L'Aiguillon de Brasse and the Source de la Loue

Car park on the D67, on the right 3.4 km after Mouthier-Haute-Pierre, heading towards La Main, at the exit from the Gorges de Nouailles, a few metres before the sign for the ‘Écomusée de l’Abeille’. If there are no spaces, carry on to the eco-museum car park 400 metres further on. Yellow and blue signposting.

(S/E) Walk down a few steps towards the ‘Route des Gorges’ signpost. Cross the road carefully and climb the hillside via the ‘Sentier de la Côte Verse’. You’ll soon reach a first, unprotected viewpoint over the Nouailles Gorges. Stay on this well-marked path at all times. The path soon runs alongside the ledges overlooking the gorges, then leads you to the Aiguillon de Brasse via a few hairpin bends – a secure viewpoint offering a 180° view, stretching from Mont Pelé to the Moine de la Vallée and down the course of the Loue. A short path, opposite the viewing point, takes you on a round trip to an unprotected viewpoint overlooking the village of Mouthier and the Roche de Haute-Pierre.

(1) Continue along the path that runs along the ridge towards the Sources de la Loue, through a beautiful, light-filled forest on the edge of the pastures. You will soon pass under a high-voltage power line with a view over the valley. Shortly afterwards, the path veers down to the left (signpost) and joins a wider track, a former royal road.

(2) Continue to the right (towards La Creuse). In places, look out for the marks left by the iron-rimmed wheels of our ancestors’ carts in the stone. You’ll reach a gravel track (Chemin de la Brasse-Dessus) and turn right. Shortly afterwards, on your left, you’ll see a pasture with an old shed; head towards the building through the metal gate.

(3) Walk past the shed and follow the edge of the pasture on your left until you reach a marker post and a stony path leading down to the left into the woods (wooden ladder). You’ll come to a ‘strip’ of pasture and, on your right, a zigzagging gap in the fence. Continue along the edge of the woodland on your left for about thirty paces, then head down to the left into the woods via a path running alongside the barbed wire. You’ll emerge onto a vast pasture with a beautiful, unobstructed view of the neighbouring hills.

(4) Follow the edge of the woodland to the right for about twenty paces to find a rustic bench, ideal for a snack break whilst enjoying the scenery. From the bench, head diagonally to the right towards the ‘Brasse-Dessous’ signpost in the middle of the pasture. Then head towards the telephone pole further down (towards Source de la Loue via the right bank).

Head down towards the edge of the woodland opposite to find a metal footbridge and a path crossing a wasteland, then entering the woods and quickly joining a wider forest track. Head down to the left to the ecomuseum car park and the D67.

(5) Cross the departmental road and head carefully down to the right until just before the car park; look out for a path on the left leading into the woods, marked by a signpost for the ‘Route des Gorges’.

(6) You now have three options (see practical information):

• return to the car park and the walk is over: 4.4 km and 150 m elevation gain.

• continue past the car park for about 150 m until you reach the end of the next bend, then head down to the left onto the cliff-top path – a superb vantage point over the Nouailles Gorges – which takes you to the foot of the Loue resurgence and back via the same route. This picturesque round trip is sure to keep you entertained: 8.35 km and 335 m elevation gain.

• Continue as described below, following the route map provided. Turn left onto the forest track (towards Source de la Loue). At the pasture, turn left, following the fence until you reach the signpost marked ‘La Creuse – Pâture’, then turn sharp right, entering the woods and following the ledges overlooking the valley until you reach a stony track.

(7) Please note: there aren’t many signposts on the ground. Head up to the left along this stony track until you reach a small tarmac road (marked ‘Pré Rouge’). Continue to the right until the next junction (Le Chanois). Head down to the right to the car park at the source of the Loue, noting as you go the numerous ruts carved into the rock by the iron-rimmed wheels of days gone by.

(8) Head down to the right, passing the Chalet de la Loue. Turn right at the Maison de la Source and continue to the foot of the resurgence.

(9) Set off again via the steps and this superb path along the gorge’s flank, with numerous views over the valley. You’ll rejoin the departmental road, which you follow to the right for 150 metres to return to the car park. (S/E)

• * The route includes ledge paths and unsecured viewpoints. The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and the use of walking poles is recommended.

Some paths are signposted as ‘mountain routes, cliff-edge paths, exposed to falling rocks and trees; do not attempt them in bad weather or on wet ground’.

At (6), there are two options:

• for those who dislike round trips: by heading to the source of the Loue via Le Chanois, the paths between (7) and (8) are not unpleasant, but are more ‘ordinary’ compared to the rest of the walk. The highlights include the numerous ruts carved into the rock and a short stop to quench your thirst at the Chalet de la Loue. Return via the path running along the gorge.
• The round trip along the superb path running along the gorge: this picturesque round trip, beneath the arches carved into the rock, will certainly keep you entertained. It’s my favourite route.

(5) Écomusée de l’Abeille: a farm that’s part of the ‘Bienvenue à la Ferme’ network. ‘The Life of Bees’ is an educational and interactive exhibition where you can safely observe the bees through glass-fronted hives.

(9) The source of the Loue: gushing from a large cavern carved into a cliff face over 100 metres high, the source of the Loue is a resurgence of the Doubs. On 11 August 1901, when the Pernod factories in Pontarlier were struck by lightning and went up in flames, the fire brigade poured the highly flammable absinthe into a dry well. Traces of absinthe and golden-yellow dye were later found in the emerald-green waters of the Loue.