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Park in the car park at the Thise presbytery, behind the Church of Saint-Hilaire-de-Poitiers, built in 1827.
(S/E) Turn left for a few metres and then turn right onto Rue du Paret. Walk past the pretty fountain and washhouse known as ‘Le Cygne’, dating from 1848, and head straight up the Chemin rural du Parret. Pass the Water Services building (GBM) on your right. The tarmac road gradually turns into a track as it climbs into the communal woodland.
At the bend in the road, let the Chemin du Parret continue its hairpin bend to the right whilst you take the rocky path winding through the woods, directly opposite.
At the top, you’ll rejoin the Chemin du Parret, which comes in from the right, and continue to the junction with the Chemin du Facteur, which you should let pass on your left.
(1) Continue straight ahead along the lovely path to the beech forest, where there is a car park. Then turn left onto a lovely straight stretch known as the Grande Sommière. Cross the Bois du Coutelot and the Bois du Grand Cotard. You’ll reach a crossroads with a footpath.
(2) Turn left here and follow it beneath the high forest canopy. From here, follow this undulating path with soft ground: it is not uncommon to encounter wildlife here (such as roe deer, does or wild boar, for example).
The path ends where it meets the Chemin de Rufille (a tarmac road): follow it to the right until you cross the Chemin Ferré again on your right.
(3) Continue straight ahead. Pass through the beautiful Rufille farm building (private property) and head back up the rocky forest track, running alongside the woodland, to reach the top of the Bois des Bruyères near the site of a telecoms mast.
Then follow the lovely white path, which is somewhat winding and stony, as it descends through various stands of trees and woods with a variety of species. When you reach the bottom of the path, do not go past the small Place Forestière des Brocards on this path (a turning area) on the left, which forms a junction with a south-facing path.
Turn into the woods onto a dirt track that bends in the opposite direction to the previous route. This winding path, flanked by trees, winds through pleasant woodland. It is marked here and there, on the right, by several stone boundary markers indicating the inter-municipal boundary.
(4) Further on, at a clear fork where three paths diverge – the widest of which climbs to the right towards the Place des Écureuils and then on to the Moray equestrian centre – take the central path.
This well-marked path winds gently uphill amongst the trees and shrubs. It joins a wider forest track coming from the left.
(5) Follow this path. Pass through the clearing, under a power line, and further on you’ll reach a picnic and playground area (parking available).
(6) Go through the turnstile at the gate, then head down the Route des Vaux (tarmac road) until it meets the Route de Beaupré.
Cross safely and continue straight ahead onto the Route du Boillon, which is tarmac-surfaced for a few hundred metres, until you reach the next junction (Chemin de la Vaivre). Turn right at the electricity substation and follow this path (with the railway line to the left of the route).
(7) After the meadows, pass right in front of an old building, the Ferme de la Vaivre (private property), and follow the country lane at a leisurely pace. After the bend in the road, keep to the right, skirting the property.
(8) When you reach the beautiful gatehouse bearing the Franche-Comté coat of arms, stop for a moment to admire the old drawbridge.
There are two tourist information posts providing details of the area.
Now make your way to the Route de Beaupré, cross it carefully and take the unpaved track leading uphill until you reach the Route des Vaux at the Prieuré de Beaupré.
(9) Follow this tarmac road down towards the bell tower of Thise church, taking in the sight of a pretty wrought-iron wayside cross overlooking the alluvial plain. Continue to the presbytery car park (S/E)..
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