The forests of Grand Orient and Larivour-Piney

Park in the car park at the Maison du Parc.

(S/E) Cross the D43 in front of the Maison du Parc and follow the Route du Colosse aux pieds d’argile. Reach the viewpointoverlooking Lac d’Auzon-Temple.

(1) Continue to the right, then turn right again to reach the end of the Route du Colosse.

(2) Continue along a small path which leads onto a wider path (an extension of the Ligne Neuve). Turn right.

(3) Take a small path on the left after a bend. Continue straight ahead. Cross a small stream and carry on until you reach a wider path. Turn right and continue straight ahead until you reach the junction with the Tour des Lacs path.

(4) Turn left and follow the GRP® Tour des Lacs to the D79 road. Turn left onto this road and follow it for a few metres.

(5) Cross the D79 and take the^first path on the right, marked in yellow, through the meadows and then behind the properties of La Loge-aux-Chèvres. You will reach a Y-shaped junction.

(6) Turn right and continue along this path, then left, still following the PR®. Join the main path, the Cordon de l'Orient.

(7) Turn left onto it, leaving the yellow markings, and reach a small, poorly marked path on the left.

(8) Take this path. Be careful here: this path is poorly marked due to the presence of a lot of branches on the ground. Continue due south along a completely straight section. You will reach the D28 road.

(9) Turn right and continue along the track, which has many ruts, and cross a small wooden bridge.

(10) Turn left immediately after the bridge and continue straight on, crossing the Ru de Thiéloup. You will then come to a lovely grassy path.

(11) Take it to the right, reaching the private grounds of the Château de Saint-Blaise.

(12) Go round it on the right, pass the shed on your right and turn right, continuing along the white path to the junction with the Ligne du Cordon du Der.

(13) Take this wide track to the right and continue to the Ligne du Der.

(14) Turn left onto this track. Turn sharply right onto the next path, passing a^first crossroads with four perpendicular roads. Further on, you’ll reach a^second crossroads.

(15) Turn left; at the^first path ahead, turn right and continue straight on until you reach the junction with the Route Forestière Napoléon.

(16) Turn left onto it, then reach another junction near the lake.

(17) Turn right and continue straight on until you reach the junction with the Ligne Lombart Gouault. Turn right and, almost opposite, take a path that leads straight to the car park at the Maison du Parc (S/E).

In wet weather, some paths can be very muddy and the two stream crossings a bit of a challenge.

Some of the small paths are difficult to spot in places: branches, tall grass, fallen trees, wild boar tracks; the use of a GPS is recommended to follow the route.

(12) Be sure to go around the Château de Saint-Blaise, which is private property.

The Park House. The ‘Colossus with Feet of Clay’ route with its information boards. The view of the lake from the observatory. The magnificent forest paths.