Hauts Combes de Vaulon, Semetrot and Pévenelle from Couchey

Park in the car park above the village of Couchey, next to the orientation board.

(S/E) Walk along the top of the Combe de Vaulon (south-facing slope) heading west until you reach the very top of the valley, where the path climbing up from the bottom of the valley joins the plateau.

(1) Take the path leading up to the right (at almost a right angle) and follow it for just under 100 m. Turn right again, at a right angle, and follow the path to the junction with the track leading down from La Rente Neuve towards Couchey.

(2) Turn left onto this track and continue to the second path (signposted on the right), which veers off to the right.

(3) Follow it towards Combe Semetrot (north-west) for about 1 km until you reach the junction with a forest track.

(4) Cross it and head straight ahead, then leave the top of the Combe Semetrot (on your left) behind you, and follow this path for just under 300 m until you reach a path that descends to the left.

(5) Take this path, which descends slightly and overlooks the Combe Semetrot: there are some lovely views along this path. Follow it for about 2 km, and only head uphill at the end of the path, to the right, for about 100 m, until you reach a junction with a cross-path leading down from the plateau, on your left

(6) Turn left at a right angle onto this path, which veers to the right, and continue until you reach the forest track leading up from the Sapin du Garde. Cross this track, then look immediately to your right, where a small, straight path begins.

(7) Follow it for 500 m. Turn left, then immediately right, and continue for another 500 m along the Sentier Bâtier. You’ll reach the rocks overlooking the Combe Pévenelle, at the point where the Sentier Bâtier plunges into the valley: take a moment to admire the view.

(8) At this viewpoint overlooking the Combe Pévenelle, leave the Sentier Bâtier by turning right, and follow the narrow path that runs alongside the valley (south-facing slope), crossing the limestone grasslands, to the top of the Combe Pévenelle, where a path descends into the valley.

(9) Take the path on the left, which overlooks the valley (north-facing slope), and walk across the meadows for the final hundred metres to reach the car park (S/E).