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This walk is a variation on the classic tour of the Himalayan footbridges of Lake Monteynard, which does not require a boat trip (for a fee) to return to the starting point. In addition, this route takes you to the Pas du Berlioz (very beautiful view of the lake) and the Pont de Brion. It is hardly any longer than taking the boat, as you don't need to go all the way to the pier, which is quite far away. However, part of the route is a return trip.

Starting from Basse-Valette, the Pas des Rages provides access to the top of the cliffs of the Bourne Gorges. The path then runs along the cliff, offering magnificent views of the gorges and allowing you to discover the Balme Noire cave. In addition to the walk, access to the starting point is via the Bourne Gorges road, one of the most beautiful in the Vercors.

Numerous streams flow down from the Petites Roches plateau into the Isère valley, creating several spectacular waterfalls. This route allows you to explore those at the northern end of the Petites Roches plateau, which are not part of the ‘Tour des Petites Roches’GR® de pays route, which runs further south. If the full hike is too long, you can use this as inspiration for easier alternatives.

Le Grand Charnier is the peak overlooking the Collet d'Allevard resort. You can climb it via a very scenic walk, which follows the ridge for almost the entire route, and the summit offers magnificent views of all the surrounding mountain ranges. For those prone to vertigo, see the ‘Practical Information’ section Moderator’s note : some sections are considered very difficult; see reviews

This is an ideal walk for spring or winter when snow makes the peaks inaccessible for hiking but the mid-mountain range remains clear. Le Goutaroux offers superb views of all the surrounding mountain ranges: Mont Aguille and Vercors, Trièves, the Alps as far as Grenoble and Chartreuse. This circular route is an alternative to the return trip from Trézanne.

The currently signposted routes mean you have to choose between the Col and the Dent d’Arclusaz, each of which is accessible via a different side. This hike avoids this dilemma by offering a circular route that takes in both summits. See the ‘Practical Information’ section for details on the difficulty levels.

A lovely circular route alternating between gorges and peaks above the Buëch: an ascent through the Gorge des Marmites du Diable, a section along the Crête du Moure de l’Aigle and de l’Aup, and a return via a path running along the cliff ledge above the Gorges d’Agnielles. The walk is classified as difficult due to a few fords and tricky (but well-maintained) sections on the Marmites du Diable trail.

This hike offers some of the finest panoramic views from the ridges on both banks of the Jonte, taking you through the heart of the Causse Méjean and the Arcs de Saint-Pierre. It’s an alternative to the signposted routes, which each stay on a single bank, all in a circular route that can be completed in a long day!

In Valais, ‘bisses’ are irrigation channels built along the mountainside to distribute water from glacial torrents. Walking along the bisses generally makes for easy (little elevation gain) and pleasant walks. The route suggested here combines several bisses to form a circular route: out via the Bisse Neuf and the Bisse de Varen, through the forest; back via the Bisse de Mengis along the edge of the vineyards, passing by the Cascade de la Raspille. This results in a slightly greater elevation gain (as the outbound and return bisses are at different altitudes), but it allows for a greater variety of landscapes along the way.

This route, starting from Vernayaz, takes in some of the most iconic sites from the early days of tourism in Valais: the Route des Diligences, the Dailley Gorges and the Pissevache Waterfall. To complete a circular route, take a lovely balcony path beneath the Dent du Salentin. This allows you to enjoy the spectacular route through the Dailley Gorges as part of a day’s walk, rather than just a return trip from the car park.

Pierre Avoi is the local dialect term for ‘rock worth seeing’: that certainly makes you want to go there! It is an isolated rocky peak on the Verbier ridge, making it an iconic summit. The route suggested here, starting from the Col des Planches, is a slightly less busy alternative to the one from Verbier or Savoleyres.

Le Sex des Granges (2,082 m) is the first peak on the ridges surrounding Lake Salanfe. This circular walk takes you along the ridges, offering superb views, as well as a stroll along the lakeshore.