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Parking at the church in Chenecey. Yellow-blue markings.
(S/E) Return to the village centre via Rue de l'Église, passing in front of the old 18th-century inn. Cross the Loue river.
(1) Opposite the bridge is the oratory dedicated to Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette. Turn right into the dead-end street. Three hundred metres further on, climb the hill via the path on the left. Halfway up the slope, continue along the small path that passes under the fallen tree.
(2) You will come to an X-shaped crossroads. Take the uphill path on the right. You will leave the marked trail. Soon on the right, there is an unsecured viewpoint overlooking an old turreted house, the church and the old bridge at Chenecey.
(3) You will pass the first walls, where the path turns sharply to the left (signposted "route VTT 85").
On the other side of the rubble, through a gap, a path passes under ancient postern gates and leads to old ruins and a viewpoint over Chenecey and the Grand Méandre de La Loue. However, exploring the ruins is not part of the route as the site is not secure (falling rocks, old wells, precipice). If you decide to go there, you do so at your own risk. A sign indicates "private property, no trespassing". If, despite everything, you decide to go there, stay on the path.
You will reach the marked path at a mountain bike sign with a cross on it and descend the hill on the right. At a Private Property sign, leave a path descending to the right and continue straight ahead until the next fork.
(4) At a sign saying " Chasse Réservée" (Reserved Hunting Ground), take the left-hand path. After an uphill stretch (signpost 85), at a new fork, go up to the left. Do not take the other path, which is marked with a half-faded cross.
(5) At an X-shaped crossroads, continue along the left-hand uphill lane, following the markings.
(6) At the next X-shaped crossroads (signs for "Commune de Charnay N°7 et 9"), follow the markings down to the right. You will be on the VTT 85 mountain bike route.
(7) When the trail starts climbing again, at a mountain bike sign, take the well-marked path climbing to the left.
(8) When you see the first houses, take the right-hand path at the fork. Now pay close attention to the directions, as the route will no longer be signposted.
(9) 300 m further on, at a mountain bike sign, look for and take the path that veers sharply to the right. If you pass under the power line or come out onto the tarmac road, you have passed it without seeing it. Turn back and you will find it more easily in this direction. A few metres after a red mountain bike cross, you will come to a fork in the path. Take the well-marked path downhill to the left and stay on it. You will come to a clearing for the power line (pole 14F3) with a beautiful view of the Loue towards Quingey
(10). A hundred metres further down, when the path begins to climb again, you will see two meadows in front of you. Take the one on the right, passing through the gate (and closing it behind you). To the left of the gate, you can easily step over the barbed wire fence without opening it. Take a moment to notice the two old dry stone piles in front of you. Cross the pasture lengthwise (northbound), passing under the power line again. When it widens, walk diagonally down towards the opposite corner. At the foot of a large oak tree, you will find an old gate with such tangled wire that I preferred to step over it (easy with my long walking sticks). Those with shorter legs will find a way to squeeze through. Follow the edge on the right for about thirty metres to find a passage to a new pasture. When you leave the grove, follow the edge on the left for about a hundred metres to reach a barrier.
(11) Join the charming path, bordered by the Loue on the left and the wooded hillside on the right. Return to Chenecey by turning right.
(12) You will arrive at a metal gate on the private property (fishing plot) of L'Île Madame. Although fishing is prohibited, I did not see any signs prohibiting passage. Climb over the gate (easy) and continue through the beautiful plantation with trees perfectly aligned along the Loue. I did not encounter a single soul at the beginning of spring. If you see someone who looks like the owner, ask politely for permission and you will surely get it. If you come across a grumpy curmudgeon, then you will have to walk around the property (less convenient) by turning right at the fence and following it for about 600 metres. At the other end, you will reach a fence which you follow to the right for a few metres to pass the gate or simply climb over the barbed wire. Then follow the edge of the woods for 300 metres, where you will find a passage to another meadow. Continue along the edge of the forest, gradually approaching the Loue.
(13) You will then come to a wide dirt track which will take you back to the village if you turn right. Opposite you are the beautiful cliffs of La Roche Gauthier and, on the right, the silhouette of the castle tower against the sky. The path becomes stony. You will pass the old mill. The owner has displayed some beautiful old millstones a short distance from the entrance.
(1) At the bridge, cross the Loue river, then return to the church and go around it on the left to reach the 18th-century turreted house, and you will be back at the car park. (S/E)
The route includes rocky and slippery paths in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
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Easy 
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