Circular walk from Boussières to the Signal d’Abbans-Dessus and back via La Chandole

Start from the car park at the Boussières village hall.

(S/E) Take Rue des Richets on your right and walk down through the village along Rue du Centre until you reach a right-angle bend to the right.

^GR®59signposting

(1) Turn left onto Rue des Résistants, then right onto Chemin du Bas des Vignes.

No signposting

(2) Cross the industrial estate and continue straight on. The stony path then becomes steeper as it winds past vineyards and orchards. Further up, along the meadow, keep to the right.

(3) You’ll come to an old, ruined milking parlour which was used to milk a herd of cows in the summer, 40 years ago.

Before beginning the descent 200 metres further on, turn left and head into the woods. Follow this well-marked path, which suddenly branches off to the right at the edge of the meadows. After making your way through some holly bushes, turn left and head uphill as the track begins to descend. Climb steeply and follow this ridge until you reach a junction with a wide track.

(4) This newly created track links the Chemin de la Grande Fin and the neighbouring farms with the Roman road and the meadows of Chouzelot. Continue straight on, enjoying the view over the valley and the Osselle sand pits. You will soon come within sight of the Signal d’Abbans Dessus, a pylon laden with communication antennas.

Before passing this pylon, look out for one or two small paths on the left and follow them for about ten metres to reach the pastures. The landscape then opens up before you, revealing the Loue valley and the Chouzelot Viaduct. In the distance, you can see the Reugney and Bolandoz hills. Finally, to the right, you can see Quingey and Mont Poupet.

(5) Return to the Signal. You can walk a little further ahead for a final view of Quingey. Turn right onto the tarmac road, which descends very steeply to the village of Abbans-Dessus.

(6) In front of the cemetery, turn right onto the Chemin de la Grande Fin and follow it past the farms. At the last building, you’ll see the track you crossed earlier along the ridge. Continue along the road for about one kilometre until you reach a junction leading to the lorry turning area

(7) Head down from this turning area and take the path on the left, which descends quite steeply to reach the confluence of two streams at La Chandole.

(8) Turn right, following the bank of the stream. A little further on, a bridge takes you across it. Follow the stream until you reach a junction with a path coming from the right. You’ll arrive at the Pré de Vé ford. Lovely little waterfalls dot the lower reaches of the stream, but there’s no marked path to follow its course.

(9) Cross the stream and head up the track directly in front of you, ignoring all the adjacent paths.

^GR®59signposting

Follow the^GR®59signposting all the way to the village. Cross the Bois de Blâme and head down into the Boussières plain. At the two junctions, turn left and then right.

(10) Head back up towards the village, following a very recently planted vineyard, and admire the orchards with their neatly pruned and well-tended trees.

(2) At the junction with the Chemin du Bas des Vignes, turn left to join the departmental road.

(1) Walk back up towards the village and take the opportunity to admire the Romanesque church and its porch, both listed as historic monuments. Continue as far as the chemist’s and turn left to reach the car park (S/E).

There is a bakery and a grocery shop in the village.
The bar, next to the grocery shop, also offers quick meals and snacks.
There’s a restaurant next door.
The ‘Lodges of the Wood’ can also accommodate walkers wishing to stay for a few days.

A stroll through the village of Abbans-Dessus and the narrow streets around the castle.
A restored wash house on the outskirts of the village on the Chemin de la Grande Fin.