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Car park at the old cemetery in Nismes, located on Rue du Fourneau.
(S/E) Leave the cemetery entrance behind you and head back towards the sawmill. When you reach a Fork in the road, follow the tarmac path to the right, which climbs towards the Tienne du Fourneau.
Red Rectangle markings
(1) Pass a road on your right and continue straight ahead up the road.
No red rectangular markings
Ignore the red markings heading off to the right; when you reach a crossroads, follow the wide track heading to the left.
(2) Stay on the main track, ignoring all paths and firebreaks coming from either the left or the right, and join the White Rectangle on red markings coming from the right.
White Rectangle on a red background
(3) Follow the path to the left, which runs along the ridge, until you reach a very steep descent leading down towards the Viroin valley and the village of Dourbes.
No white-on-red White Rectangle markings
Before reaching the bottom of the valley, leave the White Rectangle on red markings and take the path leading off to the right towards a vast meadow.
Red line on a white background
(4) At the fence, the path turns left then right and joins a dirt track. Follow it to the left and cross the bridge over the Viroin.
(5) Turn immediately left into Rue du Fays and walk alongside the river on your left. Pass the tables and benches at a picnic area and reach a car park opposite some beautiful stone houses; head to the left towards the glass recycling bins.
No signposting: red line on a white background
GR®® markings
(6) Before following the path, take a moment to look back and catch a glimpse of the ruins of Hauteroche Castle. The path leads to the Notre-Dame de Lourdes grotto at the foot of the church and joins Rue de Fagnolle. Walk past the school in Dourbes and head straight on towards the old town hall.
When you reach this building, ignore the streets branching off to the left and right and follow the narrow lane straight ahead.
(7) You’ll reach a junction; cross it carefully and continue straight ahead. Ignore the street coming from the left.
Off theGR®®
(8) A few metres further on, turn left onto Rue Tienne du Loret, passing an old, open-air washhouse. The road very quickly gives way to a wide stony track, which runs alongside chalets that are, in some cases, more or less abandoned. Continue along the track until you reach a junction with Rue de Mariembourg.
Green Rectangle signpost
(9) Follow it to the right and continue the climb. Ignore the paths to the left and right, pass a large information board and carry on towards the summit. Stay on the main track and begin the descent. Just at the edge of the woods, look out for a small, rustic wayside shrine on the right-hand side of the path (photo). Join a small path that heads left towards the Tienne aux Pauquîs.
(10) Follow the path that runs along the edge of the woodland and ignore the paths branching off to the left. If you happen to hear the sound of a steam locomotive, you’re not dreaming – it’s a train on the 3 Vallées Steam Railway. Before reaching a farm, join a stony track that descends to the right.
No green rectangular markings
(11) Follow this track, the Voye des Pauquîs, with a lovely view of the Roche à Lomme, topped by a cross, on your left.
(12) Cross the Eau Blanche and head towards Rue de la Station and the old Nismes station; follow the road to the right and cross the level crossing. You’ll reach a Y-junction.
(13) Leave the main road and take the left-hand branch. Follow the street until you reach the Chapelle Saint-Roch on your right, then almost immediately take the small path that descends to the left.
(14) The path very quickly joins Rue du Fourneau; follow it to the left. After crossing another bridge over the Viroin, leave the street as it turns left to enter the Jardin d’O. Cross a first bridge, then a second one to the left to walk alongside the artificial lake and return to the car park at the old Nismes cemetery (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
