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Recommended departure point: Girmont-Val-d'Ajol, church car park.
(S/E) Walk down a few dozen metres in front of the church on the D3 and take the small road on the left, passing between the restaurant and the picnic area. Walk past the Auberge Saint-Vallier and the sawmill.
(1) Leave the road and take a path that climbs to the left. Continue along this path, keeping to the left, and pass close to the Tisserand ponds. Cross the dyke of the Grand Étang de Corfaing and, at the end, take a path on the right that runs alongside the woods. Cross the main road to reach the road.
(2) Cross the tarmac road and continue along the woods until you reach a new road, which you follow for about 100 metres to the right. Turn left.
(3) When you reach a bend, leave the road on your right and enter the forest at a picnic area. Follow the path, keeping to the right along the woods until you reach a crossroads.
(4) Go down to the left and then keep to the right to reach the district road; cross it and continue along the path opposite. Walk alongside and admire the Étang Houillon lake.
(5) At the three-way junction at the end of the pond, take the path that descends to the left. Walk along another pond on your left.
(6) At the crossroads, turn left towards the Étang de la Molière.
(7) Turn right, still heading towards the Étang de la Molière.
(8) Turn left and walk to the pond. Go around it, keeping it on your left, then turn right onto the path towards Moulin Picard.
(9) In the middle of the hamlet, at a lodge, take a small path on the right.
(10) At the crossroads, take the path on the right and continue along it. When you reach the Faignes Noires house, continue towards the woods. A few metres further on, at the entrance to the woods, cross the small wooden bridge on the left and go uphill. Then take the wide path on the left to reach the Villerain pond (picnic tables).
(11) At the foot of a small hill overlooking the pond, turn right and, after a few metres, leave the main path that runs alongside the pond and turn right again onto a path that climbs quite steeply.
(12) Leave the steep climb opposite and turn left. When you reach the ponds, leave the successive paths on your left.
(13) At a crossroads, turn left, reach the edge of the woods and follow the path that leads to a road junction.
(14) Follow the road (D57) that climbs to the left.
(15) Leave this road and take a path that branches off to the right and runs alongside it. At a bend, ignore the path that turns right, turn slightly left for about 10 metres and then continue along the mountain bike trail until you reach the road. Turn left to reach the Croisette d'Hérival crossroads.
(16) Take the forest road opposite, which descends and runs alongside the restaurant on the right (do not take the D57). Further on, this forest road becomes rocky. Ignore the roads that branch off to the right and left and continue straight ahead into the valley.
Pass the old Hérival priory and continue downhill to the Étang d'Hérival lake. At the end of the lake, turn left onto the dyke and follow this main path, which turns right into the forest. There is a lake and picnic table about 100 metres away.
Pass the spring and Étang des Tanchottes lake and continue straight ahead. Take a short detour to the left to the "President's fir tree" and then return to the Chalet de l'Empereur crossroads.
(17) Take the wide, flat path opposite. Cross the small bridge and, at the crossroads, take the path on the left that runs alongside the stream. Stay on this path until you reach the Géhard waterfall.
(18) Cross the bridge and immediately climb a fairly steep path on the right. There are several viewpoints overlooking the waterfall. Continue climbing towards the picnic table and join the road. Cross it to take a slightly steep path that climbs opposite and continue on this path until you reach the road.
(19) Follow this road to the left for a few metres, take the path that descends to the right and then turn right again. When you reach the road, turn left, continue along this road for about 50 metres and then, after a bend, take a forest path for a few metres.
Leave it for a path that climbs quite steeply to the right. Follow this path which, after a good climb, takes you back to the car park (S/E).
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Easy 
