Country:
District:
Car park near the church in Vaire-le-Grand.
(S/E) Turn left onto Rue de l'Église as you leave the car park. Continue left along Rue de Nancray and, at the village exit, continue straight ahead, following the yellow and blue markings that will guide you along the first part of the route. At the farm sheds, follow the sign for "Voie sans issue" (dead end) and turn right.
(1) At the fork at the entrance to the woods (signposted Vaire-le-Grand), continue along the small tarmac road that climbs to the left. Quickly pass a forest path on your left that descends towards the pastures. After a short climb, you will see another sign for Vaire-le-Grand. Continue straight ahead without leaving this small tarmac road.
(2) After a hairpin bend, the road loses its surface and forks; take the left-hand uphill track. During this long, somewhat monotonous climb, you will be pleasantly surprised by the charming rural fountain of Les Tilleuls.
(3) Shortly after the fountain, when the path turns right, continue climbing straight ahead on a smaller gravel path. You will pass a small shed on your left. Shortly afterwards, leave a forest path on your right.
(4) After a second, more modern shed with a sloping roof, at a sign for Vaire-le-Grand, the path forks; follow the markings to the left.
(5) At two painted markings 36 and a new sign slightly hidden on a large tree, leave this wider path for the trail that branches off to the left.
(6) Soon you will come to a crossroads in the shape of an X. Take the path downhill to the left, leaving the signposts behind you. Stay on this well-marked forest path for about 700 metres, quickly crossing a first perpendicular cattle track.
(7) You will soon walk alongside a fir tree plantation on your right. When it ends, at a track descending from the right, replaced by deciduous trees, walk about ten steps and then take the small path that descends to the left. The path turns left when it reaches the ridge and disappears a little in the scree, but will lead you without too much difficulty to La Roche Blanche.
(8) Caution! Approach this unsecured viewpoint with extreme caution. Arrive at the rocky peak of La Roche Blanche. Do not be reckless and climb the small iron ladder. There is nothing to see anyway. Walk carefully along the foot of the rock towards its end without venturing too far out to the unsecured viewpoint over Deluz, its old paper mill and the Doubs valley towards Besançon. Retrace your steps
(7) Continue your descent by turning left towards the banks of the Doubs via the beautiful sunken path lined with wild garlic from La Vacherie, marked at intervals by two white stripes.
(9) At the river, turn left onto the stony path that runs along the bank and takes you back to Vaire. Take the time to look to your right at the cliffs of the Côte de Vaite, where a castle once stood that was a hideout for bandits.
(10) Soon you will pass under the Rochers du Château Loriot, with their ochre colours from iron oxide. At their foot, there used to be an iron mine.
(11) At Deluz, look for a small gap in the hedge of trees bordering the river for a lovely view of the Rochers du Château Loriot, the Chapelle de Montoille overlooking the village and the old paper mill. From the meadows, you will come to Vaire-le-Grand, overlooked by its castle dating from 1713. After the statue of the Virgin Mary, at the stop sign, turn left towards the village to return to the car park via Rue de l'Église (S/E).
The route includes cliff-top paths and unsecured viewpoints. The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
Visorando member
Easy 
