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Parking in Longeville, after the church, in front of the stadium. Yellow-blue markings but no markings on the first kilometre.
(S/E) Head towards the church to visit it and, in particular, an ancient tomb on its left side. Return towards the village and immediately turn right into Rue de l'Église, passing in front of the presbytery, going around the building and turning left into the small Rue de la Source. Then turn left into Rue du Stade, walking along the back of the village, passing in front of some beautiful houses. At the first fork, turn right onto Rue du Château and then right again at the second fork, leaving the village with the statue of the Virgin Mary on the mountainside opposite you.
(1) You will reach the D27 at a hairpin bend, where you will find the signposts again. Turn right onto the second well-paved path, towards Belvédère du Moine. You will pass under a rural statue of the Virgin Mary. At the departmental road, turn right for about sixty steps and cut across the bend by taking the path on the left.
(2) At the next bend, head into the field via the small road on the left (towards Point de vue du Moine). After 200 metres, when the path begins to bend to the right, look for the signpost indicating to turn left into the meadow towards the shed in front of you. At the building, turn left, following the barbed wire fence and looking for the markings on the ground. If you miss them, simply move closer and walk (carefully) along the edge of the cliffs, crossing from one meadow to another via a metal footbridge.
(3) When the cliff edge clears, you will enjoy a magnificent view of the Loue valley, the Roche de Hautepierre and the Gorges de Nouailles, especially at this spot, a small promontory 300 metres before the end of the field, on the other side of the barbed wire. This superb, wild viewpoint, which is obviously unprotected, so caution is advised, is ideal for a picnic while enjoying the magnificent view. At the end of the pasture, you cross a copse, walk along another small pasture and finally climb into the woods. You cross a series of small woods and meadows, always walking carefully along the cliff edge.
(4) You arrive at the first viewpoint of Moine de la Vallée, where a bench awaits you for a short rest. Pass in front of the pylon to reach the second viewpoint, which offers a wilder view of the Nouailles Gorges. Descend along the tarmac road to the Grange Carrée inn, where you can quench your thirst. Just before the inn, at the signpost, turn left onto the grassy path towards Mouthier.
(5) At the next signpost, turn left again, heading towards Mouthier-Hautepierre.
(6) When the stony path turns sharply to the right, there are two options:
Option 1 - My preference, shown on the map. Leave the path and turn left onto the small trail (mountain bike markers 29) that descends the hillside: this is a steep trail that will take you through a pretty rocky undergrowth at the foot of Moine de la Vallée.
(7) You will rejoin the marked path. If you still wish to visit the Petite Roche viewpoint, climb back up to the right for 250m.
Option 2 - Continue along the marked stone hiking trail. At a left-hand bend in the path and a sign for Le Moine de la Vallée - Renédale, you can carefully take a small path on the right to reach an unsecured viewpoint (so be careful!) of the Petite Roche over the village of Mouthier and the gorges. Retrace your steps and continue downhill.
(7) Descend into the valley, heading towards Mouthier - Lods. The path becomes more stony and joins another path at a right angle.
(8) Turn left (towards Lods-leat Poutot) and continue straight ahead along this well-paved path, quickly leaving the hiking trail on your right that descends to Lods. You will pass under the Capucin rocks.
(9) You will reach the D32, which you will follow downhill to the right for 300 metres, taking the time to turn around and enjoy a magnificent view of the Roche de Hautepierre. At the hairpin bend, turn left onto the forest path (towards Longeville). At another signpost, you will reach a stony path which you will follow to the right (towards Belvédère du Moine).
(10) Cross a pasture, where you will find more beautiful views. Cross the D32 again and continue towards Longeville on the gravel path opposite, which becomes Rue du Vallon when you reach the first houses in the village. Pass the old weighbridge and, at the fountain, continue straight on towards Amathay-Vesigneux and the church to return to the car park (S/E).
The route includes cliff-edge paths and unsecured viewpoints. The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and walking sticks are recommended.
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
