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Start from the car park behind the Château du Val (south-west).
In addition to the various signposts indicated below, many paths and crossroads have recently been signposted (as of September 2017).
Without signposts
(S/E) Head to the end of the car park, go through a forest gate and you will come to a large crossroads (Place du Val). Take the first right at a sharp angle, Avenue de la Muette. Go slightly uphill and ignore the vague paths on either side.
(1) At the Étoile de la Porte Verte (signpost), take the paved road towards Le Mesnil-le-Roi (the third on the right, which starts to the right of a bridle path). At the crossroads, continue straight ahead (a sign indicates that you are on Route du Buisson Richard). Note an old blockhouse on the left, pass a first small car park, go downhill and you will come to a second car park on the left.
(2) With the car park on your left, two paths lead off opposite (north-north-east and north-east, respectively): take the left-hand path, which is narrower and marked by a sign in the undergrowth as Route du Brancas. Go slightly uphill and, at the next junction (plot no. 150), continue straight ahead. Cross a path and then a bridleway and continue straight ahead through a beautiful beech forest.
Red and yellow markings
At the Étoile de Vaux, follow the Route des Ventes de Châtillon to the left (north-west). Cross a narrower path and reach the Étoile du Chêne Corbeau.
No markings
(3) Then turn left (west-northwest) onto the Route de la Patte d'Oie, marked as a bridle path. At the Étoile de la Patte d'Oie, take the second left, the Route de la Biche. Ignore a path coming from the left and continue to a crossroads.
Signposting Orange + blue cross on a white background (Sentier des Oratoires)
(4) Turn left onto Route du Maître Particulier. Head south on this wide gravel path and cross two perpendicular paths. Continue south-southeast, keeping a clear oak forest with beautiful fern undergrowth on your right.
(5) At the Étoile du Maître Particulier, continue straight ahead until you reach the Étoile du Bon Secours (on the left, a wayside shrine high up in a tree).
Orange signposting
Continue straight ahead on the Route Royale (leave the Sentier des Oratoires trail slightly to the left) and go straight ahead for about 500m.
Salamander pictogram
From here to the finish, follow the Sentier botanique du Val in the opposite direction to the arrows on the signposts.
(6) At the crossroads, turn right. After a few dozen metres, at a fork, turn left onto a path that is not very clear at the start. Wind your way through a young beech forest. Cross a stream on a footbridge and, at the crossroads immediately ahead (not shown on the IGN map), turn left and follow the Route de Conflans. At the next junction (plot no. 188), continue straight ahead and you will soon reach the Mare aux Canes.
(7) Go around the pond on the right and follow it almost all the way around until you reach an information sign.
Salamander pictogram + red and yellow markings
At the sign, turn right and follow theGRP® Ceinture Verte d'Ile-de-France. At a fork, turn left and cross a stream on a footbridge. Cross a bridle path and, at the T-junction a few metres further on, turn left.
Salamander pictogram
(8) After a few dozen metres, turn right onto a narrower path (let theGRP® continue straight ahead). Cross the Sentier des Oratoires that you left earlier (blue cross on a white background) and continue straight ahead.
Salamander symbol + red and yellow markings
At the T-junction, turn right and rejoin the GRP®. At the next junction (plot no. 192), turn left. Continue straight ahead to Place du Val and you will find the car park where you started on the other side (S/E).
A pleasant walk in the cool air with few people around. A few cyclists and walkers. A pretty little pond.
Visorando Member
Association / Club / Walk leader
Moderate 
