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(S/E) Car park in Montgesoye, in the centre of the village, opposite the war memorial. Yellow-blue markings, towards Échevannes.
Head towards the Virgin Mary statue and turn right onto Rue Sous Mouthier, towards Belvédère de la Thuyère. Turn into the first street on the left and, at No. 4, climb the stairs to visit the church and its old tombs. Walk past the church on the left and follow the signs, turning left and walking along a wall. Pass the town hall and, at the top of Rue de la Ville Haute, turn right and continue towards Échevannes along the small tarmac road that winds its way through the lower part of the village to Rue du Pontot. Turn left and continue along Rue du Tangelet to the last house in the village.
(1) The street becomes stony and climbs into the forest. Soon you will come to a fork; continue climbing to the right. When the path stops climbing, continue straight ahead, leaving a forest path on your right. The path loses its stone surface in places and may be a little muddy in wet weather.
(2) At a hairpin bend, you will find a signpost. Continue climbing to the right (towards Échevannes). At the second hairpin bend, leave the gravel path and turn right onto the path that runs along the cliffs, still heading towards Échevannes. Walk along the ledges (carefully, as the path can be slippery in wet weather) to reach the first viewpoint over the valley, Vuillafans and the picturesque hill of Châteauvieux-les-Fossés. When the path begins to descend slightly, turn right for about twenty steps and continue along the ledge, taking the path on the left to reach the viewpoint.
(3) After the viewpoint, continue along the cliff edge to discover other viewpoints. You will come to a wider path (at a crossroads) where you will turn right, then take a beautiful stone path down to the right and arrive at the village of Échevannes via the Chemin du Lavoir. Turn right onto the D.27. Take a short detour to the left to see the charming little church. Return to the main road.
(4) On leaving Échevannes, at the signpost, head towards Vuillafans along the small path that runs alongside the safety barriers on the right. A little further down, you will come to the main road, which you cross, and then take the path behind the metal barrier again. Further down, you cross the road again and continue downhill along the picturesque path opposite. Further down still, you cross the main road again and spot the signpost on the other side of the road a few metres up.
(5) You will finally reach the D.27 and descend to the left towards Vuillafans. Stop at the church and the statue of St-Vernier.
(6) Cross the Loue via the old bridge, taking the time to admire the beautiful old houses lining the Loue on your right and the hill of Châteauneuf on your left, crowned by the jagged walls of its old castle. Turn right after the bridge, crossing the Place du Champ de Mars. On your left, above a porch, you will see the Masonic square and compass carved into the stone. Turn left onto Rue Saint-Claude. On the left again (at No. 19), above a porch, you will see a carved bunch of grapes. At the end of the street, turn right onto Rue du Vieux Château, walking alongside a modern building. At a road sign marked 'Croisement', a sign invites you to turn left onto Chemin des Chenevières.
(7) At the signpost with green signs and mountain bike markers, leave the road and the signs and turn right onto the gravel path that runs alongside the Loue. At the first house, leave this path and take a small gravel lane on the left that runs alongside the houses and quickly turns left, then right to reach the small Félix Pasteur square in a pretty housing estate, which you cross. Turn right after the square, passing in front of a transformer and continuing straight ahead.
(8) At the small metal gate that prevents vehicles from passing, continue straight ahead along this path (probably an old railway line) which runs alongside the Loue river to Montgesoye. On the way, you will pass a building that resembles an old small railway station. You will arrive at Montgesoye and cross the bridge and the D.67 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
Easy 
