore all side paths as well as Étang de Monrepas on your left. Reach a junction.

(2) Continue straight on along the long grassy path marked Farges, Marcilly (yellow markings). Walk for about 1,800 metres, ignoring all side paths. Reach a junction with a wide path at a place called Les Coudreaux.

(3) First turn right then left and take the path marked CR 20, following it until you reach the D7.

(4) Cross with care and follow the path opposite (no markings). Leave Chaberger on your left, continue to the edge of the woods and, at the junction, follow the grassy path on the left which runs alongside a series of young oak groves. You will reach a junction at a place called La Fosse Fondue.

(5) Take the grassy path opposite, ignoring the side paths, and reach a junction at a place called Les Usages de Chilly.

(6) Turn left and follow the long, wide white path, marked with yellow signs. Pass Les Tourelles and reach the D7.

(7) Cross it again, taking care, and continue straight on towards Le Bosquet and Les Petits Usages, following the yellow F6 markings. After a few houses, the path narrows and reaches a T-junction; turn left as indicated by the yellow arrow. Walk for about a hundred metres and turn right, following the yellow arrow. The path runs between two fields and joins a grassy track at a place called Le Caillou Rouge.

(8) Follow the path on the left, ignoring several side paths. Pass through the hamlet known as Le Chêne à la Mouche; the path widens and joins a junction at La Rabolière.

(9) Continue straight on towards Vert Tendre, following the yellow markings. Pass the entrance to Vert Tendre on your left, then a path on your right. Pass Les Coudreaux and its pretty little pond. The path climbs slightly and joins the junction you passed on the way out.

(3) Turn right, following the sign for La Bohardière (yellow markings); this is the path taken on the way out. Continue, ignoring all side paths, until you reach a junction marked by a sign for La Bohardière. Stay on the path taken on the way out to reach the car park (S/E).

In very wet weather, some paths on this route may be completely flooded.
Don’t forget your binoculars and camera.