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Parking at Saint-Pierre de Maîche Church, opposite Montalembert Castle. Good quality yellow and blue markings.
(S/E) Go around the church, taking a look through the gate at the façade of the 16th-century château. Visit the church, which has a superb pulpit. After the church square, turn left into Rue de la Batheuse. At the crossroads, turn right into Rue Malseigne until you reach No. 25 Avenue du Maréchal Leclerc. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and climb up the small Rue de la Chapelle opposite. Shortly after the parking spaces, turn left onto the small gravel path of Coteau Saint-Michel. At the crossroads, climb up the path on the right, which quickly becomes a wider path that you continue to climb to the right until you reach a signpost. Turn left towards the Chapelle Saint-Michel, built in 1482, and its viewpoint over Maîche and the Lomont wind turbines.
(1) Leave the viewpoint via the path behind the chapel. At the wider path, continue to the right, following the signposts. Ignore the path climbing to the right, heading towards Les Combes. You will pass another viewpoint over the village and stay on this path which descends to the D464. Descend to the left. Cross the road carefully at the pedestrian crossing by the notary's office. Turn right, passing in front of the Francimo agency. Cross Rue de la Gare, then turn left into this street. At the next fork, turn right into Rue des Chalets, then left into Rue de la Roche de Ruan and continue to the end.
(2) Turn right and quickly, at the last house, cross the road and climb the wooded hillside via the second path on the left. Impressive fir trees form a guard of honour. Cross a wider stony path and continue along the path opposite. With a house in sight on your right, the path turns left and you reach the Roche de Ruan viewpoint.
(3) Set off again along the path on the left (with your back to the viewpoint). Soon, at the crossroads marked by a signpost, turn left (towards Mont Miroir) along a beautiful steep path winding through the rocks and fir trees. You will reach a wider path which you take to the left until you reach a pasture, crossing it diagonally towards the ladder in the fence. At the small tarmac road, climb to the left until the first bend.
(4) Return to the pasture via the metal gate on the left. Head towards the tree with the signposts and then towards the ski lift. At the second pylon, you will have a view of Lomont, the Saint-Hippolyte valley and beyond. Head left along the edge of the field for 200 metres and continue straight ahead, crossing the small field and heading towards the edge opposite, where you will find a metal gate leading into a new pine forest with majestic trees. The path descends, widens and, at a signpost, joins the fitness trail.
(5) There are three paths in front of you; take the middle one, following the course to its start. At the crossroads (wooden bench), go straight down the stony path. At the course sign, go down the short stony path opposite the sign.
(6) Head towards the pond. Walk along its right-hand edge. Go a little past the pond and climb up to the right towards the tarmac road. Climb up to the left to a small rock pass (200 metres) and take the stony path on the left that leads back into the woods. Then turn left onto the gravel road, which quickly becomes a forest path. Soon after, leave the path for a moment and take a small trail on the left that leads to a viewpoint overlooking Maîche.
(7) At a bend, you will find the small tarmac road, which you follow downhill for about ten metres before turning left into the pine forest, which offers a beautiful view of the city. Cross the farm track and continue downhill along the path opposite.
(8) At the first houses, turn left onto Rue Montjoie for fifty metres and take the small staircase on the right which leads to Rue Sous Montjoie. Continue along the sloping lane to the right of No. 17. Then turn left into Rue du Belvédère. At No. 15, go down the steps on the right. Cross the road to take the lane opposite and turn left towards the town centre, passing in front of the tourist office, to return to the church (S/E).
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