The rocks and troglodyte caves of Orival

Parking and starting point: car park of the Jean Coiffier Leisure Centre, 9000 Rue du Champ du Bois, Grand-Couronne, Les Essarts hamlet.

(S/E) With the leisure centre on your left, walk up the street to the first turning on the left.

(1) Turn left towards the greenhouses, follow the path until you reach a gate. Go through it; a few metres further on, at the tree marked 152, first turn right then left. At the T-junction, turn left and immediately right. At the next T-junction, turn right and continue until you reach an electricity pylon.

(2) Continue along this path until you reach a wider track at approximately 990 m. Head left, following the GR®23, and continue until you reach the signpost for La Roche Fouet. Turn left, passing the Hêtre de la Roche Fouet on your left. Go down the wooden steps to reach the viewpoint. Then retrace your steps back to the signpost.

(3) Turn left, ignore a path branching off to the right and continue down the track. Ignore a path branching off to the left, keep going straight ahead and walk alongside the troglodyte caves – do consider exploring them. Pass two paths branching off to the left and continue to the right to reach the signpost for the caves.

(4) Turn left, ignore a path branching off to the left and continue along the path marked with a GRX signpost. Walk for about 1000 m on a gentle incline until you reach a signpost with yellow markings; ignore the direction indicated.

(5) Turn left onto the small descending path, with a tree on your right bearing a large yellow dot. After the hillock, at the yellow signpost, turn right and descend to the tarmac forest road.

(6) Turn slightly right, follow the hairpin bend to the left and continue along the stony path until you reach an X-junction with a tarmac road.

(7) Cross the road and continue straight ahead, ignoring a turn-off immediately on the left. Keep going along this path to reach the edge of the forest and the road.

(8) Head straight on along Rue du Pavillon, with the IME les Montées on your right, and continue for 800 m to reach the car park (S/E).