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Parking at the exit of Ornans, at the very beginning of the D492 (Route de Saules), towards Saules. Yellow-blue markings.
(S/E) With your back to the Loue, walk a few steps and turn right onto the small gravel road towards Belvédère de Gougnot - Roche Lahier. As you start the climb, the road turns into a path.
(1) Halfway up the slope, in front of a cave, the path forks. Continue to the right in the same direction (Gougnot-Saules). Shortly after the cave, when the path reaches a plateau, ignore the path on your left. Descend to the picnic table for the Roche Lahier viewpoint overlooking the lower Loue valley.
(2) Leave the viewpoint via the path that runs along the cliff for a second viewpoint upstream towards Montgesoye. Climb back up to the old wall and then head right, along the cliffs, towards Saules, along the cornices. (Be careful not to confuse this with another path to Saules that branches off into the woods before the viewpoint). Shortly afterwards, you will see a small path branching off to the right towards a small promontory, which offers an unsecured viewpoint over the upper valley, but is ideal for a snack break. Follow the path along the beautiful indentations, continuing along the line of cornices.
(3) Soon, the path turns sharply left as it climbs. At the top, the path widens and, at the fork, turn right towards Saules. 200 metres further on, you will reach a stony path. Descend to the right, quickly coming to another fork in the stony paths.
(4) Turn left towards La Roche Bottine. At the fork in the hiking trails, after the small bungalows, continue straight ahead towards La Roche Bottine - Ornans. Be careful, about a hundred metres further on, opposite a sign for Saules - Bois Gougnot, leave this gravel road and take a path that descends to the left into the woods (towards Roche Bottine - Ornans).
(5) You will come to a wider gravel path where you turn right (towards Roche Bottine). At the green sign for the protected natural area, turn left into the small clearing along the cliffs.
(6) At the viewpoint, turn your back on it and head back to the gravel path. At another sign for a protected natural area, turn right to return to the fork.
(5) Continue straight ahead. Shortly after entering the woods, you will come to a fork. Go down to the right to pass in front of the cave.
(1) Go down to the right to the car park (S/E).
The route includes cliff-edge paths and unsecured viewpoints. The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
Visorando member
Easy 
Very difficult 
