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Start from the car park at the ruins of Rochefort-en-Valdaine Castle, Chemin du Château.
(S/E) From the car park, head a few metres towards the castle and take the path immediately on the left. Follow it to the road.
(1) Follow it to the right and descend to the bottom of the village of Le Colombier.
(2) Turn right onto the D4, cross the bridge over the Citelles and join Chemin de Jamot, on the left, at the corner of no. 1715.
(3) Take this track and follow the gently sloping, somewhat stony path. Ignore the turn-offs to the right until you reach a DFCI track on the plateau.
(4) Carry on straight ahead until you reach the next three-way junction.
(5) Turn left and head for the first wind turbine.
(6) Enjoy the first viewpoint, then continue along the wide track until you reach the penultimate wind turbine. Head to the edge of the cliff on your left.
(7) After enjoying the view, continue along the track, passing a radar dome, and reach a road.
(8) Walk a few metres to the left, then take the track on the right. You’ll reach another wind farm; walk as close as possible to the wind turbines. At the last one, turn right downhill and reach a large junction where tracks meet a road.
White-red markings
(9) Cross the road and continue along the forest track opposite. At the three-way junction ahead, keep to the right. In wet weather, avoid the puddles and ruts, which are deep and full of mud (I got stuck up to the bottom bracket). You’ll soon reach the next junction.
(10) Turn left and follow the stony path for a long stretch, generally along the ridge. Although this path runs through the undergrowth, it offers some lovely views at the points where the pipelines cross. Reach a wide track, head down it to the left and you’ll soon arrive at a road.
End of signposting
(11) Turn right and walk downhill for about 300 m to the small platform on the left, a few metres past the Chemin de la Siège.
(12) After enjoying the view of the ruins of the Priory of Notre-Dame la Brune, take the path that starts to the left of the platform. This path, about a hundred metres long, is not suitable for cycling ( too rutted and too narrow) and you’ll need to dismount. You’ll soon reach the tarmac and the ruins of the priory.
(13) After taking in the sights, take the small road that climbs uphill. At the junction, just past the car park and the cemetery, turn left and join the D9.
(14) Head right towards Alérac, then take the first road on the left, Chemin des Alliers. Follow it until you reach the start of the DFCI track on the right, Chemin de la Touche, near a farm building on the left.
(15) Take this track and continue to a three-way junction at the edge of the woods.
(16) Continue through the undergrowth along the middle branch and stay on the main track, ignoring the side paths on either side, until you reach a three-way junction.
(17) Keep to the right, follow the edge of the woods, pass a house and then a second one at the edge of a field. Go round it and enter the woods. Walk for about 200 m until you find the barely visible path leading to the viewpoint on the right. Turn right onto this path and you will soon reach the edge of the rocks.
(18) Return to the track, turn right and continue along the tarmac. You’ll reach a 90° right-hand bend a few metres after passing the Cabane des Serraillons on your left.
(19) Continue along the path opposite, which is slightly stony, almost flat and then gently downhill. Ignore the side paths on either side until you reach a road.
(20) Follow it to the right, then turn left immediately onto Chemin du Château, and head for the car park at the medieval site (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Local authority
Difficult 
