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Parking in Saint-Julien-lès-Russey (lower village) opposite the church. Good quality yellow-blue markings.
(S/E) Walk past the beautiful fountain and then turn right into the street. Walk past the town hall, then past the high walls of the cemetery, continuing straight on at the fork along the quiet little tarmac road that leads into a pine forest.
(1) Immediately, at the next junction, leave this road and go down to the left along the stony path (forest sign no. 7). When it ends (at a large flat stone marked with an orange arrow), it splits into two paths. Continue straight ahead along the left-hand path. You will reach a farm track which you follow up to the right until you reach the tarmac road. Go down to the left until you reach the fork (signposted Mont-de-Vougney).
(2) Take the middle gravel path. You will soon come to a crossroads. Take the left-hand path, which is half earth and half stone (signpost no. 4). Continue downhill to the right until you reach the tarmac road and follow this road for a kilometre or so until you reach the viewpoint.
(3) When the road veers slightly to the right, look for the marker post on your left and the wooden steps leading down to the beautiful, wild viewpoint over Combe Ribeau. There is a picnic table here. Turn back 600 metres, just after the 'Snow tyres permitted' sign, and descend a few steps onto the farm track on the right.
(4) Take the path on the left that descends into the valley, winding between the large mossy rocks that have fallen from the cliff. Cross a wider path and continue downhill on the path opposite. You will soon be accompanied by the sound of the stream, which you will ford to reach the foot of a cliff. Walk along the right-hand side of the cliff and, at the bottom of the rocks, you will find a rough stone path, which you should follow down to the right. After a wider area (log storage area), you will come to a three-way junction. Continue straight ahead along the middle path.
(5) At the first houses of the hamlet, at the X-shaped crossroads, take the second path on the left, Rue de la Combe au Château. Take the time to appreciate this superb valley, topped by its cliffs. After passing through two fences via small wooden ladders, you will enter the forest and the path splits in two. The signposts point to the left. Take the more pleasant gravel path on the right instead. They meet up a little further on. At the X-shaped crossroads, marked by the green 'Zone naturelle' sign, climb up the path on the right.
(6) Cross the stream bed (dry) and immediately at the fork, climb left up the rocky path that runs alongside the stream. Watch your ankles. The path turns sharply to the right, leaving the stream behind for a steep climb. Turn around for a glimpse of the Côtard rocks and catch your breath.
(7) At the top, in the open space, at a fork in the trail, continue along the well-paved path on the left.
(8). Be careful! After a plateau, leave this stony road and climb up the wooded hillside on the left via a path that is half stone, half earth. You will come back to the stony road, which you take to the left, leaving two paths on your right. Stay on this beautiful path.
(9) You will arrive at the Lotrot dessus pastures and a gravel road, which you should take to the left. There is a beautiful view of the Dessoubre valley. You will enter a pine forest via a beautiful, cool, shaded path, joining another gravel road below, which you will descend to the left. Then go straight ahead at the next fork.
(10) You will arrive at the viewpoint overlooking the jagged rocks of the Combe du Château and the valley. At the marker post, just before the village, you can turn right, then right again at the apiary, for a round trip to the ruins (unfortunately just a few piles of stones) of the feudal castle. Return to the path that leads you past the church (S/E).
Rocky and slippery paths in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
Visorando member
Easy 
