The five bridges over the Sedelle and the Échappée Verte

(S/E) From the car park at Les Coutures in Lafat, turn left onto the Échappée Verte, a disused railway line, and take the first road on the right (north), which quickly becomes a farm track. You’ll reach the first bridge over the Sédelle.

(1) Cross the bridge and continue to the T-junction. Turn left for 25 m.

(2) Turn left back onto the Échappée Verte, cross a stream, then a road, and continue to the Sibilot Viaduct which spans the Sédelle.

(3) Turn back for 90 m and head down the very steep and slippery slope on the left, then turn right onto the road to the Moulin de Sibilot.

(4) Turn back. Head back up the valley, cross the Échappée Verte and, further on, turn left towards La Jaussée.

(5) Take the lane on the right to the D69 road. After about 150 m, turn onto the track on the left which leaves the D69, then rejoins it further on.

(6) Continue left along this road to reach and cross the third bridge over the Sédelle.

(7) At the exit, take the narrow path on the far left that runs along the riverbank and head for the fourth wooden bridge over the Sédelle.

(8) Cross it and, a few metres further on, head down to the right towards the riverbank: be careful not to miss the path, as it is barely visible. Head back up to the road and follow it to the right until you reach the fifth bridge over the Sédelle.

(9) Cross it and, at the bend in the road, turn left onto the path leading into the field. On the right, take the narrow, very steep path that climbs up to the Échappée Verte, turn right and return to the start: end of the first 7.1 km circular route.

(S/E) Turn left opposite the old gatekeeper’s house. Stay on the main track without taking the old railway line.

(10) At the bend, turn left. Do not continue across the meadow; instead, take the overgrown path on the left which leads to La Sédelle. Turn right and follow the track to the road. Follow the road to the right and head towards Villejoint.

(11) On leaving the hamlet, turn right and continue to the old railway line.

(12) Turn right, take the old railway line 40 m beyond the farm track and follow it to the car park: end of the second circular route (S/E).

4.2 km of tarmac. First circular route of 7.1 km and second circular route of 4.4 km.

Some narrow and quiet sections: wear trousers rather than shorts.

The walk follows part of the route of the old railway line from Saint-Sébastien to Guéret, approximately 45 km long, which closed in 1952:
https://www.tourisme-creuse.com/pays-dun...

The Facebook page of the FerroVerte association, which maintains the route of the old line: https://www.facebook.com/p/La-Ferroverte-61550524697471

A Geocache in Saint-Sébastien:
https://www.tourisme-creuse.com/app/uplo...

Visit the Sedelle Arboretum in Villejoint: https://arboretumsedelle.com
and the Jardins Clos du Préfons: https://jardinsclosduprefons.weebly.com