Circular Alliés route via the Côte du Cerf and Les Grands Cernets

(S/E) The start is near the Grange des Ouillerets, just past the cemetery. Continue along the dirt track running alongside the stream (^GR®5– GTJ). After a bend, head north-east, staying on this lovely track.
Carry on and, further up, you’ll reach the border marker.

(1) Cross the border and continue along the stream, which you’ll wade across, ignoring the paths leading to the neighbouring pastures. Further on, take the hairpin bend and carry on through the woodland until you reach the hamlet of Cernet du Doubs.

(2) Return to French territory and turn right by the house. Continue along this dirt track, ignoring the path coming in from the left, and at the next two junctions, turn right. Further on, you’ll reach the Maison de la Côte du Cerf.

(3) Leave the^GR®5– GTJ route. Just before reaching the house, look out for a path that winds sharply to your right and quickly descends into the forest. You will then reach a pasture; cross it, heading towards the signposts visible further down the path.

(4) Go through the fence and reach the signpost at elevation 1156. Turn left (east), walk through this pretty, flower-filled valley and reach a major crossroads at elevation 1179 (or 1180, depending on the map zoom level).

(5) Turn right (south-west) towards the small house and the edge of the woods. Continue along this path for a long while, crossing the forest, then skirting the meadows. Ignore the path on the left leading down to the farm, pass two houses on your right and head towards the farms in the hamlet of Grand Brandt. Carry on until you reach a crossroads, just before the 1180 mark.

(6) Continue slightly to the right (south) on the main track. Carry on through the Bois des Loges and look out for a junction that is somewhat obscured by vegetation. It is located after a small clearing towards the 1178-metre mark.

(7) Turn sharply right (south-west) onto a much narrower path. Further on, ignore the various paths branching off to the left and head towards the edge of the pastures and a junction with a tarmac road.

(8) In the hamlet of Les Grands Cernets, turn right onto the road and continue until you reach a right-hand bend in the road at an elevation of 1155.

(9) Go through the fence and enter the meadow (north-west). Head towards the water tower at the very top, at the edge of the woodland. Continue uphill until you reach a junction with the path coming from the summit of the Grand Taureau at an elevation of 1234.

(10) Continue along the^GR®5– GTJ, heading downhill (west), until you reach a pasture, which you cross. Enter the woodland again to reach a crossroads with a small path, just before the border.

(11) Turn right onto the main path, now known as^{the GR®} 5. Continue downhill (north-east) to reach the Ferme de la Grosse-Ronde at elevation 1051.

(12) At the junction with the farm track, head straight on up the slope towards the edge of the woods (west). A little further up, you’ll come to a junction with a forest road.

(13) Look for the path branching off to the right (north) up a steep, winding slope. Follow it, cross the border again and begin the descent. Continue along this road, pass the Ferme de la Barillette and reach the Ferme des Bonjours.

(14) At the junction in front of the farm, turn right and carry on until you reach the RD 353. Turn right onto this road and you’ll reach a crossroads.

(15) In the village, turn right, pass the cemetery and head for the car park (S/E).