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(S/E) Parking in Ouhans, Rue de La Poste, on the right-hand side of the church. Yellow and blue signposts. Walk down towards the church entrance. You will be facing the town hall. Cross the D41 and turn right into Rue du Moulin, passing the fire station. At the end of the village, turn right down Rue de la Combe.
(1) Cross the car park, heading towards Source de la Loue, and pass the Auberge.
(2) You will arrive at the spring. Cross the bridge over the resurgence and climb the stairs. Then turn left (towards Gorges de Nouailles) onto the picturesque and steep path along the cliff side, overlooking the river. Be careful: a sign advisesthat this trail is for experienced hikers. The route offers stunning views of the gorges until you reach the D67 road.
(3) Proceed very carefully along the right-hand side (there is little room for pedestrians) for about 100 metres. At a sign warning of frequent ice, cross the road and climb carefully up the path on the left, which is again very steep (Circuit n°13 Belvédère des Aiguillons de Brasse).
(4) At the unsecured viewpoint, follow the signs and the signpost (direction Creuse via Brasse). The path is pleasant with views of the neighbouring mountains. You may even spot some chamois.
(5) The path joins a wider forest track at a right angle, which you take on the right. You will come to another stony track at a signpost. Turn right again.
(6) 300m further on, look for a signpost on the left of the path, near a pasture and an old shed. This is the tricky part of the route. As is often the case in pastures, signposts are few and far between. Follow the directions carefully. Turn left into the field towards the shed, then right at the shed, following the fence to its end where you will find a small footbridge to cross. You will come to a new long field: head towards the end on the right. Enter via a new small wooden passageway. Look for a marker post opposite you. At the post, descend at a right angle towards a barbed wire fence and follow it to the left. You will see the roof of an isolated house. You will find another marker. Enter the pasture (with your back to the house) through a small metal gate. Go around the first small copse on your left (marker on a tree). Head towards the electricity pole (also marked). Go down towards the edge of the woods, keeping a telephone pole with a yellow and blue cross on your right. At the edge, you will find a marker on an old stake and a path that leads into the woods.
(7) Turn left onto the wider forest track, following the markings. You will come out at the car park of the Abeille Ecomuseum. Turn right towards the departmental road 67 and descend carefully on the right for 400 m (keeping to the left side of the road).
(8) Look for the signpost inviting you to climb up the hillside on the left (Circuit 5 and 8 Source de la Loue par la forêt). At the pasture, head slightly to the left, following the fence, then go straight up. Turn right onto the departmental road and continue for 400 metres. Take the first gravel path on the right, returning to Ouhans through a beautiful pine forest.
(9) Almost at the top, at the foot of a new signpost, the path forks; go down to the right (towards Parking Source de la Loue).
(10) Almost in sight of the car park, look for a signpost on the left (forest sign 27) and climb the path on the left (Circuit 11 and 12 towards Chapelle Notre-Dame des Anges). This quickly joins a wider farm track which you take on the right (yellow-red signposting). When you leave the woods, you will see the chapel.
(11) Leave the path and climb across the fields, following the signs on a new signpost on the left.
(12) At the chapel, take the steps and descend the hill on the left. Return to the village via the small tarmac road on the right.
(13) Turn right onto the D41, cross at the pedestrian crossing and climb back up to the village via Rue de l'Église, which will take you back to the car park (S/E).
The route includes ledges and unsecured viewpoints. The paths are rocky and slippery in places. Good walking shoes are essential and walking sticks are recommended. Not suitable for young children.
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Association / Club / Walk leader
