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Park at the start of the Chemin du Pater, just after the pretty little bridge over the Loue, on the right if coming from Scey-en-Varais, or on the left if coming from Ornans. If there are no spaces, there is a car park further up along the same road, just a minute’s walk away. Markings: yellow-blue, yellow-red, MTB route 28, and some unmarked sections.
A short round trip across the bridge (dating from 1888) for a quick glimpse of our beautiful River Loue and its cliffs.
(S/E) Head up the Chemin du Pater. At the first fork, marked by a signpost, carry on to the left (towards Ornans), passing the Ferme Saint-Nicolas. Then turn immediately right onto the stony path, walking past the modern house for about a hundred metres to reach a beautiful 360° viewpoint over the cliffs at the start of the Upper Loue Valley, from the Rocher de Colonne (overlooking Cléron) to the cliffs of Narpent and, to the right, the Grand Barmaud.
Turn back and continue to the right along this small, tarmac-surfaced but peaceful road, which will offer you further lovely views, particularly as you pass at the foot of the beautiful Narpent cliffs (on the left). You’ll cross some pastures, arriving at the foot of a grove of fir trees and a signpost on your left.
(1) Look to your right for the path climbing the wooded slope. Trees, felled by a recent storm, make the first three hundred metres difficult to navigate (as of April 2022). When it bends to the right, it becomes a pleasant path, lined with large boulders that have fallen from the cliffs, where in spring you’ll be accompanied by the scent of wild garlic. You’ll come to a wider path which, after heavy rain, can turn into a stream for about thirty paces.
(2) Climb up to the left without worrying about getting your feet wet. Your Indiana Jones adventure is over, and you’ll be rewarded when you reach the foot of some superb cliffs, which you’ll cross via a narrow rocky gorge, La Facle. At the other end, you’ll join a hiking trail.
(3) Head left, towards the Grand Barmaud-Ornans, along the path that overlooks and runs alongside La Facle. Watch your ankles – the path crosses sharp limestone pavement. Once past the sharp limestone pavement, you’ll come to a well-signposted fork. Turn left towards the viewpoint, which you’ll reach quickly after carefully following the edge of the ledges. Through the trees, there are views of the hermitage of Notre-Dame du Chêne.
The Barmaud viewpoint offers a splendid view of the Loue Valley, the Brème Valley, Notre-Dame du Chêne, the Roche du Grand and the old ‘tacot’ viaduct.
(4) Follow the fence to its end to take a look at the karstic well carved into the cliff face, then set off again along the path that turns away from the viewpoint and soon joins a stony track; take this to the right (leaving the walking signposts for a moment, but following the mountain-biking signposts).
The track emerges from the woods, becomes tarmac, and winds round a large field to reach a fork in the road with a view of Chassagne-Saint-Denis.
(5) Then take the stony path on the right, still following the mountain bike route. A quick glimpse of Mont Poupet. At the edge of the woods, there is a hunting lodge.
(6) Take the first clearly marked path to the left of the lodge towards the ‘castle ruins’ to join a stony track.
(7) Head left for about a hundred metres until you reach the clearing on the right and the path that leads you onto the unprotected ledges, offering a superb view of the ravine of the Ravin de Valbois Nature Reserve and Castel Saint-Denis, Cléron and its castle, dominated by the Rocher de Colonne. Leave the viewpoint via the path that runs along the cliffs.
(7) Back on the stony path, continue to the left until you reach the nearby fork and turn right up the path closed to motor vehicles, which leads you to the castle and the hideous pylon that mars its entrance.
(8) Go to the foot of the pylon for a view of the Valbois Ravine, then explore the ruins, making your way as far as the foot of the keep. Descend to the right via the staircase, then follow the walls to the left. Another flight of steps takes you to the foot of the castle. Walk round it to the left ( rockfalls) until you reach a flight of steps leading up to an ancient postern gate. Return along the other side until you reach a fork in the path, just before the steps.
(9) Head down to the left. The path soon forks. Turn left again until you reach a stony track; follow it down to the right, despite the Yellow Cross.
(10) Turn right onto the small tarmac road, still following the mountain bike route. You’ll pass a deforested area. Spruce trees, infested by the bark beetle, will be replaced by hardier species to cope with global warming.
Carry on along this quiet, tarmacked road until you reach the car park. (S/E)
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