Wind and stars as you set off from Crécey-sur-Tille

Park near the town hall or the church in Crécey-sur-Tille.

(S/E) With your back to the town hall, turn left and head up Rue de Champagne to join Route de Villey (D120).

(1) Turn right at the Fork in the road to follow the road for about 50 metres, then cross over a shed to join a well-graveled track that climbs along the edge of the forest. Climb the Côte des Quinze Emines , admiring the beautiful panoramic views to the left: the Tille valley, Villey and the wind turbines on the plateau. Continue straight on, uphill, until you reach the junction with another dirt track.

(2) Cross this path, leaving a stone cross – the Croix de Brun – on your right, and take the path opposite. Continue walking through the woodland, along a slope that is less steep than before, and keep heading in the same direction until you reach a wide track on the plateau.

(3) Turn right, walking slightly uphill, and you’ll soon reach a large hunting lodge on your right. Carry on until you reach a large star-shaped junction with a broken boundary stone on the left, which once marked the many paths – six in total – that intersect here.

(4) Carry on straight ahead, slightly uphill along the same straight path, to reach the large crossroads at Bois de Brun, this time with a large, well-preserved stone marker marking the junction of the paths.

(5) Carry on straight ahead along the white track, which a little further on crosses an area of fissured limestone, a large sharp limestone pavement typical of these Burgundian valley landscapes. Continue along this track and, at the end, take the dirt track on the left. Leave the first track on your right to follow the next one, and join a wide white track.

(6) Note the large wind turbine behind the trees, then set off along the white track to the right. At the next junction, head straight ahead to reach a shelter on the edge of the forest, which may provide shelter. Continue to the Ferme des Groises, which you walk past on the left, noting on the right the masonry cistern that was used to collect water from this arid plateau.

(7) Turn left, walking alongside the farm, and carry on until you reach a main track.

(8) Take this path to the left to head back up the plateau, passing above the Combe aux Biches. Further on, after passing a sow on the right, carry on for 100 metres to reach another junction

(9) Head left up through the woods to the track visible between the trees; take this track to the left and head towards wind turbine no. 16. This turbine is part of the Côte d’Or North wind farm; it is marked ‘NCO’ on the tower. Entry is, of course, prohibited, but you can walk past the electrical substation and admire all the technology on display. Continue along the track to see the next wind turbines and reach a junction.

(10) Turn right onto the path leading into the forest, continue to the fenced-off game reserve and then onto the dirt track

(11) Note the gate to the property on the right (private and no entry) and carry on straight ahead along the path that runs alongside the enclosure and descends into a valley. Carry on like this under the trees; the descent is easy but the ground is not always level and there are a few wild boar tracks in the middle of the path. You’ll reach a junction in the thalweg of the valley.

(12) The paths to the right are inaccessible and those to the left climb very steeply towards the Bois de Brun plateau. Head straight ahead and continue down the path at the bottom of the valley. You’ll emerge into the sunshine after skirting a meadow and arrive at the junction with a dirt track.

(13) Turn left here, passing beneath a farmhouse before joining the road and the Tille valley.

(14) Carry on to the left without crossing the bridge, and follow the road, keeping to the right-hand side. After the bend, you’ll see vineyards on the left, then reach the old washhouse and the former drinking-water source for Crécey, fed by runoff from the plateau. There is still a pond further downstream, the waters of which flow into the Tille. Continue along the road.

(15) Take the small path on the right which crosses fields before reaching the woodland, surrounded by walls, belonging to Crécey Castle. Continue to the nearby village, with another washhouse on the right at the entrance, and go as far as the castle entrance.

(16) Continue along the street and, at the next junction, turn left uphill to return to the car park next to the town hall (S/E).

You can park around Crécey town hall, or alternatively on the esplanade on Rue du Moulin.

There’s no water along the route, so remember to fill your water bottles!

Take care on the section running alongside the D120, even though it is fairly quiet.

The pretty village of Crécey-sur-Tille with its many stone houses.

The wind turbines on the plateau.

The Tille valley.