Milly-la-Forêt walks

A hike that alternates between villages rich in heritage (old market hall, churches, wash houses, castle) and a trail through the Forêt des Trois Pignons dotted with sandstone rocks.

The route is mainly through forest, with a few small sandstone rocks in places, starting from the centre of Milly-la-Forêt with its rich heritage (church, wash houses, castle).

This is the twenty-eighth stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, connecting Milly-la-Forêt to the Ballancourt-sur-Essonne train station after crossing the French Gâtinais region. It is designed to follow on fromthe previous stage coming from Fontainebleau, after a night's stay there.This stage begins in the École valley, which boasts a rich heritage: Milly-la-Forêt, Moigny-sur-École, Courances and its château, and Dannemois, dear to Claude François. It continues through the fields of the Gâtinais, then the ridges and sandstone plateaus of the Grands Avaux forest, ending at Ballancourt-sur-Essonne in the valley of the same name.The stage is very beautiful but very long, and undoubtedly the most physically demanding of all those on the GR®11, especially in its second part. However, it is possible to split it in two by staying overnight and/or shorten it in several places by simplifying it.

This route goes around the Coquibus Massif, in a little-known and little-used area that is generally shaded. There are some beautiful views of the Courance Plain to the north and the forest to the south. The Vanne Aqueduct and the Cent Marches are the main points of interest.

A short hike that alternates between forest and fields, with a pleasant route on a plateau. You can see a Neolithic polishing stone and an old sandstone quarry.

An original way to get to the Château de Courances: on foot! This short hike goes around the outside of the park, with the first half rich in heritage (churches, mill, wash house, etc.) and the second half more bucolic, ending on an educational trail dedicated to fruit trees.

A pretty hike in the Massif des Trois Pignons, on the edge of Fontainebleau forest.

In addition to fields and woods, this hike passes through three villages: Dannemois, where Claude François had his second home (Le Moulin), Courances and its château, and Moigny-sur-École.

A hike from station to station in the Essonne Valley. After climbing up through the Bois de Saint-Médard and crossing a cultivated plateau, you pass through the charming hamlets of Courdimanche. You walk alongside the river several times, cross a small island, and the Marais de Jarcy may be of interest to nature lovers. Several churches and a few wash houses are also along the way.

In the south of the Essonne department, this station-to-station hike alternates between forest paths, quiet country lanes and paths through the fields. Along the way, there is a wealth of heritage to discover: a mill, churches, a castle and a Neolithic grinding stone.

Discover the remarkable trees of the Junipéraie area in the Coquibus forest.

Une randonnée qui passe du plateau du Coquibus à celui des Belvédères afin de varier les paysages et les points de vue. Cette randonnée se fait à la demi-journée. Le détour par le "Chapeau de Napoléon" est supprimé: passage trop délicat pour un intérêt limité.

A short walk through the varied landscapes of the Forêt des Trois Pignons, which can be the destination for a family outing, especially with young children.

A hike in a little-visited part of the Forêt des Trois Pignons, through several biological reserves. This varied route alternates between forest paths, trails that wind between rocks and open stretches on flat rock outcrops. This hike requires a good sense of direction.

This long hike takes you on a fairly comprehensive tour of the magnificent Coquibus massif: heather-covered plateaus and water holes, deciduous woods, rocks, viewpoints, the Vanne aqueduct (sandstone steps), etc.

As the name suggests, the route involves climbing 25 hillocks that form a loop around the Forêt des Trois Pignons. A challenging hike, amidst the rocks, which makes for excellent training ahead of summer mountain hikes. N.B. The elevation gain is underestimated: expect a cumulative elevation gain of between 800 and 900 metres. It would be hard to find a greater climb in the Île-de-France region, unless you were to climb up and down the Eiffel Tower on foot three times in a row... Allow between 6 and 7 hours of walking.

A beautiful hike with some elevation gain in the wildest and most beautiful areas of the Trois Pignons massif. It combines the beautiful Dénécourt trail no. 16 (the Sentier des Belvédères via the Laris Qui Parle) with a more athletic section of the Circuit des 25 Bosses. Actual elevation gain (altimeter measurement): 580m.

The Massif des Trois Pignons is situated on the edge of Fontainebleau forest. The walk takes you past the Rocher des Guetteurs, the Sables du Cul du Chien, the Diplodocus, and the Rocher de la Tortue.

A long route through the Trois Pignons massif, offering a different perspective on this massif and the 25 bumps route: what is on the other side of this route, what is in the middle (Les Sables du Cul de Chien and Les Rochers du Général, for example) or nearby (the beautiful Vallée Chaud)? The route is winding, with lots of ups and downs (you do climb some of those famous hills) and requires a good sense of direction.

After crossing the Rambouillet Forest in the previous stage, this section is a restful one. It takes you to Malesherbes station. This is one of the easiest stages of the GR®1. The start is at Le Vaudoué. It is the only stage of the GR®1 that does not start at a station. The hike alternates between sections in the woods and more rural sections. The first interesting sight on the route is the church in Le Vaudoué. The path then leads to the former Templar Commandery before crossing woods and fields towards the Essonne and Saint-Martin Church in Malesherbes.

A course over hills, with beautiful views of the Massif des Trois Pignons. Passages on platières in the middle of the moor with an unobstructed view, interspersed with passages in undergrowth and amid boulders. A varied, rather sporty hike. N.B. The drop is probably underestimated: expect something more in the order of 300 metres.

A pleasant walk, mainly through forest for the first two-thirds, taking in two superb Romanesque churches and the remains of the chapel of a former Templar commandery.

A hike from Gironville-sur-Essonne station to Boigneville station via Malesherbes, following the Essonne river on a route with very little elevation gain. Malesherbes is located on the border of Seine-et-Marne and is crossed by the Essonne river. On the agenda: castle, wash house, river, narrow streets, ponds and mills, passing through the pretty villages of Buno-Bonnevaux and Rouville, following the GR®1.

A short, easy themed route showcasing rock art discovered in the Forest of Fontainebleau and in the south of the Île-de-France region. Seven chronological information panels, with representations of the landscape at the time, photos and casts of engravings, take us on a journey from the Palaeolithic era to the present day. The route was designed, developed and is maintained by the ONF.

A simple and varied circuit in the forest of Fontainebleau, with views above the trees and rocks, and different landscapes every kilometre. Please note that weather conditions and the use of certain paths by mountain bikes can make this hike muddy and very slippery in places. Therefore, please be very careful.

This is an area rarely visited by walkers, which is quite unspoilt and borders on designated nature conservation areas. The route consists of sandy paths that dry out very quickly. Take care on the rocks on the plateaus, as they can be slippery in wet weather. Furthermore, the paths on the plateaus are not signposted and it is easy to get lost. A GPS or the Visorando app is therefore recommended.

A half-day walk offering access to the Tour de La Vierge, the Vanne and Loing aqueducts, and the viewpoints at Hurlevent and the Hautes Plaines. All this whilst following part ofthe GR®®11through beautiful rocky terrain and peaceful connecting paths where you can relax. Please note: the route covers 13 km with 300 metres of elevation gain. It’s quite a challenging hike for such a relatively short distance.

From the village of Arbonne, take a tour of the various plateaus to see some of the curiosities of the Fontainebleau forest, such as a small mausoleum, an engraved canopy, a cave, a quarryman's shelter, etc.

This is an easy walk, meandering along the Essonne and the watercress beds, then the Pasloup marshes.

A hike from station to station with a significant forest component. In addition to a viewpoint, Rocher Bizet offers views of its plateau landscapes, with heathland, ponds and outcropping rocks.

A short walk along forest tracks.

A varied country walk, passing by the Moulin de Dannemois and the Verrerie d'Art de Soisy-sur-École. Duration: Allow extra time if you want to see the master glassmakers at work (free of charge). Avoid during hunting season.

A loop that starts with a steep climb between the rocks, then alternates between forest and plateau sections and shorter sections between fields. After a stretch along the edge of the woods, the hike ends on the wide grassy bank of the underground aqueduct of La Vanne and Le Loing.

A mainly forest hike during which, in an atmosphere reminiscent of the nearby Fontainebleau Forest, you pass two small peaks (the mounds) and wander through the chaos of sandstone blocks of the Rocher du Duc.

A circular loop through the fields and woodlands between Champcueil, Soisy-sur-École and Nainville-les-Roches, following part of the GR®11 trail. It nevertheless includes some beautiful terrain, such as the Grand Tertre and the Crête des Rochers du Duc in the Grands Avaux forest, offering stunning views of the surrounding area and even as far as Paris on a clear day.

A hike starting from Boigneville station, on the border between Loiret and Île-de-France. A route that crosses the Gatinais Regional Nature Park, passing through Malesherbes, in the heart of the Upper Essonne Valley, with pretty footbridges. A short stop at the13th-century Church of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption with its crypt.

We pass on either side of a valley where the beautiful village of Boissy-aux-Cailles is located, following paths wide enough to walk two abreast while chatting, or trails in single file. The variety of tree species is surprising: oak, chestnut, birch, beech, pine, etc. And also on the edges of agricultural fields where lavender grows alongside beetroot and cereals.The best times to enjoy it to the full are late spring (May-June), when the flora dazzles us with its colours and scents, and autumn (mid-September-October), when the leaves of the trees are adorned with their yellow, ochre and red colours and accompanied by the rich and subtle smells of mushrooms and sometimes game.

Visit a village in the Gâtinais Français Regional Nature Park and its surroundings: vernacular heritage, wash houses, the École river,

Thirtieth stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, linking La Ferté-Alais, in the Essonne valley, to Étréchy, in the Juine valley, through the western part of the Gâtinais Français Regional Nature Park. It consists of continuing the crossing of the Essonne, between agricultural landscapes, small forest ranges and more imposing valleys. A relatively short stage without any major difficulties, before the next two, which will be a little longer.

A varied walk, from station to station. After the footpaths and the church at Cerny, the route becomes predominantly woodland. It winds through the Bois Charron and climbs up the hill of La Roche Cornue, dotted with boulders. After a pleasant walk through the Bois de Miséry, you return to the Essonne valley and its villages.

This hike is certainly the most "aquatic" of those that can be undertaken along the Essonne. Indeed, numerous ponds punctuate the route: ponds for fishing or other forms of leisure; ponds and marshes that make up a protected natural area, a source of biodiversity and a place to observe wildlife.

From the Essonne Valley to the Juine Valley through woods and fields, passing by the Pierre Levée in Janville-sur-Juine and the Chamarande viewpoint. A route almost entirely on paths with beautiful views in the Gâtinais Français Regional Nature Park.