From the Ourche to the Saône

Park in the Clairière du Verbamont car park.

(S/E) Set off along the tarmac road heading south on a long, almost flat straight stretch to the hamlet of Henricel.

(1) Turn right and take the dirt track which soon enters the woodland; follow it to reach the hamlet of La Sybille.

(2) Turn right onto the tarmac road and cross the hamlet. Enter the woodland again and turn right at the^first junction onto a dirt forest track. Follow this track until you reach the D5E road.

(3) Turn right onto it, heading downhill, and you’ll reach a junction with a dirt track.

(4) Follow the Blue Ring markings to the left, beginning a lovely climb along this narrow dirt track.

(5) At a left-hand bend, pass the Grotte de l’Ours, where there is a sign explaining the legend of this cave. Carry on until you reach the Polissoir, where another sign explains the prehistoric history of the area and the use of stone for polishing prehistoric tools.

(6) Continue along the Blue Ring route. You’ll reach the village washhouse, a small shelter in case of rain where, long ago, the people of Claudon used to gather to do their washing.

(7) Carry on until you reach the D5 road, situated slightly higher up.

(8) Turn right onto it and follow it for a few metres. At the^first junction, turn left onto the Tranchée de la Roche Vinaigre; continue along this dirt track, keeping straight on, until you reach the junction with the path leading to Pont Tatal. You’ll see an old stone quarry on your left.

(9) Take a detour to the right to reach this 43-metre bridge spanning the River Ourche. Return to the junction and continue straight ahead along the old railway line, which has now been dismantled. Keep going straight on until you reach the local road and the old Couchaumont Bridge, of which only the two piers remain.

(10) Turn right as you head downhill and walk through the hamlet of Couchaumont until you reach the hairpin bend.

(11) Turn right at the hairpin bend and take the small dirt track below, following the Saône for a few metres. Also note the Roche Vinaigre, an impressive rock formation at the foot of the Saône. Continue straight on until you reach the D5.

(12) Turn left onto this road, cross the Ourche and continue for 800 m. After the right-hand bend, you’ll reach the hamlet of La Cabiole.

(13) Turn right and head up through the field, leaving the Cabiole farm on your left whilst following the ‘Green Ring’ signposts. Carry on to reach the Tranchée de la Cabiole. Head straight ahead along it to reach a right-angled junction with a stony path.

(14) Take this path to the right and head down towards the hamlet of Droiteval, with its castle and former abbey. Go round the pond on the left and return to the crossroads you passed on the way there.

(4) Head down to the right along the path signposted ‘La Glacière’ and follow it to reach Notre-Dame de la Source, crossing the small bridge over a stream.

(15) Head due north along the path to reach a road running alongside the pond. Turn right onto it, heading east, and follow it.

(16) Walk past a fountain near the former Senennes Forest Ranger’s House before turning right into the hamlet of Senennes, between the ponds.

(17) Turn left onto the path that climbs up, signposted ‘Tranchée des Deux Maisons’, leaving the pond and the forest house behind you. You’ll reach a gate at the trench.

(18) Pass the red-and-white gate on your right, along with the stone path running perpendicular to the path you are on. Turn left onto the dirt track, following the boundary of the plot along an almost flat path until you reach a limestone track.

(19) Turn right onto it and follow it to the forest road. Walk past the Verbamont campsite and easily make your way back to the car park at the Verbamont clearing (S/E).

You can take shelter under the jumping shelter or further down beneath the bridge. There is a picnic table near the bridge pier and also at the end of the bridge
At Notre-Dame de la Source, you can also take shelter under the rock and admire the waterfall and a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Tatal Bridge: bungee jumping takes place here on certain Sundays.
Between (9) and (10), you’ll find a beautiful carpet of periwinkles here in spring.
Between (3) and (4), enjoy a lovely view of a magnificent mansion and the pond.
Note: if you’re lucky, you might hear the old organ from the Salle Poirel in Nancy, which has been installed in this little chapel of Notre-Dame de Droiteval.
Before reaching the fountain directly in front of you, you’ll spot some Highland cattle, recognisable by their long horns.

Places to see on the route: the Hutte Arboretum, Polissoir, the Grotte de l’Ours, Notre-Dame de la Source, the Saône, the Ourche, the Roche Vinaigre, the Tatal Bridge, Notre-Dame de Droiteval, the Droiteval ice house, the Droiteval manor house, the Highland cattle, and the hamlet of La Scie.