The Marle State Forest in Bois-lès-Pargny

Park in the Rue de Liège car park, near the church (free).

(S/E) Head north and walk along a low paving stone retaining wall. Follow the signs for Pargny-les-Bois and take Rue du Pré, going around the church on the right. Follow the pavement along this street for 200 metres, ignoring the first street on the left. At the next intersection, turn left onto a grassy path until you reach Rue Marcel Carlier.

(1) Cross this street and continue straight ahead into Ruelle de Crécy. At the next intersection, continue straight ahead and after 300 metres you will reach the D64 departmental road. Continue downhill and after 500 metres you will reach the edge of the forest.

(2) Turn right and follow the edge of the forest for about 100 metres. Then turn slightly left and enter the forest, following the old rural path known as Mortier à Bois-lès-Pargny for 500 metres (ignore the forest paths on the right and left). Exit the forest and follow the edge for about 50 metres.

(3) Then turn left, at a 90° angle, onto a forest path to reach a forest road after 350 metres. Turn left again, at a 90° angle, and continue straight ahead.

(4) Cross the D64 and after 700 metres you will reach a three-way junction. Continue straight ahead and descend into the valley.

(5) At the bottom of the valley, turn right onto a forest path and walk 400 metres before reaching another forest path. Turn left at a 90° angle and continue straight ahead to reach the D645.

(6) Cross it and continue straight ahead for 250 metres. Then turn left at a 90° angle and walk for 400 metres.

(7) Turn left (90°), then immediately right to return to a forest road.

(8) Turn right at a right angle, take a wide lane for 450 m, and count three forest paths on the left.

(9) At the fourth path, turn left at a 90° angle and join the D641 after 550 m. Cross it and take the rural path known as Bazuel Noizeau, opposite, in the middle of the fields, until the next intersection.

(10) Turn left and take the rural path known as Épinette. Continue straight ahead for 1,000 metres.

(11) At the next crossroads, take the left-hand road (tarmac) and continue until you reach a wayside cross.

(12) Turn right onto a footpath and follow it downhill for 250 metres. At the next two intersections, turn left and then right onto Chemin de Preuze.

(13) At the junction of the two paths, take the right-hand branch to return to Rue Georges Landa (D64). Then turn left to return to the small square on Rue de Liège, near the church (S/E).

Picnic table at point (6).

Le Verziau de Gargantua: at point (11), turn right, go up the path to the first intersection and turn right again. The menhir is located at the end of the path, in a pasture (private property?), at the edge of a wood.