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(S/E) Car park behind the church in Les Planches-près-Arbois, Rue Claude Simon. White and red markings. Turn right as you leave the car park. At the signpost, turn immediately left towards the Reculée des Planches, looking up to admire the rocks of the Cirque du Fer à Cheval.
(1) When the road becomes a gravel path that bends to the right, continue straight ahead along the path that runs alongside the tennis court. You will soon come across your first waterfall, unfortunately in the hotel's private grounds. Climb along the Cuisance on a pretty path dotted with waterfalls. At the next signpost, "Les Combettes", go left, crossing the river to reach the Cascades des Tufs.
(2) At the other end of the waterfall, climb to the right up the steep slope a few metres above the waterfall, using the natural steps of the roots. There is a risk of slipping even in dry weather. Doubtless very difficult to climb in wet weather. Continue along the Cuisance for a number of charming cascades and pools. You come to a small meadow, looking up at the beautiful rocks. Go to the bottom of the meadow until you reach a small footbridge.
(3) Turn back towards the waterfall, this time taking the wide path, then continue straight on towards the village.
(4) At the Stop sign, turn right up the blind alley on Rue du Vieux Mont, passing a pretty fountain (signposted Pupillin). At the last house, the road becomes stony and splits. Go up to the left. You pass the Vieux Mont signpost, continuing straight on towards Le Fer à Cheval through a luminous forest, winding your way through a small gorge between two large rocks.
(5) Five hundred metres further up, spot a faint path on the right that leads to a small promontory with a wild view of the Fer à Cheval. Be careful, it is not safe. Continue along this path. You will come to a pasture and at the Monts Denons signpost, head off to the Fer à Cheval lookout point, re-entering the forest on the right. From the lookout, you'll have a superb view of the entire reculée and its vertically rising limestone cliffs.
(6) Then return to the pasture and descend to the left for around twenty metres until you come to the "No Trespassing" sign. Climb to the right along the beautiful cornice path that runs along the edge of the retreat until you come to the sunny lookout point at Monts Denons.
(7) Continue on to the village. At the crossroads, walk past the Virgin Mary to the Place de la Liberté, a triangular grassy square. Turn right towards an ox-shoeing shed.
(8) Return to the square and continue along the Grande Rue. A little further on the left is a beautiful old house with a stone staircase. Go as far as the open church. Don't miss the old wooden statues nestling high above the entrance.
(9) At the church, turn left along the path that runs alongside the wall. Quickly spot the "Belvedere" sign, which invites you to go down the stony path to the left. At the path junction, marked by the "Belvédère de la Châtelaine" signpost, go straight up to the viewpoint and back.
(10) Turn back and head right towards the castle ruins. You will come to the entrance, perhaps skirting the remains of the keep. Go down to a square building that is still in good condition and to an unsecured viewpoint overlooking the beautiful arched cliffs. Observe from a safe distance as you are on the edge of a sheer drop.
(11)Turn back a few paces and continue along the wide path that runs alongside the archaeological digs on your right and up towards the entrance to the castle. Continue straight ahead.
(12) At the long Combe Saugin meadow, at the crossroads, go straight back into the woods on the left. At the fork in the road, where there is a forestry sign "Mesnay 4" and a mountain bike marker, continue to the right. You will enter a meadow and come to a small tarmac road, which you take to the left for 400m.
(13) At the Côte Versée signpost, on the left-hand side of the road, descend to the left, heading back into the forest.
(14) When you come to a meadow, enter it for a round trip of around twenty metres to get a view of the Roche du Feu. You then descend gently towards Les Planches, with lovely views of Mesnay and the rocks framing the reculée. At the cemetery, turn left to find the church and car park (S/E).
The route includes ledge paths and unsecured viewpoints. The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Good footwear essential and walking poles recommended. To be undertaken in dry weather. Not suitable for young children.
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
