Le Haut Fourché

(S/E) On leaving the car park, cross the road and take the path leading uphill to the left of the chapel.

(1) Ignore the path on the left – which will be the return route – and carry on straight ahead. As you climb this steep, rugged slope, an information board on the left explains the geological history of the site.

Just before the buildings at La Joussière, on the left, the mighty branches of an old chestnut tree catch the eye. Continue along the path to the ridge, then follow the top of the cliff to the left until you reach the first bench.

(2) Continue along the ridge, where several clearings in the foliage offer panoramic views of the Sarthe Valley, the village of Saint-Léonard-des-Bois and, above it, the Butte de Narbonne.

(3) At the second bench, leave the wide Haut Fourché path, which continues to the right, and begin the descent along a (barely visible) path leading straight from the bench until you reach a road, which you follow to the left for about 280 m.

(4) At the crossroads, take the Chemin des Îles straight ahead. Walk down to the picturesque setting of Le Chapelet, then return to the crossroads. Turn right and follow the road down towards the river.

On the left, just before the bridge over the Sarthe, a flight of steps leading down takes you to the path running along the base of the cliff on the river’s left bank. At the end, the path leaves the riverbank, climbs back up and rejoins the path you followed at the start, just below the information sign.

(1) Turn right onto the path leading down to the chapel where you started. Cross the road to reach the car park entrance opposite (S/E).

Hiking boots recommended.

Information board on the geological history of the Alpes Mancelles.
Châtaigner after the ‘1 ’.
Panoramic views of the village and the Butte de Narbonne (ancient oppidum).
Le Chapelet.
You can cross the stream without getting your feet wet (at low water) by hopping from stone to stone.