Water and Nature Trail at Gespunsart

Immerse yourself in the heart of the vast forest and observe the wildlife of the local wetlands, from the cool riparian woodland to the banks of the pond. Follow the green markers featuring the dragonfly and leaf pictogram. The trail is dotted with information boards describing the notable natural features.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.72 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 404 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 407 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 856 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 640 ft

Description of the walk

The route starts at the sign opposite the town hall, on Place de l’Église. Follow the green markings featuring the dragonfly and leaf symbols.

(S/E) Cross the square and follow the street to the right of the church (Rue de Hellé), then continue straight on. Pass the Malbrough (a statue-fountain of a young figure with water flowing through a flute) and carry on to the top of the street.

(1) At the top of Rue de la Belle Vue, take the path on the right.

(2) Just before the wayside cross, turn right onto the path below. Follow this path, known as the Chemin de l’Aulnay, to the end. At the junction, take the path on the left leading to the Bois Saint-Rémy.

(3) At the top of the path, take the track on the right. At the water tower, do not head back down to the right towards the village, but carry on straight ahead along the path for 400 metres (please note, a section of this path is damp and often muddy).

(4) At the junction towards Les Fromentières, take the path which descends to the right down a fairly steep slope, then continue straight on towards the village. As soon as you come to the end of the path, at the structure that acts as a stone trap, take the small tarmac road immediately to the left, then follow the street to the left where it joins, heading towards the forest.

(5) At Baransart, carry on straight ahead along the Chemin de Bagimont until you reach the concrete fortified house.

(6) Shortly after the fortified house, leave the Chemin de Bagimont and take the path on the left. Walk down to the pond. Walk round the pond clockwise, then take the same path back towards the fortified house. Retrace your steps to the start of the path.

(5) At this junction in Baransart, go round the wooden gate and take the path on the left. Pass close to the camping and picnic area and the fitness trail, then continue straight on. At the metal gate, continue along the same path, which curves to the right.

(7) At the Grigny junction, turn left and follow this path down for just over 400 metres. At the bottom, take the path on the right which leads onto a residential lane and follow Rue du Bouteny.

(8) At the end of Rue du Bouteny, before reaching Chemin des Épinettes, turn left and cross the bridge over the stream. After the bridge, turn right along the departmental road, then cross it. Walk for about 50 metres, then turn left onto the path that runs alongside the hedge and leads out behind the factory. Continue straight ahead along the path and follow Chemin des Longs Champs, which curves to the left.

(9) At the Sept Charmes junction, take the forest track on the right and follow it to the wooden hunting lodge. There, turn left and then immediately take the path on the right. Continue straight on along this path until you rejoin the forest track.

(10) At the end of the footpath, take the wide forest track on the right, then, shortly afterwards, take the first track on the left by the large oak tree. Then, after about 450 metres, take the track on the right. Keep going straight on; the track becomes a tarmac road which continues to the village.

(11) At the farm at the entrance to the village, cross the county road and continue along Ruelle de Cominay. This lane leads onto another county road; cross this to arrive opposite the cemetery. Continue down this street, then take the first lane on the left after the factory.

(12) Cross the bridge over the Goutelle and carry on straight ahead along Ruelle des Prés until you reach the church square (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 659 ft - Église Saint-Rémy (Gespunsart)
  2. 1 : mi 0.3 - alt. 699 ft - La Belle Vue
  3. 2 : mi 0.39 - alt. 748 ft - Chemin de l’Aulnay
  4. 3 : mi 0.61 - alt. 791 ft - Bois Saint-Rémy
  5. 4 : mi 0.95 - alt. 827 ft - Les Fromentières
  6. 5 : mi 1.21 - alt. 725 ft - Baransart. Return junction
  7. 6 : mi 1.38 - alt. 787 ft - Fortified house and pond
  8. 7 : mi 2.5 - alt. 787 ft - Grigny
  9. 8 : mi 2.91 - alt. 663 ft - Le Bouteny
  10. 9 : mi 3.32 - alt. 682 ft - Les Sept Charmes
  11. 10 : mi 4.12 - alt. 702 ft - Les Molières
  12. 11 : mi 5.25 - alt. 663 ft - The farm
  13. 12 : mi 5.47 - alt. 640 ft - Goutelle Bridge
  14. S/E : mi 5.72 - alt. 659 ft - Église Saint-Rémy (Gespunsart)

Notes

Signposting: follow the green markings (dragonfly and leaf symbol).

Information and map: Randonnées Gespunsart

Warning
On the section between the water tower and Rue des Fromentières: a muddy stretch (3) followed by a fairly steep slope (4).
Several crossings of county roads require particular caution.

Notes on the route
From the signpost at Baransart, the return journey to the pond allows you to walk all the way round it (6) before rejoining the route.
There is a picnic area, a campsite and a fitness trail near this sign.

Worth a visit

Information boards detailing the natural heritage of our village.

Other walks in the area

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.