Les Sources de l'Ouanne

The starting point is the car park at Place Jean Goutte Toquet in Ouanne.

(D/A) With your back to the river, walk up to the side street. Turn right. Take the Rue Principale and turn right to arrive at a flat bridge spanning a branch of the river.

(1) Just after crossing the bridge, turn left into Rue des Vignes. At the 90° bend, turn left onto a track. Cross the footbridge and continue along this lane with the river on your right. Shortly before the last properties, take a wide grassy strip on the right, crossing the river at the end.

(2) Turn left and quickly come to a courtyard with sheds on the right. Leave the road leading to the artisanal buildings on your left and go straight ahead on a track. After 2 consecutive bends, you will reach a semi-tarmac/semi-grass track which leads to a cross road. After a quick left/right, pick up the track above the wash-house. Carry on regardless of the start on the right and again find part of a road leading to the D950 at Usselot.

(3) Follow this road to the right for about 250 m, then leave it to take a path on the right that climbs steadily at first, then steeply as you approach the edge of the wood. This leads to a level path.

(4) Turn left and go flat. At the next crossroads, opposite 2 wind turbines, turn right. You will soon see 4 masts. Leave the various departures serving the technical platforms and head towards the huts.

(5) Leave them by bearing right and then right again at the next fork to start the descent to the Montputois washhouse. Watch out for farm machinery manoeuvring around the farm buildings.

(6) Take a slight left/right turn, leaving the path leading to the methane production areas of the farm, to take the path passing close to the buildings and sheds. On the gentle descent, veer left twice and join a wide cross-country track.

(7) Pass by a lone tree (December 2021) and turn right down towards Pierrefitte le Haut. When you reach the road, use it until you reach the junction with the D950.

(8) Cross the road carefully and go straight ahead. Go past the Pierrefite le Bas washhouse (where the Ouanne rises). At the end of the road, go straight ahead onto the path, leaving it on the right at the first fork. Continue on a steady descent through arable fields. Leave a small area of vegetation on the right and, shortly before a hedge on the right, turn left.

(9) Continue uphill until you reach the summit. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead and descend to Duenne. In the hamlet, continue to the crossroads marked by a central grass island.

(10) Turn right, then immediately left. Follow the gravel path up to the junction with the Voie Romaine. Ignore the latter and go right along a small stretch of road, then a small stretch of track, until you reach the D85.

(11) Cross carefully to go straight on and reach a crossroads.

(12) Turn right at the large bend about 500 m further on.

(13) Go downhill on a fairly technical path that runs along the edge of the woods, with the risk of branches crossing and ruts. At the road, go straight on for about 200 m.

(14) In front of the wooded strips, turn right to reach the tarmac road. Follow this to the junction with the D85. Cross the junction and turn left to return to the route already taken.

(1) Continue straight ahead, then turn left in front of the square towards Toucy (D/A).