Between Dolcourt and Favières, returning via the Croix du Capitaine

The walk starts at the wash house/fountain on Grande Rue in Dolcourt: parking available.

(S/E) Continue up the Grande Rue, then take the second street on the left, Rue du Gueoir, and at the fountain, turn right onto Rue Haute. At the end of the street, continue straight on along the stony track and then the grassy track until you reach a junction where several paths meet.

(1) Turn right onto a stony track and, at the next junction, turn left onto Chemin du Thiant until you reach the start of a track on the left.

(2) Carry on straight ahead, go round the back of the chapel and continue along Rue de la Viacelle.

(3) At the end of the street, head up to the right onto Rue du Docteur Liebault, and at the Y-junction, turn left onto Rue de Saulxerotte. Cross Rue du Saintois (D12) with care and continue straight ahead on the small road towards Saulxerotte.

(4) At a wide bend in the road, turn left and carry on straight ahead along the grass track. Join Rue de Tarveau and turn left.

(5) At the end of the street, by the church, turn right onto Rue François Mendes. Continue straight on along Rue de Colombey to leave the village via the small road, which further on becomes a stony track and reaches a Y-junction at a place called La Croisette.

(6) Keep left and, at the next X-junction, turn right onto the old railway line.

(7) At the three-way junction that follows, turn right and continue along the ascending stony track to join the forest road known as Tranchée du Pied Cornu.

(8) Turn left onto the forest track. Before the climb, at no. 26, turn left onto a wide forest track, then at no. 30, take a path to the right.

(9) At an X-shaped junction between the clearly visible path and a barely marked path, turn left for 5 metres to see the Croix du Capitaine. Turn back until you reach the left-hand bend on the Tranchée du Pied Cornu.

(8) Ignore the route you have already taken and continue along the forest road to the D12.

(10) Cross with care and head to the right. Take the first field path on the left to join a small road.

(11) Head left towards the copse to see the small wayside cross, then retrace your steps and take the stony track on the left. Before entering the woods, at the signpost, turn left towards the Chapelle Saint-Jean de Cotance.

(12) At the chapel, continue straight on down to the village along the small forest track. You’ll emerge at the monument; turn left onto Grande Rue and head down towards the wash house/fountain (S/E).

Alternative route:
(2) You can take a short detour via the leisure centre by turning left, crossing the leisure centre, then turning right onto Rue du Vallon Derrière Jouve, and walking up Rue du Docteur Liebault.

The fountains and washhouses of Dolcourt.

In Dahout, a panoramic view of Sion Hill, the Bois d’Anon and, in the distance, the Bainville hillside overlooking Mâdon

(2) In Favières, at the Thian crossroads, you can head down towards the leisure centre and rejoin the route by walking back up into the village via Rue du Docteur Liebault.

Pass through the centre of Saulxerotte to see its church.

(9) Walk through the Bois de Selaincourt to reach the Croix du Capitaine: whilst there is indeed a stone cross in honour of a woodcutter, the ‘Capitaine’ is actually a remarkable tree nearby.

(12) Saint-Jean de Cotance Chapel.