Towards Notre-Dame de Hambye Abbey

Between Sienne and Hambyotte, this route invites you to discover the Normandy countryside via numerous sunken lanes where, in the meadows that line them, Prim'Holstein cows, originally from Holland, mingle with Normande cows, the region's emblematic breed. At the end of the route, Hambye Abbey awaits you with its13th-century chapter house.

Details

3943421
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.40 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 906 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 922 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 492 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 167 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Hambye (50450)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.94682° / W 1.265713°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1314E, 1314O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from Place Jeanne Painel in Hambye.

YellowPR®® signposts

(S/E) Leave the car park, with your back to the Post Office, and turn right onto Ruelle aux Sorciers. Take a path on the left which leads down towards the River Hambyotte. When you reach a road, turn right and follow it to the end.

(1) When you reach Rue de la Chaussée, turn left and walk 300 m before turning left between Nos. 23 and 25 onto Chemin du Mont Cauvet. Follow this path until you reach a left-hand bend (barrier).

(2) Leave the track by continuing straight on along the path that continues from it. At the junction with another path, turn right. Ignore the access road to La Pitoiserie on the left and continue to the right until you reach the Route du Hamel Marie.

(3) Turn left and walk 200 metres before taking a path on the right heading west. Follow it to the left. At the crossroads where roads and paths meet, turn right.

(4) Ignore a path on the right and, 20 m further on, turn left towards the south-west. The path leads to Mauny and then ends at the D398 county road.

(5) Turn left onto the road towards the Moulin de Mauny. Cross the River Sienne and continue along the road heading south-south-west.

(6) Before reaching Vauvenard, turn left onto a footpath and follow it all the way. Continue along the road to the left towards Les Bretonnières. At the T-junction of the footpaths, turn right and carry on until you reach the road.

Yellow and red markings onthe GR®® de Pays trail “In the footsteps of the bell founders”
Yellow markings onthe PR®®

(7) Turn left and keep left at Haut Bosq, then head straight on along a path. Continue along this path until you reach a junction of paths.

(8) Take the path furthest to the right, which curves sharply. Keep to the right and, at the junction, turn left towards the east to emerge onto the D198.

(9) Turn left. Walk past the church on your left, with the cemetery at La Haye Comtesse, and continue along this road until you reach the D51.

(10) Follow it to the left for 100 m and turn left, then very quickly take a path on the right which continues in line with the road. Follow the path round a hairpin bend to the right, then another to the left, to descend towards the river.

(11) Cross the Sienne for a second time via a footbridge. Carry on and ignore a path leading off to the left via some steps, then continue along the road as it continues.
Before the bridge and after the Auberge de l’Abbaye, take the D51 road to the left and you’ll arrive at the entrance to the Abbey.

(12) Before the abbey entrance, continue along the road that runs alongside the abbey, then take the path that circles the abbey and continue along the Chemin de la Croix Martin until it ends at the D198.

(13) Turn left to cross the D51 and carry on straight ahead, heading north-west, then north. Take the path on the left which crosses the Hambyotte. At the Y-junction, turn right. Cross the river once more.

(14) Carry on to the left and join the D51. Follow it to the left for about 200 m, then continue left onto the Route de la Gare. After 50 m, turn right onto the Chemin des Muletiers.

(15) Enter Hambye by continuing along the road to the left. At the crossroads, Place Jeanne Painel is on the left (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 318 ft - Place Jeanne Painel in Hambye
  2. 1 : mi 0.42 - alt. 253 ft - Rue de la Chaussée – on the left
  3. 2 : mi 1.01 - alt. 367 ft - At the bend, turn left – then straight on
  4. 3 : mi 1.51 - alt. 377 ft - Turn left onto the road
  5. 4 : mi 2.15 - alt. 331 ft - After 20 m – on the left
  6. 5 : mi 2.64 - alt. 194 ft - Turn left onto the D398
  7. 6 : mi 3.04 - alt. 246 ft - Before Vauvenard – Path on the left
  8. 7 : mi 3.96 - alt. 407 ft - Turn left onto the road
  9. 8 : mi 4.56 - alt. 384 ft - The path furthest to the right, forming a hairpin bend
  10. 9 : mi 4.93 - alt. 476 ft - Turn left onto the D198
  11. 10 : mi 5.66 - alt. 230 ft - Turn left onto the D51
  12. 11 : mi 6.24 - alt. 213 ft - Footbridge over the - Sienne (fleuve)
  13. 12 : mi 6.65 - alt. 200 ft - Hambye Abbey
  14. 13 : mi 8.01 - alt. 381 ft - Turn left onto the road
  15. 14 : mi 8.7 - alt. 226 ft - Path on the left
  16. 15 : mi 9.29 - alt. 305 ft - Entrance to Hambye
  17. S/E : mi 9.4 - alt. 318 ft - Place Jeanne Painel in Hambye

Notes

Difficulty: none

Local shops
Public toilets and drinking fountain at the Town Hall square

Worth a visit

Former castle of the Paisnel family
Nothing remains of the medieval castle of the lords of Hambye (the Paisnels), companions of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, whose last female heir in the line, Jeanne Paisnel, was married to Louis d’Estouteville, captain and heroic defender of Mont-Saint-Michel during the Hundred Years’ War. The bride herself was the daughter of Guillaume Paisnel, a former captain of Mont-Saint-Michel. It was she, too, who would offer her château in Tourlaville to the Ravalet family.

Mauny Mill
The leat has been dismantled. It was refurbished in 2015 to facilitate the passage of salmon.

Là-bas Laines (La Baleine)
On a small hill offering magnificent views of the surrounding countryside, there is a farm breeding Angora goats and alpacas. Using the wool they shear, the farmers make products which they sell under their brand name ‘La Bas Laines’. Farm tours are available. (www.mohair-normandie.fr)

Hambye Abbey
The Benedictine Abbey of Notre-Dame de Hambye was founded in the12th century and was home to a monastic community until the Revolution, after which it was sold as national property. The abbey church was used as a stone quarry and nearly disappeared. The complex was saved from ruin and listed as a Historic Monument between 1900 and 1925. The gatehouse, the church and the abbot’s residence belong to the department of La Manche. The monastic buildings are privately owned and have been undergoing painstaking renovation work since 1956.
(www.manche.fr / Tel: 02 33 61 76 92)

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

4.8 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Véronique B
Véronique B

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike along sunken paths surrounded by greenery. There was hardly anyone there, even in high season! I don't use the description, but mainly the trail when I hike, so my opinion on the matter should not be taken into account

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User 24563422

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

For a group of friends, this was a very enjoyable tour, which we would recommend along with a visit to the abbey

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User 26028521
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A bit muddy in the undergrowth but accessible to all... little picnic spots here and there for those who want to stop off... completed in 2 hours 30 minutes for me at a moderate to sustained pace, with some lovely views and no one there... I was all alone in the world!

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j-y.leguillou
j-y.leguillou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike along excellent paths (but in August. Some sections may be muddy in winter or spring), very wooded and shaded. Some beautiful views of the countryside. No exceptional sites, but a very pretty and pleasant country walk through wooded and hedgerow-lined countryside, including a few sections on small roads where you won't meet anyone. Passage and picnic area along the beautiful ruins of Hambye Abbey. No difficulty, but a little over 200m of elevation gain.
Description not used as the route and GPS, as well as the markings along the paths, are more than sufficient.

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fheraud
fheraud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and varied circular route between hedgerows, sunken paths, wetlands, streams and a visit to the magnificent Hambye Abbey in its green setting. Well-marked and maintained trail.

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Isabelle Bournier
Isabelle Bournier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, with varied landscapes, paths and points of interest. We just got lost after the abbey on the way back up. We probably missed a yellow mark. A wonderful day thanks to this beautiful hike alternating between woodland and open paths.

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paulmalo
paulmalo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk along well-maintained paths, beautifully decorated with flowers at this time of year!
The abbey is as majestic as ever...
We did the route in the opposite direction, but I think it's better to follow the recommended route so you can arrive with a superb view of the abbey!

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mmarche50
mmarche50

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 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 route, mostly along paths through the woods and alongside the River Sienne. The paths are well maintained, with one small section being very wet. I plan to return to do the route in the opposite direction.

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annec1930
annec1930

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Well done on this beautiful route, lovely paths, really very pleasant.
I have already walked the GRP des Sonneurs de Cloches but in the other direction, and I find this route more interesting.
Very good description of the route.
Thank you for all your hard work.
Anne

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