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Park in the Les Roches de l'Ermitage car park on the edge of the D730, right next to the Jacques Ficheux Functional Rehabilitation Centre (free parking).
(S/E) From the car park, cross the D730 with care and walk straight ahead for about 50 metres.
(1) Turn right onto a path through the beech forest. Please note: several paths lead off from this point. To ensure you take the correct route, follow the markings on a wooden post indicating “Route des Abbayes”, the first of which is visible several hundred metres from the start. Follow the forest track downhill for 1,800 m before reaching a stony path (the Chemin des Bœufs – GR®145).
(2) Turn left and follow it for 700 m until you reach the first junction.
(3) Turn right onto the forest path (GR®145), which climbs very steeply, and after 700 m, reach a junction of two forest paths.
(4) Head straight on through the undergrowth to arrive, after 800 m, at the rear of the former 15th-century Abbey of Saint-Nicolas, which is barely visible due to the vegetation.
(5) Take the path that runs alongside an old staircase, now partially overgrown and impassable. Very steep climb. Continue for 400 m along the same path to the Croix Saizine.
(6) Turn left onto the path known as the Chemin de la Croisette and, 300 m further on, pass the Fontaine à la Goutte. Continue straight on to reach the RD55 (tarmac road) 150 m further on.
(7) Follow this slightly uphill track for about 100 metres. Leave the GR®145 and head straight on along the Chemin des Trois Fillettes for approximately 560 metres.
(8) Turn left onto a straight, grassy path. Follow it for 400 m until you reach a T-junction. Turn right and, after 330 metres, rejoin the Chemin des Trois Fillettes
(9) Turn left, ignore the first path on the left (after 170 m) and continue down a fairly steep slope until you reach a junction at the bottom of the slope where several paths meet. Turn left and continue for 360 m.
(10) Turn right (north) onto a gently sloping path. Continue along this path for 950 m, ignoring two paths on the right and a path on the left called the Tour de Ville (after the mobile phone masts).
(11) At the bottom of the descent, cross Rue Sainte-Geneviève and take the path opposite which overlooks a pond on the right. Cross the Ruisseau de la Bovette and continue until you reach Rue des Houppeux (RD 55). Turn right and walk up the street for about 170 m. Then turn left onto a forest track (known as the Gros Tilleul) for about thirty metres.
(12) Turn immediately left onto a forest track which climbs steeply for 600 metres to reach a junction where a “Route des Abbayes” sign is visible once again.
(13) Turn right and continue climbing to reach another junction. Turn right and, after 350 m, you will reach the junction you passed at the start.
(1) Follow the outward route in the opposite direction to quickly return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Easy 
