In the footsteps of Pablo Neruda

A very pleasant unmarked route where you cross the Iton several times. It is also an opportunity to discover the former home of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and the beautiful Chambray Castle along the way.

Details

163176
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.37 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 30 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 32 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 170 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 143 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Gouville (27240)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.85007° / E 0.994253°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1914SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

(1) Departure from the car park at Gouville church.
Opposite the church, go down to the left to the D833, then follow this road for about 300 metres.

(2) Leave the D833 and take the road on the left (Chemin du Chéronnel). A few metres further on, turn left and follow the path that runs alongside the hedgerows. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead.

(3) At the road, turn right, go up the small hill and then turn left onto Chemin des Merisiers. At the end of the woods, follow the road to the left and enter Condé-sur-Iton.

(4) Leave the road and follow Rue du Fourneau to the left. At the ruins of the old forge, go through the gate and turn right just before the bridge to follow the small gravel path that runs alongside the Iton. Pass the former home of Pablo Neruda, which is located just after the wash house, by the river, near the old locks.

(5) At the road (D49), turn left, then turn left onto the path after the bridge. In the woods, at the fork in the road, continue to the right. At the crossroads at the end of the woods, continue along the path opposite, then turn left. The path descends and then turns right. Follow the Sautillières valley, then turn right onto the path that climbs up to Séez-Moulins.

(6) At the tarmac, turn left. Leave a road on your right and continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, turn left. Just before the bridge over the Iton, take the path on the right.

(7) At the end of the path, go around the last house by turning left and enter the forest. The path descends, then runs alongside the river and curves sharply to the right. Follow this path to the educational farm of the Chambray secondary school. Pass in front of the farm buildings.

(8) Cross the road and take the path that runs alongside the Iton (the entrance to the path is slightly to the left). At the small bridge, turn right towards the Château de Chambray. At the entrance to the château, go under the porch, cross the gravel courtyard (open to the public) and take the long avenue lined with lime trees behind the two turrets and the chapel.

(9) At the end of the lane, take the forest path on the left and continue along this path, ignoring the two other paths that descend to the left. Leave the path that leads to Aigremont on your right.

(10) Take the small bridge to cross the Varennes ford. At the crossroads, turn left and follow the river.

(11) A few metres before the road, continue along the river, following the path on the left. At the road, turn right and then take the no-entry street on the left.

(12) Leave the road and take the path on the left. At the D833, turn left, then right to return to the starting point

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 155 m - Gouville Church
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 149 m - D83 crossroads
  3. 2 : km 1.44 - alt. 149 m - Séez Moulins
  4. 3 : km 3.31 - alt. 163 m - Condé-sur-Iton
  5. 4 : km 4.39 - alt. 153 m - D49 crossroads - L'Iton
  6. 5 : km 6.17 - alt. 163 m - Tarmac crossroads
  7. 6 : km 7.01 - alt. 161 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 8.76 - alt. 147 m - Road junction
  9. 8 : km 9.5 - alt. 157 m - Chambray Castle
  10. 9 : km 10.14 - alt. 143 m - Varennes ford
  11. 10 : km 11.12 - alt. 146 m - Crossroads before the road
  12. 11 : km 11.83 - alt. 153 m - Road-path fork
  13. S/E : km 12.37 - alt. 148 m

Worth a visit

- Pablo Neruda's former home in Condé-Iton.
- Chambray Castle.
- The banks of the Iton with numerous educational panels.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 31 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
MandreLP
MandreLP

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, beautiful landscapes dotted with points of interest (former industrial site, Pablo Neruda's former home, castle). Very accessible route. Follow the GPS track, as this makes it much easier to find your way as some of the paths seem to have changed since the track was created! Thank you to the creator of this walk!

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Vincent de Normandie
Vincent de Normandie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb route culminating in Chambray Castle and Pablo Neruda's house.
No particular difficulties, just a wonderful time spent in our green Normandy.

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JH27
JH27

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
This was a new route for us, which is why we decided to try it. However, we were disappointed because at point 8, the porch of Chambray Castle was closed and we were unable to complete the walk. In addition, it was very windy. Unfortunately, we didn't really enjoy this walk. We'll try again in the spring.

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Mister Titi
Mister Titi

Overall rating : 2.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Regarding the description of the hike: everything is fine until the end of stage 4. Then, when you enter the forest, stay on the right-hand path. When you leave the woods, there is no path ahead, but you can walk along a field to the left or right. From there, it's almost completely unclear. We had to take the paved road to reach Séez-Moulins because we couldn't find the path described. The bridge over the Iton and the path on the right are there. At the end of the path, there is no forest, just more tarmac. When you reach the Château de Chambray, it is not clear whether the driveway is on the left or the right. We found a driveway that looked like it was the right one, but at the end there was a padlocked gate. We went around it and back onto the tarmac. There is no forest path in sight as described in step 9, so we continue on the asphalt. The no entry sign from step 11 is there, phew... We finally arrive at our destination after many mishaps. Thank goodness for Google Maps... In short, a day that started well but took a turn for the worse in the second half.

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Christophe Mullot
Christophe Mullot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk along the Iton, a beautiful route partly through woodland, with the backdrop of Chambray Castle, horses and beautiful houses in Conde
I will definitely do this hike again

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hydrangéa
hydrangéa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A bucolic and very varied route: forests, fields, woodlands. Particularly pleasant in spring. Peace and quiet guaranteed. Plus Pablo Neruda's house and the beautiful setting of Chambray Castle.

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time132
time132

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Recommended hike

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ericetnathalie
ericetnathalie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful and varied landscapes. An excellent memory, a magical moment. We will be back!

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cathanto
cathanto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be sure to check out the Château de Condé in Iton (when you're on the bridge, after Pablo Neruda's house).
A superb walk, very varied and very pleasant.
Perfect!

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gtlma
gtlma

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely family walk, we loved it! No particular difficulties, shaded and very peaceful.

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yannmarie77
yannmarie77

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A wonderful walk, a very pretty route between the two banks of the Iton, with some beautiful houses and the magnificent Chambray Castle to boot!

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Glob78
Glob78

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice, no hills, castle and beautiful buildings along the way.
With the family: Very good!

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petitsmollets27
petitsmollets27

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great!

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sh/H
sh/H

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

An easy and very pleasant hike along the river, with beautiful scenery and biodiversity (various birdsong, frogs, horses, etc.) and the magnificent park and castle of Chambray. Superb!

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patbru
patbru

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello
a very pleasant hike with well-maintained trails.
All the places are worth seeing.
Pablo's house, but also the castle with its horses in front;
the Iton river with its herons and ducks..
Really great!
Thank you for introducing us to these places.

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