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When you arrive in Melin, park in the car park by the wash-house and church, along the D973.
(S) Cross the bridge on your left over the Ruisseau des Cloux.
(1) At the crossroads, turn right onto Chemin de Polianges. At the junction of two roads, turn left onto a path between the vines, which narrows a little further to make way for a footpath. Follow the PR® path (yellow markings) to the top of the mountain.
(2) You can leave the PR® for a panoramic view of the rest of the walk. In the bend between two fir trees, an inconspicuous path on the left takes you to the top of the mountain, with a fine panorama of the Saint-Romain cliffs. Retrace your steps to (2) and turn left.
(3) At the fork, turn right and not left as indicated on the IGN map. Pass two paths on the left and come to a crossroads.
(4) Turn right (left will take you back to La Rochepot or Orches: signpost at this point). You're now on your way down the mountain.
(5) Before you reach Saint-Romain, you'll find a signpost inviting you to go left for the beautiful panorama of the Saint-Romain cliffs. Once you've reached the viewpoint, turn around, rejoin (5) and turn left.
(6) At the crossroads at the entrance to Saint-Romain, take the lane opposite: the path is signposted "village haut" (natural wood sign, a little faded). It passes between two houses and starts with a flight of stairs (narrow passage). I had trouble finding it. Steep, slippery ascent to the summit. When you reach the top, you walk along a wall.
(7) Leave the PR® and take the first path to the right, which leads you to the remains of an ancient fortified castle, with a few explanatory signs. Pick up the PR® along the surrounding wall and walk down Rue du Vieux Château, then left into Rue du Presbytère, which bends to the right and leads to the church.
(8) When you reach Place de l'Église, the footpath is immediately to the left of the fountain. Follow the path down to the Grande Rue. Turn left, enter Saint-Romain and pass several streets on both left and right to reach the first wash-house.
You soon come to the Rue des Moulins crossroads. Turn right and notice another wash-house on your left. Follow the path along the stream, then through the undergrowth to reach a road (D17).
(9) Turn left and follow this road to the next junction. Be careful: this is a busy road. At the crossroads, turn left onto the D17i, follow this road for about 700m, then turn left onto the path that runs alongside the cliffs. This path then joins the road you left earlier, which you take on the left.
(10) At the cross in Orches, take the road opposite and turn left 50m further on. Follow the path along the cliff face, offering a fine panoramic view of the village.
(11) In Orches, when you reach the road, you'll see a sign indicating "Fontaine du Chaigne", which you should follow by turning right. At the fountain, turn around and take the street towards the church. Turn right just after the church and follow this path to the road, then turn left and go down the road.
(12) At the cross, turn left onto the farm track, which leads downhill to the crossroads with a pond. Turn left, then immediately right onto the PR®.
(13) Turn right and follow the path to another viewpoint.
(14) Make a U-turn and return to the road (13), turn right and continue straight on to the start car park.
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