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Access by public transport
La Corbatière and Les Ponts-de-Martel stations, located on the La Chaux-de-Fonds–Les Ponts-de-Martel line. On the outward journey, alight at La Corbatière (please note, this is an optional stop). On the return journey, Les Ponts-de-Martel station is the terminus.
Access by car
Find a parking space in La Corbatière. In particular, a few parking spaces are available along the main road, near the ‘Relais de la Corba’. Look for the ‘La Corbatière’ sign, located along the main road, and take the road leading uphill towards ‘Les Ponts-de-Martel’. You will very quickly reach a junction. Continue along the road on the left to reach La Corbatière station, where the hike starts.
However, it is advisable to use public transport.
(S) When you get off the train, cross the tracks carefully and head up the road which, after the last few buildings, eventually becomes a track.
(1) Continue left until you reach a crossroads.
(2) Continue straight ahead. The track, running mainly south-west, crosses the ‘Peatland of La Sagne’ site.
(3) Cross the road with great care. Signpost. Follow the road up to the right for about a hundred metres, towards Grand and Petit Sommartel, Ponts-de-Martel. At the bend, turn off onto a path to the left. Signpost, again towards Grand and Petit Sommartel, Ponts-de-Martel.
(4) Continue to the right. The woodland path becomes steeper.
(5) Climb up to the small rocky outcrop. Admire the view of Le Locle below and, in the distance to the right, La Chaux-de-Fond. Continue down the path to reach a road.
(6) Continue straight ahead along the road and follow it for several hundred metres.
(7) Turn right onto the path. When you reach a road, continue straight ahead along it.
(8) Continue straight ahead on the road, towards “Les Ponts de Martel” (signpost). Pass close to the Auberge du Grand Sommartel.
(9) Continue straight ahead towards “Les Ponts de Martel” (signpost).
(10) At the right-angled bend, ignore the path on the right and turn onto the track on the left.
(11) Ignore the track continuing to the left and take the one on the right. Reach the signpost for “Petit Sommartel”. At this point, ignore the road on the left and continue to the right, towards “Les Ponts de Martel” and “La Petite Joux”. After a bend to the right, then another to the left, ignore the track branching off to the right and continue straight ahead.
(12) Continue along the track opposite, towards “Petite Joux” and “Les Ponts de Martel”.
(13) Turn left, then, a few metres further on, right, following the Pinte de la Petite Joux. You will soon come to a path winding through the pastures, then through the woodland. After crossing a track and zigzagging a few times, the path leads onto another track.
(14) Continue to the left.
(15) Leave the track and head down the path on the left. This soon reaches ‘La Grande Grotte’, then descends into the ‘Pouette Combe’. After passing a viewing point, from which you can admire the village of Les Ponts-de-Martel and its peat bogs, you’ll reach Les Ponts-de-Martel after a few zigzags.
(16) Continue straight ahead towards “Les Ponts-de-Martel” (signposted), until you reach the Ponts-de-Martel railway station by continuing straight on along the Grand’Rue. (E)
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Difficult 
