Neuchâtel Bike no 56 (Le Locle-Fleurier)

From Le Locle, we start the climb to the highest point of the day, the Grand Som Martel, which offers a rewarding panoramic view. Via Petit Som Martel, we continue uphill to the crossing of the road from Les Ponts-de-Martel to La Chaux-du-Milieu. We cross the road and stay at altitude for a while before enjoying an initially steep descent to Martel Dernier. Now the Combe Pellaton follows, leading us over to La Brévine, the "Siberia of Switzerland". North of the high valley we enjoy the view of the picturesque Lac des Taillères and partly ride directly on the CH-F border. Calmly we climb over pastures to the crossing to Les Verrières. From here the road leads down to Fleurier, but it is nicer along the northern slope through the settlement of Les Bayards. One last sight just before St. Sulpice is the source of the Areuse, which has already collected quite a bit of water in the Jura limestone before it sees the light of day here as an impressive stream.