The Bois de Belfays Wind Farm (long version)

Car park at the Col du Las on the D32 between La Grande Fosse (Saales) to the east and Nayemont-Launois (Ban-de-Sapt) to the west.

(S/E) From the Col du Las car park, head south after crossing the D32.
After a few metres, look out for a table and benches in the vegetation on the left, then a tree beyond which a small grassy path branches off to the left (not very visible).
Follow this gentle path for 100 m until you reach a small road.
Turn left and do not take the Red Disc-marked path which branches off immediately to the right, but continue straight on for 50 m and take the path that descends to the right (more pleasant than the trail).

(1) Continue in this direction, where the markings quickly change to Red Disc as the path you didn’t take joins it.
When you reach La Grande Fosse and the first houses, continue along a small road (there’s a pretty little valley on the right).
Please note, there is virtually no signposting in the village (except for a Red Disc at the entrance).
Continue for 200 m along this winding road to reach the centre of the village uphill. At the Stop sign, you’ll come to the D32.

(2) Cross the D32 and head straight up the lane opposite on the left, marked by a blue sign pointing to Le Pré Leroy. Continue uphill and after 600 m, you’ll reach Le Pré Leroy.

(3) After the small picnic area, continue to the right until you reach a gate, in front of which you should take the path leading uphill to the right (old, faded markings on a tree).
Then very quickly take the path branching off to the left (marked with a Red Triangle).
After 600 m on this path strewn with wood debris, a forest track coming from the left leads you to continue for a few metres to the right. You’ll reach the Quatre Chemins crossroads with a picnic area on the left.

(4) Turn right, towards Les Quatre Bornes. Follow the various markings, including the Red Disc, for a while.
Continue straight on for 1 km; your attention is drawn to the right by a work of art (a windbreak) by a Canadian artist. Then, shortly afterwards, you arrive at Les Quatre Bornes, with its information panels and picnic area. (Note the several wind turbines visible on the right as you head down towards Saales).

(5) The forest road then widens considerably and turns left into a very open landscape. Continue round a wide left-hand bend, ignoring the paths branching off to the right.

(6) Pass, on the right, a memorial dedicated to German soldiers from the First World War. About 1 km after the memorial, you’ll reach a junction with a path marked with a Red Disc (as well as a Red Ring and a Red Triangle, among others), which continues downhill to the right.

(7) Do not follow it, but head up to the left onto a clear road (which does not appear on the IGN map) where there is a sign for the “Bois de Belfays Wind Farm”. There is also an open gate and a Green Saltire signpost, which then disappears.
No further signposting. You’ll find yourself in open countryside. Continue uphill to the right and pass under a wind turbine on your left.
Then continue along the wide path (which does not appear on the IGN map) which becomes tarmac and begins to descend. It is steep; continue down the slope, passing several wind turbines on your right. Wide view over the valley.

Walk all the way down this road, which ends at a barrier with large rocks placed beneath it.
Go through the barrier and continue downhill for a few metres; then, at the junction of three paths, take the one that heads sharply to the right to rejoin, after 300 m, the Red Disc markings you left a short while ago.

(8) We are still in the Bois de Belfays Wind Farm (numerous signs). Continue downhill to the left. Note another wind turbine on the left, then a final one on the right. Arrive at the Carrefour de la Croix des Fourrières with a picnic area.

(9) At this point, turn onto the unmarked path that descends to the left towards Châtas. You’ll reach Châtas after a lovely descent; the church is on the left.

(10) Immediately after the church, turn left (Green Saltire signposting) and head up towards Pré Lannequin.
Continue for over 2 km following the Green Saltire markings. Goats and a fountain on the right, opposite a house. After a wide right-hand bend and crossing a stream, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(11) Leave the Green Saltire markings and take the path climbing steeply to the left (Red Triangle - Yellow Ring markings). Continue keeping to the right, following the same markings.

(12) After about 200 m, when you reach a Fork in the road, don’t hesitate; carry straight on up the steep, unmarked slope opposite (vehicle tracks). Ignore the path marked with a Red Triangle and a Yellow Ring which continues to the left.
After a few metres, the gradient eases and you walk through beautiful grassy countryside.
You’ll reach the Roches de Céné (760 m) and turn left towards the forest.

(13) After 200 m, turn right towards the source of the Hure (Red Saltire signposting). After the spring (below, not very visible), the signposting disappears but continue along this forest track nonetheless; after a few bends, you’ll come to a semi-tarmac road.

(14) Turn right downhill and you will soon reach the Col du Las (S/E).

Please note that the wide tracks where the wind turbines are located are areas with authorised and secure access.

Picnic at the Col du Las (on both sides of the D 32), at the Quatre Chemins crossroads, at the Quatre Bornes and at the Croix des Fourrières.

In Ban-de-Sapt, there are two places well worth a visit:
- the Jardins de Callunes (landscaped park).
- the Nécropole de la Fontenelle (monuments, battlefields, cemeteries...).