West of Savas in the Annonay Basin

Start from a car park, 2 kilometres north of the village of Savas, on the edge of the D342 road and 500 metres before the Col du Fayet. The village of Savas is accessible from the roundabout at the eastern entrance to Davézieux, heading north.

(S/E) Head west along the D342 to reach the Col du Fayet junction.

(1) Take the stony track heading north, ignoring two roads on the right and two on the left. After 1 km, ignore a track branching off to the right and continue slightly to the left. After 200 metres, ignore two tracks on the left and right and follow the path downhill to reach a road.

(2) Follow this road downhill for 1,600 m.

(3) When the road takes a sharp right-hand bend, leave it and take the path to the left. Walk past the Les Fournets house, situated higher up on the left. After 300 m, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(4) Turn sharply left towards the hamlet of Éteize. Cross the hamlet to reach the D109 road below. Walk 100 metres to the right, then take the flat path, which then climbs to the left. Walk in a straight line through the forest for 1,300 m to reach a rocky outcrop with a beautiful view.

(5) Descend along the very stony path for 300 metres, ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left. You will reach a flatter, grassy section.

(6) Ignore a path branching off to the right and continue straight on, slightly uphill. After 450 m, at the edge of the forest, turn left at an angle. Reach the Chemin d’Éteize road and turn left for 100 m. At the edge of the forest, leave the road and take the hairpin bend to the right. The path joins another path near the hamlet of Les Traverses.

(7) Follow this path, which winds sharply to the left. Cross the bridge over the stream and climb up to the hamlet of Samoyas. Cross the hamlet, cutting across the Route du Fayet, then head straight on along Rue des Abeilles, followed by Rue des Forges, which then curves to the right. Take Chemin du Scree, climbing to the left for 250 metres.

(8) On leaving the hamlet, head south-east, to the right, towards the cultivated fields. Climb up to the ridge, ignoring a path branching off to the right. Pass a cross on the left and, immediately afterwards, ignore another path branching off to the left to descend straight ahead for 100 metres to a crossroads.

(9) Ignore the paths branching off to the left and right and continue the descent straight ahead. Arrive at the hamlet of Charézy and cross it heading north-east, ignoring the roads coming from the right.

(10) 200 metres after the hamlet, ignore the path leading uphill to the left and continue straight ahead towards the meadows. Climb until you reach the D342 road, with the start park directly opposite. (S/E)

Standard hiking kit.

Views of the Pilat Massif, the Vivarais mountains and the Annonay Basin.
Nearby: Lake Ternay and its circular walking route, the Canson-Montgolfier Paper Mill Museum in Vidalon, Davézieux, and the town of Annonay.