In the Normandy countryside around Clécy

A fairly easy walk, mostly along country lanes with virtually no traffic.
Return via the Clécy viaduct and along the River Orne.
This walk can be done in the morning, with a stop for lunch at one of the riverside bistros along the Orne.

Details

83091
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.68 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 850 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 837 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 551 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 115 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park your car in one of the many parking spaces in front of the open-air cafés on the banks of the River Orne in Clécy.

(S/E) Take the footpath leading to the village centre. Cross the D133A and take Rue Georges Moteley opposite, then turn right onto Rue de la Poste.
Walk to the Place de l’Église, then turn left onto Rue des Châtelets, turn right onto Rue André Hardy, then left onto Rue des Jardins.

(1) Cross the D562, then turn immediately right (about 100m). After a slight climb, turn left at the crossroads and continue to Les Hauts Vents. Walk through the farm buildings and take the path on the left.
Follow this path to the hamlet of Sébire. Cross the D133A, continue straight ahead, turn left and, in the middle of the village, take a path on the left.

(2) When you reach the road, turn left, then at the first junction turn right towards La Dalinière.
After the block of houses, head up a grassy track, then turn left onto the stony track leading to Basse Bigne. After the first few houses, turn right onto the track leading towards Haute Bigne.
Once you’ve left the village, head right towards the D562 and take the road on the right.

(3) When you reach the D562, walk along the right-hand side of the road for about 50 metres (a rather unpleasant stretch due to the traffic) and take the small road on the left.
At the first junction (30m), turn right and follow the road, passing the Faverie cross, then continue along the road opposite (PR®®) until, after a descent, you reach a holiday centre, where you turn left towards the Orne, at the foot of the viaduct.
When you reach the road, turn right and walk to the water sports centre to enjoy the view.

(4) Then retrace your steps along the path that runs alongside the River Orne, and be sure to admire the view of the River Orne through the viaduct’s piers.
Take the path running alongside the River Orne to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 131 ft - Car park on the banks of the River Orne - Orne (fleuve)
  2. 1 : mi 0.83 - alt. 210 ft - D562
  3. 2 : mi 2.61 - alt. 348 ft - Turn left after Sébire
  4. 3 : mi 3.98 - alt. 328 ft - D562
  5. 4 : mi 4.98 - alt. 118 ft - Viaduct
  6. S/E : mi 5.68 - alt. 131 ft - Car park on the banks of the River Orne

Notes

All shops and restaurants in Clécy.

Worth a visit

Clécy Railway Museum: Europe’s largest model railway route (check opening times).
Kayaking and other water sports are available along the River Orne.

If you’ve done this walk in the morning, you can have lunch at one of the small restaurants along the banks of the River Orne and then go on the Orne Valley walk around Clécy (10.5 km).

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
hanvoile
hanvoile

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy walk, not very long, but there is a major difficulty at point no. 3 when crossing the D562; although the speed of lorries and cars is restricted, it’s a bit of a gamble, I’d also like to point out that at the FAVERIE cross, you need to leave the road to the left at the car park and take a small path for 50 metres – a superb view of the viaduct awaits you.

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Nork
Nork

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very hilly route
Very beautiful hike
I really enjoyed it
Thank you

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User 27325568

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The map was a great help in estimating the elevation changes, as we are 73 and 77 years old.

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veronique61
veronique61

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hike exploring the surroundings of Clécy, easy but very hilly

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Dudule0276
Dudule0276

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk around Clécy.

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Youn 29
Youn 29

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through the bocage countryside. A hilly route with a beautiful end to the walk along the Orne river.

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Simon M.
Simon M.

I plan to travel this route soon.

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toutain
toutain

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

this hike is definitely not recommended for those who don't like roads, as it involves a 6 km stretch of road. However, how can you make such a dangerous route a level 3 hike, crossing a very busy parish-specific to Brittany road, and in the middle of a bend at that? It's really reckless.

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Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A well-known hike on Wednesday morning, repeated as a group on Friday afternoon, both times enjoying very favourable weather conditions at the end of April. A beautiful hike ending with a long stroll along the banks of the Orne. Unfortunately, it is best to avoid weekends and school holidays during the summer months, as this well-known and highly regarded site quickly becomes a victim of its own success.

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Biscuit rem
Biscuit rem

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is not always easy, and to finish off, we increased the difficulty by crossing the Orne River at the foot of the viaduct to join the GR 36 trail and reach the Rocher des Parcs, where we admired the view of the viaduct and the Orne River before descending towards the greenway

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AgnesdeBA
AgnesdeBA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

What's more, we had sunshine and really enjoyed the beautiful scenery. It's not far from Paris, and Norman Switzerland is worth discovering in all seasons

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slegros
slegros

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route with stunning views of the Orne. Lots of variety and no dull stretches. Not to be missed!

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mexique1
mexique1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

We did this hike in the morning, which allowed us to have lunch at a guinguette (open-air café) on the banks of the Orne. It was a very sunny day. The views of the cliffs are magnificent.
Overall, we were very satisfied.

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benoitrando
benoitrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

excellent, I loved it. But what a crowd on the banks of the Orne on this sunny day!

thank you, phjog

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Panthou Family
Panthou Family

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike with superb views!
Did it with two 7-year-old children.
No problems encountered, just a few rather dangerous crossings of major roads.

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