Parking is available in the car park near the Étangs des Princes, on the right-hand side of the D228E when coming from Raynans, before the climb to Saint-Julien-lès-Montbéliard.
(S/E) From the car park, walk to the nearby pond and take the marked path on the right, towards the downstream end of the pond. At the end, cross the Rupt.
(1) At the end of the footbridge, turn left (marked with a yellow rectangle + blue rectangle) and walk along the pond on your left. Atthe first car park, turn left and take thefirst footbridge. Immediately turn right without taking thesecond footbridge and continue with the pond on your left. At the end of the pond, take two footbridges in succession and return along the pond on your left via a beautiful wooded path. You will reach a small yellow/orange house that serves as a shelter.
(2) Take the path to the right of the house and climb up to the D228E road. Follow this road to the right until you reach the village of Saint-Julien-lès-Montbéliard. Once in the village, take thesecond street on the right. Pass in front of a restored wash house and you will immediately reach a crossroads.
(3) Turn left onto Rue de l'École. At the end (town hall opposite), turn left onto Grande Rue. Take thefirst right, Rue du Temple, and you will reach the entrance to the cemetery next to the temple.
(4) Go through the gate to enter the cemetery and walk past the front of the temple. Leave the cemetery through the gate on the other side, then climb slightly to the right to reach the greenway cycle path. Turn right and follow this cycle path down through the forest to the next T-junction.
(5) Follow the forest path on the left and head south until you reach the foot of the water tower.
(6) Turn left in front of the water tower, still following the yellow rectangle + blue rectangle markings. Follow the ridge due east. Further on, descend slightly and reach a T-junction.
(7) Turn left, heading north-northeast, and climb slightly. At the crossroads (elevation 423), follow the marked path opposite (north) towards the village of Issans and descend. Leave the forest and enter the village via Chemin de la Forêt (tarmac road). You will come out onto Rue Principale; follow it to the left for about 50 metres.
(8) Then take thefirst right and cross the Rupt again. At the end of the bridge, take the marked path opposite. Go up into the woods and then turn left onto a path just after a hedge (no markings). Go up this path and then continue on the tarmac road.
(9) At the crossroads, turn right towards some woods and an antenna. Just after passing the antenna, turn left. At the next crossroads, go straight ahead (north-west). You will come to a crossroads near the D37 (car park).
(10) Turn left, cross the D37 and follow the small road opposite towards Raynans. At the intersection at the entrance to the village, turn right onto Rue des Faillis. Continue onto Rue des Grands Prés (D250) and follow it to the right. Continue along Grande Rue, pass the town hall and school and you will reach a crossroads.
(11) Turn left onto Rue des Moulins and continue downhill until you reach the end of the village. Before the bridge over the Rupt, take the path on the right towards the woods. Turn left into the woods after about 100 metres uphill and you will reach the downstream end of the pond.
(1) Then turn left, take the footbridge and follow the path you took at the start of the hike in the opposite direction. This will take you back to the car park where you started (S/E).
