Val d’Ornain – Fains-les-Sources circular route

The starting point for this walk is in front of the church in Bussy-la-Côte, near the village well.

(S/E) Follow Rue Basse towards the former Town Hall and School.

(1) Take the path on the right just before the town hall, follow the track which begins with a steep incline and runs alongside the River Ornain as far as the Varney bridge.

(2) Cross the bridge to the right and take Rue des Fermes (the first on the left) in Varney.

(3) At the junction, turn left, walk past the chapel and continue right onto the dirt track.

(4) At a place called Rembercourt, take the road towards the concrete plant and follow the railway line and the ponds.

(5) At the Fains-les-Sources level crossing, turn right, cross the railway line and the canal, and head towards the Place de la Mairie in the direction of Véel.

(6) 200 metres after the town hall, turn right onto Rue de la Chalaide (the slope is quite steep).

(7) At the fork marked by a cross, take the path on the left which runs alongside the orchards.

(8) Opposite the flying club, head into the woodland on the right (signs warning of sinkholes).

(9) At the junction, turn left and ignore the path on the right leading to the Combles-en-Barrois golf course.

(10) As you emerge from the woodland, take the white track on the right and leave it a few hundred metres further on to take the path on the right. Then walk alongside a fully fenced woodland plantation and pass in front of a farm shed.

(11) Leave the white track and take the grassy path, over 6 metres wide, which runs between orchards and turns left.

(12) In front of Mussey church, turn right onto the path that leads down towards the road running through the village.
Once on the road, turn right and, opposite the town hall, continue to the right towards Bussy-la-Côte. Take the steps to cross over the canal and follow the departmental road (on the right-hand side) leading to Bussy-la-Côte.

(13) Just before the bend and the climb towards Bussy, take the unpaved track on the right.

(14) Take the^first track on the left which leads up to the village. On the road, keep to the right, then turn into the^first street on the right and follow it to reach the church at Bussy-la-Côte (S/E).

It is not advisable to undertake this walk in very hot weather as at least 50 per cent of the route is unshaded.