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Car park at Pouilley-les-Vignes, at the end of Rue des Vignes, at the start of the fitness trail car park. No signposting, apart from the botanical trail and fitness trail signs here and there.
(S/E) With your back to the sign, take the stony path on the left, above the access road, towards the “orientation table”. You’ll pass the remains of fortifications before reaching the viewpoint overlooking the village and the Haute-Saône.
(1) After the viewpoint, at the fork marked “Charme”, carefully head down to the left. You’ll soon reach a path which you take to the right. Fifteen steps further down, at another fork, head down to the left again. At the sign for “Common Ash”, continue straight ahead.
(2) A little further on, there is a three-way junction. Take the middle path, continuing along the length of the hill. Stay on this well-marked path. You will soon cross a scree slope, following the fitness trail which is no longer really fit for purpose (it hasn’t been maintained for years). A little further on, when you reach a fork, head straight on along the left-hand path. You will soon pass a dry stone wall on your left.
(3) Shortly afterwards, the path turns leftwards and descends. At a pasture, the path turns sharply right. At the other end, at a fork, continue to the right. You’ll pass a rock arch on your right. Soon the path meets a stony track. Continue along the path. You’ll walk alongside the ditches of a fortification. Very quickly, ignore a path branching off to the right and carry on straight ahead.
(4) Just before the path joins the stony track, turn sharply right as you descend. For the curious, a little further down, when the path turns sharply left, you can take the barely visible path on the right which leads to the cave – a simple crevice about thirty metres away. Return to the path. You then pass between two beautiful sinkholes to reach the park next to the car park. Turn left, following the edge on your left.
(5) When you reach the gravel road, take it on the left. You’ll pass the rectangular trenches of the old gun emplacements. When the path forks, head up to the left to reach the old fort. Picnic table. Turn back and return to the car park via the same route (S/E).
The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking poles are recommended.
Visorando Member
Moderate 
