Lyons-La-Forêt and its forest

A shaded day-long hike to discover the Norman Vexin with Lyons-la-Forêt, a listed village, and its large forests. This is one of the most beautiful beech and oak forests in Europe, with tall trees, an arboretum, the Fouillebroc and Sainte-Catherine springs, and the 12th-century Cistercian abbey of Mortemer.

Details

1417011
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.51 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 175 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 168 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 174 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 90 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at 2 Boulevard du Général de Gaulle next to the post office or in the small uphill street, Rue de Besguay.

(S/E) The walk starts from the post office, going up Rue de Besguay and passing in front of the retirement home.

(1) In front of the fire station, continue left towards La Cuette, walking alongside a cow pasture on your left for about 750 metres.

(2) Turn left at the end of the pasture onto the Four à Chaux trail at the edge of the woods. Continue along the edge of the woods. When you reach a ravine, go down the wooden steps and climb back up the steps slightly to the right. Then continue straight ahead to the D6 road.

(3) Turn right and follow the main road (take care) for 650 metres, then take the first path on the right leading to the Lande farm.

(4) Turn left in front of the farm, cross the D6 (caution) and take the small road opposite (PR® yellow markings) which leads to La Bouvetière.

(5) At the entrance to the hamlet, at the first crossroads, turn right, still following the yellowPR® markings. Continue straight ahead across the field and enter the forest. In the forest, follow the yellow markings to the corner of the field at plots 890 and 889.

(6) Leave thePR® and take the path that runs alongside plot 890 between plots 890 and 889, which is the third path on the right. This path descends slightly to the left and then turns more sharply to the left, running parallel to the PR®. At the lowest point, continue along the path to the right, running alongside plots 892 and 891 on your left, to reach the Sainte-Catherine forest road.

(7) Turn left. Follow this forest road for about 450 metres until you reach a slightly deforested area.

(8) Take thePR® (yellow markings) again, following a small path that starts to the right of the track and runs alongside it, climbing in the opposite direction. Walk alongside plot 915 and pass between plots 913 and 914, then continue straight on to the Belleface forest house. Join a small road just after.

(9) Turn right, continue to the first crossroads, then continue slightly to the right and take the Bordins forest road. Continue straight ahead

(10) Pass in front of the Arboretum and continue straight ahead until you reach the D6 departmental road. Cross the road and continue straight ahead for 150 metres.

(11) When you reach the two paths blocked by barriers, take the path slightly to the left, the Amfrevilles forest road. Continue straight ahead until you reach the Puchay forest road. Then turn right to reach the Quatre Cantons crossroads, where there is a small forest shelter.

(12) Take the second road on the left and continue straight ahead, following the road for 600 metres until you reach the Fouillebroc spring.

(13) Pass the spring and continue along the road in the same direction for 500 metres until you reach the Fontaine Sainte-Catherine. Turn right to reach the fountain.

(14) Return to the road, turn right and continue in the same direction until you reach Mortemer Abbey.

(15) When you reach Mortemer Abbey, turn right towards Lyons-La-Forêt to take the small uphill road, passing in front of the Croix des Fusillés to arrive at the Lacroix Vaubois crossroads. Pass to the right of the monument to take the forest path that starts just behind it and continue straight ahead. At the first forest path junction, take the path slightly to the left and continue straight ahead until you reach the small forest road of Val aux Ânes.

(16) Turn right and continue along the road to Maisons Blanches. At the first crossroads in Maisons Blanches, turn left and continue straight ahead, passing in front of a farm to reach the Château de la Croix Mesnil. Pass in front of the château on your right and continue to the crossroads.

(17) Turn right and continue straight ahead to reach Lyons-la-Forêt.

(1) At the crossroads by the fire station, go straight ahead to reach Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, the starting point of the walk (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 102 m - Parking: 2 Boulevard du Général de Gaulle
  2. 1 : km 0.09 - alt. 109 m - Fire station Rue de Besguay
  3. 2 : km 0.85 - alt. 149 m - Four à Chaux Trail
  4. 3 : km 1.52 - alt. 156 m - RD6, on the right
  5. 4 : km 2.43 - alt. 163 m - Ferme de la Lande
  6. 5 : km 3.78 - alt. 150 m - Entrance to the hamlet of La Bouvetière
  7. 6 : km 4.71 - alt. 152 m - Corner of fields 890 and 889
  8. 7 : km 5.48 - alt. 124 m - Sainte-Catherine forest road
  9. 8 : km 5.86 - alt. 128 m - Sainte-Catherine forest path
  10. 9 : km 6.68 - alt. 141 m - Belleface forest house
  11. 10 : km 7.36 - alt. 147 m - Arboretum in Lyons-La-Forêt - Arborétum de Lyons-La-Forêt
  12. 11 : km 8.42 - alt. 143 m - Amfrevilles forest road
  13. 12 : km 9.81 - alt. 101 m - Quatre Cantons crossroads
  14. 13 : km 10.3 - alt. 98 m - Fouillebroc spring - Source de Fouillebroc
  15. 14 : km 10.94 - alt. 97 m - Fontaine de Sainte-Catherine - Fontaine Sainte Catherine
  16. 15 : km 12.42 - alt. 99 m - Mortemer Abbey - Abbaye de Mortemer
  17. 16 : km 13.99 - alt. 160 m - Val Aux Ânes forest road
  18. 17 : km 15.55 - alt. 162 m - Croix Mesnil Castle
  19. S/E : km 16.51 - alt. 102 m - Parking: 2 Boulevard du Général de Gaulle

Notes

Along the way, there are picnic areas at the Arboretum des Bordins and the Fouillebroc spring, as well as a shelter at the Arboretum and the Quatre Cantons crossroads in case of rain.

Worth a visit

A short visit to the typical Norman village of Lyons-La-Forêt and a drink on the lively Isaac Benserade square are a pleasant way to round off a hike.

A walk through the Arboretum is also interesting, with trees from all continents to discover, as well as the crystal-clear Fouillebroc and Sainte-Catherine springs. This walk will also take you back in time as you learn about the region's history of resistance, passing by the house of resistance fighter Huguette Verhague near Mortemer Abbey and the Croix des Fusillés (Cross of the Executed) a little further up the road.

 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.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
PPG95
PPG95

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Approximate signposting, magnificent forest in autumn

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ordesa
ordesa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike but in pouring rain!!....and a very beautiful parish specific to Brittany... we avoided sections of road by following the IGN map and, of course, lots of forest. But chestnuts, walnuts and mushrooms for our taste buds....

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Tramp
Tramp

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

Hike designed for cycling. On foot, there are too many roads and very few forest paths in this magnificent beech forest
Walking route to be avoided. 0 out of 20. More than disappointed

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Debuire
Debuire

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Avoid paying €7 at Mortimer Abbey. There is only the dovecote with a 1-minute commentary. The pigeon is the hiker!

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Eric Manné
Eric Manné

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The route is clear and easy to follow. However, there is too much road and, apart from the arboretum, which is worth a visit, we did not find the route particularly interesting.
The route is fairly easy and takes four hours to complete in a circular fashion.
In any case, thank you to the sender for all the work they have done.

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cecpochet
cecpochet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

thank you

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Bernard Da
Bernard Da

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

J'ai regretté une partie trop importante sur route parcourue par des voitures

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fmjbonnet
fmjbonnet

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The starting point of the Lyons hike is not very clear.

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jmdreux
jmdreux

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good hiking in the Lyons la Forêt area.
However, in my opinion, there are far too many routes on the road
Thank you for everything

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Patrick CC
Patrick CC

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

a few inaccuracies: at the start, it would be better to: walk up the street with the post office on your left, go straight up the hill past the retirement home on your right, continue straight ahead until you reach the sign with a blue arrow on the left pointing to the lime kiln, follow the blue arrows. At stage 11: at the two closed gates, take the path to the left gate.
Finally, there is too much walking on tarmac, with its share of traffic, when there are paths running alongside the tarmac, such as between the Fouillebroc spring and the Sainte Catherine fountain.

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ekinox53
ekinox53

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike alternating between rolling countryside and forests. The shelters near the arboretum car park were welcome protection from the storm. Tarmac roads but not many cars. Allow an extra 45 minutes to visit Mortemer Abbey.

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tbiville
tbiville

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

a lovely walk, but a bit too much road compared to the path.

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Elizard
Elizard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike with varied landscapes. Points of particular interest: the arboretum, which brings together species from different continents, Mortemer Abbey and, of course, the village of Lyons la Forêt

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Cyrillus73
Cyrillus73

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hiking with no elevation, a few nice spots...

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lilla
lilla

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, accessible to all, with lovely panoramic views.
Can be enjoyed in any season

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