Route de la Roche au Pihü in Thilay

The starting point is at Place de l’Église. Parking is available on the square, in front of the Salle des Fêtes opposite, on the bridge side.

(S/E) Set off opposite, crossing the bridge over the Semoy. Turn left and then immediately right onto Rue de Nouzonville. Pass Chemin de Narbruay on your left, go past a wayside shrine on the left and you will immediately come to a large stone house on the left. Leave the road here and take Chemin de Bozin on the left.

(1) Leave the return path on your right and continue straight on. About a hundred metres further on, keep to the right and climb gently alongside the Ru de Narbruay. Pass in front of the former home of Father Labranche, which has been restored and extended. The path is known as the Chemin des Brailles and leads to the vicinity of the Pré des Planes.

(2) Leave the path at the bottom of the valley and take a path on the right which climbs almost at a right angle towards the power line.

(3) At the top, at the junction of several paths, turn right towards the high-voltage power line, turn left directly opposite it, then follow a path to the right to reach the Roche au Pihü.

(4) Enjoy the lovely view from here. You can see Thilay, its forest and, to the right, the Semoy valley stretching towards the hamlet of Naux. Keep an eye on children, as this site is not secured. With your back to the viewpoint, continue down the path to the left for about 100 metres.

(5) Leave this path, which descends very steeply and may be slippery, and head right for about fifty metres to join another path. Turn left and follow it down towards Narbruay and the Chemin Bozin.

(1) Turn left and retrace your steps along the route you took on the way there, crossing the bridge to reach the Place de l’Église (S/E).

Wear suitable footwear. If it’s hot, take some water with you.

(5) A change of route is recommended (choose your own path) as the descent can be difficult and slippery.

(4) Roche au Pihü: unsecured site, danger.

Parking: if you cannot park on the Place de l’Église, you can park on Rue des Pâquis, about a hundred metres from the square.

400 m from the point (1) on the left, at the Ru de Narbruay, beavers have made their home near the chalet.

After the walk, visit the old wash houses.
You can ask for the key at the Café des Amis de la Semoy to visit the exhibition in the Lavoir Neuve Fontaine on the left as you head towards Monthermé.
Access is 100 m away via a small path leading to the Roche washhouse.