Lods circular route to Roche de Hautepierre

The car park is located almost at the eastern exit of Lods. From the D67, cross the bridge over the Loue: the car park is on the right.

(S/E) Cross the bridge on foot, cross the D67 at the pedestrian crossing, turn left then follow Rue de Reine to the right and walk past the church.

(1) Continue straight ahead along Rue Lancrenon, which climbs steeply, and reach the junction with Rue du Bout d'en Haut. Turn right onto this and join Route d'Athose (D32).

(2) Ignore this road and turn immediately right onto the winding road; ignore the housing estate and a path on the left. You’ll come to a footpath on the left.

(3) Follow this marked path, which climbs steadily.

(4) A post with yellow and red GRP® markings indicates a right turn. Turn either there or a little further up if the grass is too high to see the post. The aim is to join a parallel grassy path and thus pass to the right of a hedge. Further on, cross a path and continue straight ahead to the D244.

(5) Follow this road to the left, continuing past the hairpin bend.

(6) Follow the marked path climbing to the left. After about a hundred metres, take a path climbing to the right, following the markings, and reach the top of the Roche de Hautepierre cliff. Continue along the cliff. Enjoy the magnificent view. At the headland, proceed with caution to take in the view.

(7) Return to the route. Further on, you will find an orientation table and a bench. At the end of the cliff, the path descends to the Hautepierre-le-Châtelet cemetery. Continue on to reach the D244.

(8) Turn right to follow the GRP® path marked in yellow and red, running parallel to the road but on the left-hand side of the carriageway. It then moves away from the road and descends gradually.

(9) Leave the steeply ascending path on your right, which can serve as a shortcut on the way up: see section: Practical information. Carry straight on and rejoin the junction with the D244.

(5) Follow the road to the left as it descends, continuing to the hairpin bend.

(10) Leave the road and follow the path that continues down towards Mouthier-Haute-Pierre, leading onto Rue du Petit Mont.

(11) Follow the street to the left, then turn right onto the D67.

(12) Turn right onto Grande Rue, continue straight on at the junction to follow Rue Robert Dame. As you approach the village exit, ignore Chemin des Carres on the right and you’ll reach a bench situated about fifty metres before the reservoir.

(13) Turn left onto the wide strip of grass, usually mown, which runs alongside a fence. It turns into a path that runs alongside a corbelled rock and rejoins the road you left earlier. Head left and follow this for about 400 m.

(14) Leave the road on the left onto a good track leading to Lods. Pass the castle on the left and continue to the church.

(1) Take the street on the left. Once at the junction, turn left again.

(15) Go down the steps on the right leading to Rue de Reine, follow it to the left for about 60 metres, then go down a second flight of steps on the right which leads onto the D67. Cross it carefully, turn left towards the bridge over the Loue, then cross it to reach the car park on the right (S/E).

Water point at the Hautepierre-le-Châtelet cemetery.

Route characteristics: the ascent is very direct up to the Roche de Hautepierre, making it a fairly strenuous climb. Unlike other routes, this one follows the entire ridge. The descent is easy, along gentle, picturesque paths.

Take care with children when walking along the Roche de Hautepierre and its unprotected cliff.

Alternative route at (5): go from (5) to (9) and take the marked path on the left which climbs steeply: visible on the map at a high zoom level. Follow the road to the left to rejoin the route at (6).

(S/E) The village of Lods was known for its forges and vineyards. The former home of the master smiths is situated below the Loue; flats have been converted there. In 1850, Lods had a population of 1,850. Today, it has between 250 and 300 inhabitants. There used to be nearly 130 hectares of vineyards. Phylloxera destroyed most of them; disease, wars and the hard work did the rest. The vineyards have been replaced by fruit trees. You can find out more at the Vine Museum.

(12) Mouthier-Hautepierre developed thanks to its monastery. Here too, wine-growing was a major industry, which explains the 1,000 inhabitants recorded before the phylloxera outbreak. This was followed by the planting of cherry trees for the production of kirsch.

Places to visit in the surrounding area: the Loue Valley, the town of Ornans and its Courbet Museum.

There are plenty of hiking opportunities throughout the rugged valley.