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Start from thesecond car park at Espeluche Town Hall (gravel area).
(S/E) Turn right after the medical centre. Head towards Rue Serre du Coulet opposite. Turn right onto Rue de la Colline, then left onto Chemin des Hochettes and, finally, left again to reach Impasse du Serre. Ignore a path branching off to the right; head up towards the farm and follow the path as it turns left.
(1) Turn right onto a small path through the woodland (pink arrow on the oak trees). Follow the path uphill to join a track and turn left, continuing straight on until the next junction.
(2) Turn right and, at a bend, continue to the left (ignore a path branching off to the right). At the pine tree, marked with a red line, continue straight ahead. Join a stony track, take the hairpin bend to the right and climb up to the two boundary markers.
(3) Take the path that climbs behind the two boundary markers. At the track, continue climbing the path straight on to the summit.
(4) Take the small path that starts under the oak trees, to the left. Pass the hunting lookout, enter the undergrowth, follow the path to the left and walk a few metres to your left.
(5) An IGN marker from 1948 indicates that you are at the highest point of Espeluche, 425 metres. The blue marker is a forestry marker. Retrace your steps.
(4) Head down to the left, towards the large red and white tower, then turn left onto the main track (elevation 402) until you reach the “Jamot” hiking signpost.
(6) Turn right onto the DFCI track, then left at the sign saying “Danger: barrier 150 m ahead”. After the7th wind turbine, at the large rock, turn left onto the wide descent along the gas pipeline. Descend for approximately 350 m.
(7) Turn left onto a small path that leads into the undergrowth. The path makes a sharp left-hand bend; continue downhill. At the crossroads, turn left and follow the path downhill to reach La Citelle.
(8) Pass under the arched gateway and join the road. First turn left then right to take the Chemin de la Combe. Turn left onto the Chemin du Vieux Cimetière; the tarmac road becomes stony. Continue uphill; the path narrows at the oak tree with an iron sign marked “Danger Tir à l’Arc”.
Turn left onto the track leading uphill to reach the castle. At the signpost, continue straight on to reach the tarmac road, then turn left to reach the castle entrance.
(9) With your back to the castle gate, turn left and step over the threshold of the chapel. Follow the narrow path down the steps and go through the opening in the wall.
Go downhill and turn left; then, at the tarmac road, take the small path on the left. At the signpost, turn right towards Rochefort en Valdaine. At the crossroads, turn left, join the road and turn left. Continue until you reach the village of Chambaud.
(10) Turn left, walk past the restaurant and follow the footpath. Take Chemin de Roucoule on the left. At the junction with Chemin Fronteyrol, continue to the right until you reach Chemin de Boislang.
(11) Turn left onto Chemin de Boislang, passing a sign marked “PHUC and NELLY LUU”. Climb the small embankment straight ahead, then immediately follow the path to the right, which runs alongside a fence on your right.
Walk past a red-brick house, skirt the horse paddock and pass to the left of the house (it’s a pottery workshop – feel free to stop by if anyone’s there). Join the road at Ferrotin.
(12) Turn sharply left onto the tarmac road, passing a large pile of wood. Stay on the road, ignore a path branching off to the right and pass the letterboxes at number 875.
Cross the farmyard, take the grassy path that climbs to the right of the fig tree.
Turn right then left, follow the track to the left and head towards the two yellow concrete posts.
(13) At the two yellow posts, take the path leading down to the right (MTB track 3), passing between the house and the garage.
Follow the arrow on the lime tree, take the path leading down; at the end of the electric fence, take the path on the right, continue straight ahead on the tarmac road. At the letterboxes, leave the road and take the grassy path running alongside the vineyard on your left. At the end of the vineyard, the path bends to the left; cross the road to reach the wooden footbridge.
(14) Cross the footbridge and turn immediately right. Walk along the wall of the fitness trail, passing the well. The path becomes tarmac; turn right, then left.
Turn right onto Rue de l’Église, pass the church and then the fountain; on your left is the seigneurial bench.
At the sign for Place Royal, go straight on towards Route d’Allan. Cross the road towards Allan to reach the town hall car park (S/E).
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