Straddling Roichat and Montagne des Alouettes

Departure from the Champ de Foire car park in Lainsecq.
This route follows a signposted mountain bike trail (no. 200) called "Petit tour sur la Montagne des Alouettes".

(D/A) From the bus shelter, cross the road and turn left into Rue du Muguet (heading north-east), which runs alongside a wall (there are sealed rings used to tie up cattle on fair days). Continue along this street until you reach the last houses in the village. Continue along this road and, at the crow's feet, fork left until you reach the edge of the wood.

(1) Turn left and follow the edge of the wood, then enter the wood at the crossroads of three paths. Reach the road. Turn left. The road soon becomes a footpath.

(2) Continue straight ahead at the intersection. At the left-hand bend, join a side road.

(3) Turn left onto this road.

(4) Take the first turning on the right and climb up to the edge of the Roichat woods. Continue until you reach the next crossroads.

(5) Turn right and go straight down to the tarmac road (D73).

(6) Turn right and, 150 m further on, turn left at the bend. Head east-south-east through the village of Sougères-en-Puisaye.

(7) Shortly after Les Simons, turn right twice in quick succession onto a track. Climb up to the next road.

(8) Turn left. Continue uphill and turn left at the first track (footpath markers on the ground). Head towards a wood.

(9) Head into the undergrowth to find the opening to a field on the right.

(10) Turn right and continue along the edge of the wood. Reach a road (cross on the right).

(11) Turn left onto the dirt track that leads to Rue des Carrouges.

(12) Turn right up this street. Pass a pond on your left, then turn right-left at the road to follow a track that leads to an old Roman road.

(13) Take this old Roman road on the left, which is very stony as you climb. Keep it as your main path.

(14) Further on, continue along the tarmac road opposite, keeping the wood on your left, until you reach the summit sign indicating "Montagne des Alouettes 365m". Continue straight on for a few dozen metres.

(15) Turn right onto the track, then left at the next crossroads. Leave the old mill on your left.

(16) In the middle of the plain (pedestrian markers on the ground), turn right onto a downhill track, then turn left at the next crossroads. Still descending, the path ends at Les Guillons du Ravan, on a street.

(17) Keep to the left of this street until you reach the D6. Carefully cross this road and turn right onto the path flanked by a hedge (young in 2018). At the crossroads with a track coming from the left, turn right onto a tarmac section. Go through the hamlet of La Villeneuve and come out onto a side road.

(18) Continue straight ahead to reach a crossroads with a track.

(19) Turn right onto the track. The climb takes you back to the D6 you crossed earlier.

(20) Go straight ahead on the track and find a cross-country path.

(21) At the wooded strip, turn left and continue until you reach a tarmac lane.

(22) Turn left to cross Champ Martin Bas. Reach the D6. Carefully cross this road to take a small lane opposite. There is a start on the left, then another on the right. Continue along this track, leaving the farm and Château de Beauvais on your left.

(23) Carefully cross the D3 towards Moulin Barjot and go straight on at the crossroads serving the houses in this hamlet. At the bottom of the descent, leave the right-hand road leading to Les Guirtelles. Go straight up and reach a fork in the road.

(24) Continue along the right-hand road (do not take the track on the right). Reach Montreparé.

(25) Cross the locality between a farm and the houses. Go downhill, reaching the middle of the hamlet of Chappe.

(26) Turn at the hydrant (on your left), into the small lane signposted "Source de la Pisserotte".

(27) After visiting the three springs (Pisserotte, Bouillon, Vigueur) (and perhaps stopping for a snack), turn back.

(26) Turn left, walk down a few metres and turn right.

(28) At the Croix de la Guirtelle, go straight on to the crossroads of four streets.

(29) Turn left. Take the second turning on the right, then the next on the left. Cross the D6 and join the car park (D/A).