The Semoy Valley and its hills

Park in the car park at the Monthermé football ground on Rue André Compain.

(S/E) Head towards Bogny until you reach the end of the built-up area. Turn left onto the road leading to Phades for 150 metres, then take the first path on the right.

At the sign for the Fay forest road, veer left onto a lovely path that runs alongside the road at a distance. Follow the mountain bike markings to the Tournavaux bridge.

(1) Before the bridge, turn right and follow the River Semoy to the Ruha Fountain.

(2) Continue straight on towards the outskirts of Haulmé, turn right towards the cemetery, then left onto Rue du Tilleul and head up the tarmac road to the Col du Liry.

(3) Turn right onto the track to reach the Liry viewpoint.

(4) Return via a small footpath (marked in yellow) to the Col du Liry.

(3) Do not head back down; instead, head straight ahead (the road leading to the Col du Loup); further on, turn right onto a forest track which joins Link 2 and then Mountain Bike Trail No. 3.

(5) Do not head down to the right; continue in the same direction to the Col du Loup.

(6) Head towards Les Hautes Rivières, then turn left onto a path leading to Le Chêne Chaudron.

Continue in the same direction. At the next fork in the road, turn right until you reach a crossroads (elevation 353).(The path on the right joins the departmental road 250m further on)

(7) Head down to the left and follow the Picheleux valley, then the Ru de Narbruay stream, to the Maison du Père Labranche.

(8) Continue towards the village. Ignore a path branching off to the right, then the main track coming in from the right (gas pipeline); immediately afterwards, turn right onto the path leading down towards the bottom of the valley.

Cross the stream and take a path on the left to reach Nabruay (a isolated house).

(9) Take a wide, carriageable track to the right, pass by a reservoir and, after a high-voltage power line, reach a major junction (Chemin de Gespunsart).

(10) Turn right and climb up to the gas pipeline (reaching the top of the Dames de Semoy).

Access to a viewpoint over Nohan via a small path on the left.
Please note: The final 100 metres over rocky terrain may require you to dismount.

(11) Continue along the gas pipeline to the paragliding launch site (viewpoint over the ridge of Linchamps Castle).

Then, ignoring all paths branching off to the right, head towards a telecoms pylon. After a steep descent (tarmac), you’ll reach La Hatrelle (signposted.)

(12) Leave the mountain bike trail markings and head straight on towards the Croix d’Enfer, a lovely viewpoint over the Hautes Rivières.

The path has a few steps but presents no other hazards. Continue in the same direction, and at the next junction, turn left to descend to the Newet neighbourhood. Turn right and cycle to the bridge.

(13) Cross the Semoy, turn right and then immediately left. Follow Rue du Petit Ohan to reach the Ruisseau Saint-Jean.

Turn left onto Rue des Paquis and continue to Noiregoutte (signposted)

(14) Continue through the Ruisseau Saint-Jean valley until you reach the signpost for La Rayère

(15) Shortly afterwards, the path changes direction and climbs into the Gillaru valley. Stay on this main forest track until you reach the former Champ Bernard Forest House.

(16) Head towards Roc la Tour along the Route Forestière de la Dauphiné (tarmac) for 150 metres. Turn left onto a path marked with a GR® signpost and follow it to the Liris viewpoint.

(17) Turn back and take the path on the left. At the nearby Fork in the road, turn left again.

After a lovely bend, the path takes you to the Ruisseau du Nantanru, which you then follow alongside.
Do not go down to the Semoy; as you approach the river, keep to the right to follow a path running above the river and the Transsemoysienne.

Before a steep climb, keep to the left towards an old quarry track leading to the Moulin de Naux.

(18) Head down to the left and immediately keep to the right (there’s a wayside cross by the path’s edge), then head back up the path marked with GR® signposts and yellow markings until you reach the Route des Éteignières (tarmac)

(19) Head left until you reach a crossroads, then turn right (signposted for walking and mountain biking routes) towards Blossette.

On the path that bypasses the stony section of the main track, keep a close eye on the path so as not to veer too far to the left.

(20) At the corner of the Auberge du Ch’ti, cross the road, and from the car park take a path that descends steeply and joins the Transsemoysienne at Tournavaux.
Note: There are two options here, but both require you to be careful.

(21) Turn right onto the ‘Voie Verte’ and head for the bridge over the Semoy.

(22) Cross the Semoy and continue along the ‘Voie Verte’ back to the starting point (S/E).

The route passes through the Château Regnault state-owned forest and several communal forests. Please check the hunting dates from 1 October to 31 January.

Tables, benches and a simple shelter at Champ Bernard.
Tables and benches are available near the Liry viewpoint.

The route can be easily undertaken from Tournavaux, Haulmé, Naux or Hautes Rivières (Newet district).

Remains of the old quarries at Fay Phades.
The Ruha Fountain.
The Liry viewpoint.
Robessart viewpoint.
The Croix d’Enfer viewpoint.
The Liris viewpoint.