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Park at the start of Chemin du Pater, just after the pretty little bridge over the Loue, on the right when coming from Scey en Varais, on the left when coming from Ornans. If there are no spaces, there is a car park further up the same road, one minute away. Yellow-blue and yellow-red markings, mountain bike route 28, and some unmarked sections.
Take a short trip to the bridge (dating from 1888) for a glimpse of our beautiful Loue river and its cliffs.
(S/E) Climb up Chemin du Pater. At the first fork, marked by a signpost, continue left (towards Ornans), passing in front of Ferme Saint-Nicolas. Then immediately turn right onto the stony path, passing the modern house about a hundred metres away for a beautiful 360° view of the cliffs at the start of the Upper Loue Valley, from the Rocher de Colonne (overlooking Cléron) to the cliffs of Narpent and, on the right, the Grand Barmaud.
Turn back and continue right on this small, peaceful tarmac road, which offers more beautiful views, particularly as you pass at the foot of the beautiful cliffs of Narpent (on the left). You will cross pastures and arrive at the foot of a grove of fir trees and a signpost on your left.
(1) Look for the path on the right climbing the wooded hillside. 
Trees felled by a recent storm make the first 300 metres difficult to navigate (as of April 2022). When it turns to the right, it becomes a pleasant path lined with large stones that have fallen from the cliffs, where you will be accompanied by the scent of wild garlic in spring. You will reach a wider path which, after heavy rain, can turn into a stream for about thirty steps.
(2) Climb up to the left without fear of getting your feet wet. No more Indiana Jones antics, and you will be rewarded when you reach the foot of the magnificent cliffs, which you will cross via a narrow rocky pass, La Facle. At the exit, you will join a hiking trail.
(3) Turn left towards Grand Barmaud-Ornans, taking the path that overlooks and runs alongside La Facle. Watch your ankles, as the path crosses sharp limestone pavements. At the end of the sharp limestone pavements, you will come to a well-marked fork. Turn left towards the viewpoint, which you will reach quickly after carefully walking along the edge of the ledges. Between the trees, there are views of the Notre-Dame du Chêne hermitage.
The Barmaud viewpoint offers a beautiful view of the Loue valley, the Brème valley, Notre-Dame du Chêne, the Grand rock and the old viaduct.
(4) Walk along the barrier to its end to take a look at the karstic well dug into the cliff face, then set off again along the path that turns away from the viewpoint and quickly joins a stony track, taking it on the right (leaving the hiking trail for a moment, but keeping to the mountain bike trail).
The path leaves the woods and becomes tarmac, skirting a large field to reach a fork in the road with Chassagne-Saint-Denis in sight.
(5) Take the gravel path on the right, still following the mountain bike route. A quick glimpse of Mont Poupet. At the edge of the woods, a hunting cabin.
(6) Take the first well-marked path to the left of the hut towards the "castle ruins" to reach a gravel path.
(7) Turn left and walk about a hundred metres until you reach the clearing on the right and the path that leads to the unprotected ledges, offering superb views of the Ravin de Valbois Nature Reserve and Castel Saint-Denis, Cléron and its castle, topped by the Colonne rock. Leave the viewpoint via the path that runs along the cliffs.
(7) Back on the stony path, continue left until you reach the nearby fork and climb right up the path closed to motor vehicles, which leads to the castle and the ugly pylon that disfigures its entrance.
(8) Go to the foot of the pylon for a view of the Valbois Ravine, then visit the ruins, going to the foot of the keep. Descend to the right via the staircase, then walk along the walls on the left. Another staircase takes you to the foot of the castle. Go around it on the left ( Rockfalls) to a staircase that leads up to an ancient postern gate. Return to the other side to a fork in the path, just before the staircase.
(9) Go down to the left. The path quickly forks. Keep left until you reach a gravel road, going down to the right despite the yellow-blue cross.
(10) Turn right onto the small tarmac road, still following the mountain bike route. You will pass a deforested area. Spruce trees, attacked by bark beetles, will be replaced by more hardy species to cope with global warming.
Continue along this small but quiet tarmac road to the car park. (S/E)
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