Landing beaches, churches, museums, parks, castles, gardens… Normandy is fortunate to have an exceptional heritage. It is also renowned for its wide open spaces which are open to lovers of mountain biking. Along their journey, these adventurers will discover superb landscapes worthy of the most beautiful postcards. On your marks, get set, ride!
This loop will delight nature-loving hikers. It takes place in the heart of the forest of Rambouillet, an idyllic place which is one of the main forest massifs of Ile-de-France. The forest with an area of 22,000 hectares offers a total of 90 km of trails dedicated to cycling, walking or horseback riding. The ideal for this mountain bike ride is to start at the Coupe-Gorge pond. Covering an area of 2.5 hectares, it is 165 meters above sea level and is part of the famous Natura 2000 area which brings together the natural sites of the European Union. You will take advantage of the getaway to appreciate the pleasant and peaceful nature and also see the batrachians since the pond is their breeding ground. Some fishermen are also there at the opening of the seasons. The walk leads directly to the gruyer pond connected to almost a kilometer with the Coupe-Gorge pond. It is a favorite site for carp fishing and is also home to some birds. In total, this loop is about 11 km.
Still with a view to escaping into the heart of nature, let yourself be tempted by an incursion into the wooded areas of Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines. This adventure to do with friends or family starts at the roundabout of the Vilpert cross. Then continue the walk through the forest areas of Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines. Located in the forest of Rambouillet, this town offers a green beauty of the most attractive. After 3 km, the loop takes you directly to the highly renowned leisure center of the ponds of Holland. If time permits, do not hesitate to take a short break and discover all the activities offered by this place now considered the first green base in Yvelines. Table tennis, volleyball, mini-golf, supervised swimming, pedal boats and canoes are just a few examples of the leisure activities on offer. After this break, resume your journey on your mountain bike and take the direction of the paved cycle paths.
An interesting circuit to follow is to discover Bagnoles de l'Orne by bike. Located in the heart of the Normandy-Maine Regional Natural Park, this spa resort is very famous in the North-West of the country. Not to be missed:the Quartier Belle Epoque which gives the impression of being frozen in time. This residential district of Bagnoles will delight lovers of architecture. The Andaines forest is also worth a little detour if you have time ahead of you. Finally, leave your bike for a brief moment to enjoy a foray into the arboretum of the Château park to discover the many species of trees found there.
