Small stadium car park, Rue Gustave Garrigou in the town of Esbly (Seine et Marne).
(S/F) Go down Rue Gustave Garrigou keeping the stadium on your right. Turn left at the junction and continue on Chemin des Aulnoyes to the bridge and turn right to cross the Meaux Canal in Chalifert. Continue and cross the avenue at the pedestrian crossing at the entrance of large roundabout to return to the bridge entrance.
(1) Head to the right on the path alongside the canal. At the confluence with the side canal of the Grand Morin, the path turns right and follows alongside for about 3 km it to its origin. You pass the Aqueduct Bridge of La Dhuis (2) over the canal and at the end of the long straight stretch, pass in front of an equestrian centre and a canoe/kayak club. The path leads onto the D934 between a level crossing and the bridge over the Grand Morin.
(3) Turn left, cross the bridge and the big intersection to continue a slight angle to the right towards Coulommiers. Then, keeping to the left, take Rue Pasteur in the direction of the church.
(4) Go past the church, the PR® turns right. Go straight through the Grand Chemin de Quincy that turns into a sunken path at a dead end, lined with walnut trees.
Continue ignoring some paths running across the route as far as a T-junction opposite an enclosure wall. Turn right and, after a few metres, go through the gate in the boundary wall to your left.
(5) You are in the Quincy castle park. Veer left. Three hundred metres further on, pass the Castle, turn left then, a few metres before the main gate, turn right onto the track protected by staggered metal railings. You go out into Rue de Boignet where you turn right. Turn left past the cemetery and continue through Rue de Meaux. Pass through the first crossroads and, at the next junction, turn left into Rue Thiers. Cross the crossroads with traffic lights, then go across to the corner of the street.
(6) Head right into the narrow passage between two pavillons. Arrive on a grassy promenade (the Dhuis Aqueduct) and turn left. Follow it the keeping the houses on your left hand, taking you to a crossroads. Turn right into Rue de Butel and then keep right, cross Rue du Mont which becomes, after a few metres, a path down into the valley.
Cross the stream and turn left along the path. At the edge of the wood, turn left. The path climbs the hill to reach the Sente des Quarterons. Follow it to the right to the next intersection.
If you walk through a lot of mud during the walk so far and it is becoming tiresome, a possible alternative is described in the practical information.
(7) Cross the intersection, bear right and continue in the Sente des Prés du Ru. It descends to reach a signposted path near a post indicating the location of a gas line.
(8) Turn left (on Chemin de Mareuil). This path ends at the Meaux Canal towpath at Chalifert.
(9) Continue keeping the canal to the right as far as the first houses of Esbly, visible on the other bank.
Turn right onto the suspension bridge to cross the canal (10) and veer left onto the path along the canal to reach the road bridge. Turn right and go to the pedestrian crossing to cross the avenue.
Take Rue Léo Lagrange opposite which leads you to Rue Gustave Garrigou (S/F).
This hike is accessible by public transport. Esbly station is only a few hundred metres from the circuit. Train schedules are available by following this link click here.
In this case, exit the station to the main building. Turn left along the railway line to the intersection and then turn right onto Rue du Général Leclerc which leads to a crossroads. Cross the avenue at the pedestrian crossing, then continue on the pavement to cross the canal bridge. You are a point (1) of the circuit. Head left on the side road to the canal and read what comes next in the description.
(7) Turn right and go down to Canal de Meaux Chalifert. Turn left onto the canal towpath to the entrance of the bridge. Continue on this road to its junction with a road coming in from the left (9). You will come upon GR® and PR® markings. This alternative lengthens the circuit by about 700 metres.
We advise taking IGN maps with you on this walk. Click here to buy : 2514SB.
Bridge of the Dhuis aqueduct on the canal running alongside Le Grand Morin.