Walk in the forest of Saint-Arnoult

A lovely walk in the Saint-Arnoult forest, a little-known forest with many paths.
It suffers from its proximity to the much larger Trait-Maulévrier forest, but it is worth getting to know with its hamlets and houses that are a little remote but full of charm

Details

423571
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 162 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 163 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 138 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 50 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking and departure Rue Henri Falaise, just behind the Town Hall of Saint-Arnoult.

(S/E) Head east towards the cemetery and turn left onto Avenue du Plateau. A little further on, leave Allée des Châtaigniers on your left and continue straight ahead on the same avenue.

(1) After a bend, take Chemin du Bois du Parc (signposted) on the left, just after the municipal workshop. The flat path quickly turns into a steep forest path.

(2) When you reach the crossroads, take the path on the right at an acute angle and continue straight ahead until you reach a road. Take the road on the right until you reach the Route des Ruaux crossroads.

(3) Take the road that climbs to the left for about 30 metres, then turn right onto the path at the edge of the forest.
When you reach a road, continue straight ahead along the beech forest and turn left at the next road.

(4) At the crossroads near the water tower, continue straight ahead on the road (D281) and pass under the high-voltage power lines.

(5) When you reach the edge of the woods, take the small, very steep path that climbs into the forest on the left (be careful, the path is not very visible).

(6) At the first forest crossroads, turn left into the forest, ignoring the path on the right that descends towards Sainte-Gertrude.
Continue along the edge of the woods, ignoring a path on the left that leads back to the road, and continue straight ahead into the forest.

(7) At the next crossroads, turn left and ignore the path on the right that descends towards Sainte-Gertrude. At the next junction, take the path on the left (follow the mountain bike signs) and join the road.

(8) Turn right onto the Haute Voie. Cross the hamlet of La Vente and descend the small road that winds like a mountain road. Ignore the first road on the left and turn left shortly afterwards towards the charming hamlet of Le Pied Bourdon.

(9) The small road becomes a gently ascending path that joins a road. Continue straight on towards the hamlet of La Masse.

(10) At the hamlet, leave the road on your right and continue straight ahead. The road gives way to a path that descends towards a crossroads.

(2) Take the path that climbs to the right and becomes a road about 300 metres further on. At the crossroads, turn left

(11) Take the first street on the left, Avenue du Petit Bois, then follow the small path on the right that goes around the stadium and then passes near the boules courts. Turn right, pass near the school and shops, and you will reach the Town Hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 136 m - Saint-Arnoult Town Hall
  2. 1 : km 0.65 - alt. 125 m - Chemin du Bois du Parc on the left
  3. 2 : km 0.92 - alt. 110 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.38 - alt. 97 m - Road going up to the left
  5. 4 : km 3.3 - alt. 127 m - Crossroads at the water tower
  6. 5 : km 3.94 - alt. 104 m - Forest entrance path
  7. 6 : km 4.27 - alt. 99 m - Crossroads in the forest 1
  8. 7 : km 5.05 - alt. 112 m - Crossroads in the forest 2
  9. 8 : km 5.92 - alt. 117 m - Voie Haute junction
  10. 9 : km 7.37 - alt. 67 m - Hameau du Pied Bourdon
  11. 10 : km 8.54 - alt. 119 m - Hameau de la Masse
  12. 11 : km 9.61 - alt. 135 m - Avenue du Petit Bois
  13. S/E : km 10.19 - alt. 136 m - Saint-Arnoult Town Hall

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Fred76
Fred76

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route through woods, paths and small roads. Little traffic.
Easy to follow

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pompom76
pompom76

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant route, forests, plains, quiet little roads, beautiful houses. It took us two hours. You must use GPS

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challeannick
challeannick

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this lovely walk in the forest. Thank you to the person who recognised it and noted the details throughout this forest. We walked through it in autumn, so the colours were beautiful.
Group of hikers from Rouen

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Claude41
Claude41

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A truly enjoyable route. Beautiful wooded paths with no difficulties. The only downside was that it was a hot and stormy day. At point 9, a huge storm broke out and, with no shelter, we covered the last 3 kilometres under flashes of lightning. Impressive... To be done again in dry weather.

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noelja
noelja

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We really enjoyed this route. The paved sections consist mostly of narrow roads with no cars. The paths are pleasant. We didn't see any particular wildlife on this hot day. The elevation gain is confirmed at almost 200 metres. Thank you to the author.

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GG83GL
GG83GL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Everything was fine, except for the app, because once I started the hike on my Android smartphone, I started tracking, and nothing was recorded or any waypoints were visible. Fortunately, I had downloaded the PDF of the hike, otherwise it would have been very complicated.
I didn't have this problem before. I mentioned it on the forum, and unfortunately, although I did receive explanations from a very friendly member, I guess I'm not very good at this...

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Dijola
Dijola

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 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, peaceful hike with varied trails that are mostly clear.
Between woodland and cultivated fields, there are a few tarmac paths but they are not very busy.
I highly recommend this very pleasant hike.

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aocorange
aocorange

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant route through forests, roads and paths in sunny weather

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isa76
isa76

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike.
Just one small downside: the description of the forest section led us astray and we ended up doing the hike in 4½ hours (longer route, got lost, no internet, etc.)
At one point, it should mention to turn left, go through the barrier, follow the mountain bike route (show the logo because it's not obvious to know, I went on the internet)
Otherwise, it was SUPERB, and thank you to the trail markers who allow us to explore our beautiful region!!!

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grospapy1947
grospapy1947

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Nothing else to say except that it's a superb hike with lots to discover.

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Fabrice mercier
Fabrice mercier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

just a very pleasant hike, lovely encounter with forest animals, great to have done it alone and early in the morning, but it's time to repaint the route lol!!!!

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PECAST
PECAST

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hike done with a group of friends, and in the opposite direction too.
Beautiful farmhouses and meadows in spring.
In the direction recommended by Visorando, to reach point 8, go through the field and pasture...

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Francoisduparc
Francoisduparc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant hike. I recommend it. Please note that the elevation gain measured with GPS is 200 metres, not 115 metres.
Thanks to the creator of this hike.

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clicnet
clicnet
• Edited:

Hiking will be included in my hiking club's 2018 calendar!

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RANDOSTPAER
RANDOSTPAER

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Be sure to follow the description to enjoy this route, which takes you past beautiful thatched cottages along rolling paths
A lovely walk
Thank you

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