East of Navaux

Start: Navaux, village in the municipality of Thilay.

(S/E) From the centre of the village, go up Rue de l'Herdage, then turn left onto the small tarmac road until you reach the RD131.

(1) Turn right, then immediately left onto a forest path. Climb up to the top of the ridge until you reach the first path on the left, which you take to reach a high-voltage power line.
Continue straight ahead and follow a small path that descends towards La Roche au Pihü. Viewpoint over Thilay and Naux

(2) Continue downhill on the path used by bikers and trail runners. Before a short, steep descent, which is in poor condition, leave the bikers' path and turn right onto a flat track to join a large forest track. Turn left, then at the next fork, go downhill to the right until you reach Chemin de Bozin.
(3) Continue downhill after shifting slightly to the left to reach the bottom of the Nabruay stream valley. Cross the stream, then turn right at the next junction. The climb is steep on schist slabs at the start of the path. The path joins a power line and a wide forest track (former GR®); cross it and (after veering slightly to the right) keep going in the same direction, taking a narrow path to reach the top of the Dames de Semoy. Nice view of Nohan and the ridge of the Château de Linchamps.

(4) Go to the right, do not follow the yellow marked path to the left which would take you down to Newet. Join the gas line and follow it to the left until you reach the Robessart paragliding area.

(5) Continue in the same direction, ignore the forest road on the right and continue until you reach a path that branches off to the right just before the telecommunications pylon.
Cross the power line and continue in the same direction. Walk to the Gros Chêne (big oak tree).

(6) From the Gros Chêne, head west on a downhill path. Continue to the first intersection.

(7) Turn left (onto the only path shown on the map). At the next fork, turn right and continue to a new intersection.

(8) Turn right and immediately keep right to take a little-used path. Cross the start of a small stream and continue to the bottom of the valley.

(9) Turn left onto a wide path that climbs along the Nabruay stream and reach the edge of the Forêt Domaniale at an elevation of 353 metres.

(10) Turn right and continue in the same direction until you reach the Chêne Chaudron, an old tree that once marked an administrative boundary.

(11) Continue along the path opposite to reach the RD13, then the Col du Loup crossroads.

(12) Go down to the right towards Thilay along the RD131, ignore the road that branches off to the left, then take the path on the left. Next, keep to the right and follow a sunken path down into the Gorge des Hazelles until you reach the Chapelle de Navaux.
This section includes passages over rocky steps.

(13) Continue in the same direction to reach the village of Navaux (S/E).

A short off-trail section is suggested for ease between (2) and (3) between the bikers' trail and a forest track. Finding this passage requires special attention!

The use of the GPX track may prove very useful for most of the route.

Viewpoints:

1. La Roche au Pihü
2. Les Dames de Semoy
3. Robessart

The Chêne Chaudron