The Vaux de Cernay

Description of the hike

Start Point: On the RD 1 between Dampierre and Garnes, take the D 202 towards Les Essarts-le-Roi and the Maréchaux trail. After 1,3 km, turn left onto the Route des Franchises towards the Maréchaux trail, then park in the car park on your left opposite the shelter.

1. At the car park, retrace your steps to the D 202 and take the cycle path: follow it to the Jumelles crossroads.

2. At the large crossroads of Les Jumelles, near the forester's house, continue on the cycle path to the next crossroads.

3. When you reach the Cinq Cents Arpents crossroads on the forest road of the same name, leave the cycle path and take the first path on the left which descends towards the Granval bridge. Be careful on the descent, there are big bumps, so slow down.

4. At the bottom of the path you will see the Grandval bridge. Do not go all the way to the bridge and take the path on the left (about 30m before the bridge), just before the culvert. Follow this path straight ahead along the Ru des Vaux.

5. The path leads to a path bordered by a fence: turn left onto this path.

6. At the intersection, take the path on the right marked GR (white and red) always following the fence. Follow this path straight on along the Maréchaux path where you follow the Vaux stream and then the Vaux de Cernay pond.

7. At the crossroads at the corner of the Abbey's surrounding wall, continue straight on along the Maréchaux path where you follow the Vaux stream and then the Vaux de Cernay pond.

8. At the end of the Cernay pond, you will find the Pelouse monument on your left. Turn right onto the blue and white marked Cernay Regional Natural Park circuit, then at the next intersection, opposite the Salons Léopold, turn left, still on the Cernay Regional Natural Park circuit, until you reach the D91.

9. When you reach the D 91, turn left and continue along the road to the restaurant “Le Chalet des Cascades”.

10. At Chalet des Cascades, turn right behind the barrier, between the terrace and the mini-golf course. Then take the path that crosses the forest, which you continue to follow straight on until you reach the D149.

11. At the D 149 turn left towards Senlisse, then in Senlisse, take the first street on the right on the speed bump “rue du Champ Reine” until you reach the church.

12. At the church, turn right onto Rue du Moulin d'Aulne, which you continue straight on until you reach the D 91 at Dampierre.

13. When you reach the D 91, turn right, then take the 2nd street on the left “rue de la Brèche” towards Fourcherolles.

14. In Fourcherolles, pass Rue du Boulet on your left to continue straight ahead, then straight ahead again along Rue des Sables which climbs and leads you to the entrance to the forest.

15. Cross the barrier and enter the forest by following the direction of Bois des Maréchaux marked GR and PNR.

16. At the intersection with a PNR signpost, take the direction “Château de Breteuil” on your left, marked GR and PNR. Then, when you reach the D 202, cross it and take the Route des Franchises opposite: you are back at the car park.