Damprichard on the banks of the Doubs

Access: In Damprichard, head towards Charmauvilliers and then up to the stopover lodge, the starting point for this hike.

(S/E) Turn right (north-east) towards Charmauvilliers, following the Blue Rectangle and Yellow Rectangle signposts. Pass in front of a farm.

(1) Follow the path to the right through the fields. Then cross into the field on the left via the designated crossing and continue straight on to reach the Col de la Vierge, following a ridge path.

(2) At the pass, you’ll reach a crossroads (the Damprichard road to Charmauvilliers and Urtière is the D342). Turn right, then follow the D342 to the left.
Leave the road on the right towards the hamlet of Le Seud and walk down through this housing estate.

(3) Pay attention to the signposting. Take a small path on the right to descend to the village of Charmauvilliers. In the centre, turn right and head towards a three-way junction.

(4) Continue left, towards La Goule. Pass beneath the church and the cemetery.

(5) At a bend, leave the Yellow Rectangle and Blue Rectangle signposting and follow the mountain bike signposting opposite until you reach a small road (Bois des Grands Champs), then walk a few metres to the left.

(6) At the crossroads, head towards Corbière-dessus, ignoring the other three directions, and follow the small road. Then rejoin the Blue Rectangle and Yellow Rectangle markings and follow them.

(7) Turn left into a pasture at a place called Creux Gernet and head left to descend into the valley. Join the small road leading to Les Essarts Cuenot and follow it to the left for about 100m.

(8) Head down into the pasture on the right. Be careful, there is a logging site, but if you follow the forest track leading to the site, you will find the markings a little further on. Leave this forest track on the left and follow a low stone wall.

(9) At a crossroads, signs point towards La Goule, Les Essarts Cuenot and La Charbonnière du Haut. Turn left towards La Goule. A few hundred metres further on, join the^GR®5marked in white and red. Turn right again, following these markings. Pass in front of the Leat d’Etoz glassworks and head for the next junction.

(10) Leave^{the GR®5}and turn right, following the Blue Rectangle and Yellow Rectangle markings straight ahead; you will arrive at the junction for La Goule, Les Essarts Cuenot and La Charbonnière du Haut.

(9) Head towards Les Essarts Cuenot and climb a forest track marked with Blue Rectangles and Yellow Rectangles, keeping straight on. Continue climbing until you reach a path leading to Les Essarts Cuenot.

(11) Turn left and walk past the ruins of an old chapel. Soon leave the road and take a path on the right (west) which leads to a crossroads.

(12) Take a short detour to the Le Belvédère des Vieilles Femelles viewpoint (200m away).

(13) Enjoy the view and return to the previous crossroads.

(12) On your return, head straight ahead (north-west) and climb up to Château de Paille, where you’ll find a picnic area and a car park.

(14) Turn right onto the road to reach the car park, passing by the Rangevillers farm, La Montée and the second farm of the same name (S/E).

Just a few kilometres away, you can explore:
The Goumois Corniche.
The Échelles de la Mort.
The Dessoubre Valley and the Cirque de Consolation.
The bison park in Damprichard.