The washhouses and thatch of Thury à cheval

Departure from the forecourt of Saint-Julien de Thury church.

This trail is signposted MTB route 206 and follows the same route as a footpath in the opposite direction, signposted route 9.

(D/A) Take Rue de la Fontaine Saint-Julien for 100 m, then turn right into Rue du Guichet. At the next crossroads, turn left and continue for around 300 m, finding the start of a path on the left a few metres after the sign indicating the end of the built-up area.

(1) Follow the track to the left, straight ahead, for approximately 1.300 km, until it forks at the end of a hedge of trees.

(2) Take the track on the right, reach a small lane and take it on the right.

(3) At the four-way junction, go straight ahead towards Colangette and at the next junction, turn right for a few metres and then left again. This avoids going through the hamlet of Colangette.

(4) At the crossroads with Rue du Carouge, continue straight ahead on the dirt track without worrying about whether you are coming from the right or the left. At the crossroads, turn right and join the road (D4).

(5) Keep right for 50 m, then climb the track on the left to reach a tarmac road.

(6) Turn right and continue along this road. At the next junction, take the road on the right for about 100 m and then the 1st dirt track on the left to reach the Puits des Champs washhouse.

(7) Continue to the next tarmac road, turn left and enter the village of Grangette. Continue straight ahead until you reach a four-way crossroads.

(8) Turn right towards Pesselière and, at a copse, reach the next start of a dirt track on the right. Take this, then turn left a few metres after turning right at right-angles to reach a road (D73).

(9) Continue straight ahead, into the undergrowth, along the path on the right. From this point onwards, there are many marked trails; refer to the practical information and mountain bike signs. Go south-west, leaving the quarries on your left and following the wooded strip.

(10) Continue straight on along the edge of the wood. Pass the stadium on your right and come to a cross road (football pitch changing rooms below).

(11) Turn left onto the road, which becomes a forest track. Leave all the paths on the right and left as far as the edge of the wood on the way down.

(12) Turn 90° to the right and follow the edge of the Bois du Roichat then between the fields to the next road.

(13) Turn right and continue for about 800 m to the next track on the left.

(14) Take this path and after 150 m, turn right and stay on this path until you reach the next road (D3).

(15) Cross the road carefully and continue along the track opposite, slightly to the left. At the four-way crossroads, turn right, cross the road again and follow the track down to the Source de Moulery with its washhouse. Return to the road.

(16) Cross the road on the left and right and take the dirt track.
On this path, there is a lovely view of the hamlet of Moulery. Turn right once, then left again to reach a four-way crossroads.

(17) Turn right, then right again at the next crossroads to reach the Gémigny washhouse.

(18) Follow the road to the left and go straight on until you reach the last buildings.

(19) Take the track on the left to reach the Source de Boutaut.

(20) Turn around and return to Gémigny.

(19) Turn right and then, at the crow's feet that follow, turn left into Rue des Cours, then left again into Rue des Lavoirs. Keep to this until you reach the Source de Panny.

(21) Carefully follow the road to the left, heading north-west. Ignore a road on the left and you will come to a crow's-foot. Bear right and immediately afterwards take the track on the left. At the next crossroads, turn right to reach the next one at the top of the climb.

(22) Turn right to join a road (D73).

(23) Cross the road with care and take the track opposite, leaving it at the next crossroads to turn left and then right. Continue straight on until you reach the village of La Forêt with its drinking trough.

(24) Take the road on the right (D211) as far as the semi-underground reservoirs on the left.

(25) At the right-hand bend in the road, take the dirt track on the left, heading south-east. Ignore a track on the right, then another on the left and, at the bottom of the descent, turn left to reach the road at the first houses in Thury.

(26) Cross this road, with the wash-house and Fontaine de Saint-Julien opposite, and continue south-east to reach the village church forecourt (D/A).