The Franches

Start and finish at the fountain-washhouse in the centre of the village of Avançon

1. The route starts in the centre of the village of Avançon, on the church square opposite the fountain. Take the road that climbs on the left towards the Forest de Borel. Pass by the Notre-Dame-de-Pitié chapel and continue straight ahead on the track to reach a crossroads
2. Enjoy the view of the Puy Maurel mountain to the west (telecom tower), the Pic de Bure (2,709 m), the Vieux-Chaillol (3,163 m) and the Piolit (2,464) to the north. Continue to the left along a rocky track. Go down the latter and after a few hairpin bends, reach the Avançon plain
3. From the plain, take the track on the right towards Les Frâches. Continue on this track until you reach a tarmac road, just after the ford of the Bridon torrent
4. Follow the direction "Les Bridons" by taking the road on the right. Go past the hamlet of the same name, then continue along the road. At the crow's feet leading to Les Aroncis, continue on the right for about 150 m until you reach the start of a path, leaving the road on the right, at the end of a sharp bend.
5. Cross the torrent by the wooden bridge and then enter a pine forest on a nice ascending path. The path widens into a track and then rejoins the communal road at the Villard
6. Go down to the right along the communal road to reach the crossroads. The return to the centre of the village is via the road. The road descends slightly, before going up to the fountain and the centre of the village.