Country:
District:
Departure from the car park at the river port in Monthermé, motorhome area.
(S/E) Head towards the bridge over the Meuse and cross it.
(1) After the bridge, turn left and follow the towpath along the Meuse for about 300 metres. After the houses, cross the road on your right towards the mountain and follow theGR®12Cuphill through the forest to reach a crossroads.
(2) Still on theGR®12C, turn sharply right and follow the signpost indicating the ridge path to the Longue Roche viewpoint, then the Roche à Sept Heures viewpoint, a magnificent viewpoint over the Meuse valley. Continue along the forest road for about 400 metres to the junction with the D989.
(3) About ten metres before the road, take a path on the right alongside the restaurant and follow the Chemin des Hautes Buttes towards the pylons.
(4) Just before you reach the road, take a sharp right turn onto a small grassy path that descends for 200 metres to Rue Monseigneur Bihery (D989). Turn slightly left onto the sloping street (Rue de la Promenade), continue straight ahead onto Rue Georges Guynemer, which runs alongside the cemetery, then turn right onto Rue Maryse Bastié, keeping the school on your left. After 150 metres, turn right onto Rue Héléne Boucher, then right again towards the centre of Monthermé via Rue du Docteur Lemaire. Continue for about 50 metres.
(5) Turn left onto Rue André Compain, which is also theGR®12C, heading towards the campsite and following the factory on your right. After crossing two branches of the Semois, you will reach a fork.
(6) Continue to follow theGR®12Ctrail, taking a sharp left turn, then, 75 metres further on, turn right and climb into the forest for about 1 kilometre until you reach a crossroads (rest area).
(7) Make a left-right zigzag, pass the Roche Bayard viewpoint and continue straight ahead to the Quatre Fils Aymon, a viewpoint overlooking Bogny. Continue downhill to the end of a small road.
(8) Take the steps opposite and descend towards Chateau Regnault until you reach Rue Léon Bosquet. Turn left, follow Rue de la Légende for about 100 metres, then continue right onto Rue Maugis. Turn left onto Rue de la Rochette, then after 20 metres, turn right down Rue des Juifs until you reach the steps leading to the bridge over the Meuse. Cross the bridge and walk past the school.
(9) After 60 metres, turn right onto Rue de l'Hermitage, which climbs for 600 metres until you reach a crossroads with a path.
(10) Turn right onto this dirt and grass path that leads to a scrap metal monument. Leave the monument on your right and climb straight up to the ridge via a steep path that leads to the Roche aux Sept Villages. Enjoy the view and continue to the D989.
(11) Cross the D989 road (take care) and follow theGR®12Cto rejoin it further ahead.
(12) Follow the road to the left for 150 metres, then turn right onto a path called "le Vieux Chemin" which descends towards Monthermé. Join the Chemin des Ecaillettes and follow it to the D989.
(13) Turn right towards the Meuse to reach the river port on your right and the car park where you started (S/E).
In fact, the last climb and especially the descent were too much for my old joints. I must admit that, with the dead leaves and slate on the ground, this was the part I found most slippery.
Visorando member
Moderate 
Easy 
