CIRCUIT LES PETITS ORDONS

A pleasant trail with fine views, particularly at the Carrefour des Sept Chemins. There are 3 variations on this route. The route passes through the Hospices de Pompey forest and the commune of La Croix aux Mines. Leave the Verpellière school and, after a few steps on the route de Raumont, turn left onto the chemin de la Rochière. It's a tough climb, and you'll pass a roadside cross dating from 1715. This cross was knocked down twice: once during the 14-18 war, when it was blown up by French artillery firing on Wisembach and Cote 607 below, and again when a tree was felled. Take the path to the left of the cross and continue uphill to reach the Guillaumé farm. After the farm, turn right and you'll come to a wood inside which the ruins of an old farmhouse remain. Make a 180° turn and climb up through the broom to reach the edge of the forest and a path coming from Baudifosse. Here you already have a fine view of the valley. Then head right to reach the Clairgoutte plateau and a large loading bay, skirting a sheep pen. Here you have a fine view of the Behouille. From here, take the Hospices de Pompey forest road. In 40 minutes, it will take you to a forest road leading from a private estate. At the junction of these two paths, you are at an altitude of 950 metres. Then tackle a gentle climb to the Carrefour des Petits Ordons, the highest point of your tour at 965 metres. At this crossroads, there are two signposts leading to the Jean-François Pelet road (water and forestry inspector murdered by the Germans in October 1944): - one joins this road near the grave of Lieutenant Y. Burle of the 7th BCA killed on August 13, 1914 (variant 1a: 17.5 km / 5h30 / + 562 m) - the other joins the road at the bridge crossing the Pré de Raves stream (variant 1b: 17.5 km / 5h30 / + 562 m) Connection with GR 531 at Col du Pré de Raves (0h45 - 2.5 km) Turn right towards Carrefour des Sept Chemins at the chalet des chasseurs de La Croix aux Mines (altitude 902 m, magnificent viewpoint). As you go downhill, follow a forest track where you'll find a refreshing spring at 900 m. The path then steepens through the forest. At the 180° bend in the road, you have the option of taking a left-hand variant leading to "La Chalande" via the ridge (variant 2: 12.5 km / 4h30 / + 522 m), or a right-hand route taking you past the Lambiacôte spring, through the woods and on to "La Chalande". There's a fine view of the upper Raumont and you'll see the Voinson farm above which you passed on the outward journey. Through meadows and deciduous trees, you make your way without difficulty to the Bellevue farm, then down a scrubby path that joins the small road to Sadey above the Dieudonné farm, on the La Croix aux Mines side. Turn right on this road to reach Ban de Laveline via La Rochette. At the carefour, you can turn left to reach Verpellière by road (variant 3: 12.5 km / 4h30 / + 522 m) or right, after the Hollard farm, to take the path down the Bergon meadow, which leads you across the stream to the bottom of Raumont. Finally, you're back at Verpellière. All variants have the same markings.