Ambérieux-en-Dombes walks

A pleasant walk typical of the Dombes. Mainly on tarmac but with very little traffic; you are on secondary roads. Along the route there is a high concentration of ponds, which are full of water in 2020. The view of the ponds is unobstructed and you will encounter many different birds. The walk is punctuated by a variety of landscapes: ponds, fields, copses and even a view of the Beaujolais region.

This walk combines nature and heritage. In the centre of the village of Rancé, discover the oldest and most important witness to the history of the commune, the Romanesque church, which has been renovated several times. You will discover the wash house, a testament to the 19th-century hygiene movement, as well as the Pierre Brune, a block of granite, the local "big rock".

An easy walk leading to the Vernange Sensitive Natural Area with its observatory. Don't forget your binoculars.

An easy and enjoyable walk to discover the ponds of the Dombes and its birdlife.

A hike from Saint Marcel to the Étang du Grand Birieux Nature Reserve and its observatory. Please note that the hike is mainly on tarmac with a 100m section on the D2 road.

Through fields and woods, discover manor houses, equestrian centres and, amongst other sights, the Étang des Vavres with its ducks, swans and extensive reed beds. The Étang des Vavres is under cultivation in 2023.

Explore the area around Chaleins and the banks of the Mâtre for a countryside walk.

From the restored market hall to the recently refurbished lake, via a remarkable church, this route combines the old and the new.

A flat route, suitable for all, often used for Sunday walks. Due to the passages over the railway line, pushchairs are not recommended. For geocaching enthusiasts, I have marked the caches located along the route.

This short walk will allow you to discover, from the road, the private châteaux of Tavernost and Vataneins.

From the Dombes plateau to the banks of the Saône, make the most of this walk to enjoy a refreshing cultural break at the Maison Eclusière in Parcieux.

An easy family walk that starts at Mionnay Station, crosses the Bois des Pommes and leads to Étang Dimanche.

An easy walk starting from Jassans-Riottier. A steep climb at the start, then almost entirely flat on the plateau. Beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Set off on a nature and culture walk between the Saône and the châteaux.

From Lurcy to Messimy-sur-Saône via the banks of the Saône, this walk gives you the chance to discover, along the way, the small chapel of Amareins, which dates back to the 11th century.

This hike will take you to the Grange du Diable (on the Rhône side) and past the Château de Fléchères.

Hike proposed and organised by the ASMT: an easy and pleasant route along the Saône and around the lakes of Anse. Please note: there is a short stretch of tarmac at the start and end of the route.

A lovely route through fields on the Val de Saône plateau on the outskirts of the village of Montanay. Good country lanes, limited elevation gain, but with one or two fairly steep and earthy sections (passing through valleys) that can be slippery in wet weather.

A short route suitable for lockdown with moderate elevation. The first part is through the woods of Montanay and the second

Most of the walk is in the forest. The paths are pleasant, with quite a few small stones on the ground. In rainy weather or after heavy rain, the path may be muddy or even impassable in places (not sure, to be checked). The end of the walk is not in the shade, so it can get hot in the sun. Moderator's warning: a section of the route is now closed. Please wait for a detour to be put in place.

This hike takes you through the woods around the village of Montceaux. Along the way, discover the ponds, the ruins of an oil mill and the private castle of La Bâtie.

Easy circular partly along the Saône, crossing the small marina of Genay and running alongside a small stream.

Take a stroll through the valleys and plateau from this splendid little town.

Discover the medieval town of Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne and its surroundings: passing through the medieval streets and the castle, you will discover the natural area of Prés Gaudet before exploring the Relevant valley, ending with a stroll through the arboretum.

This walk, after giving you a beautiful view of the Château de Curis, will take you close to three mountains: Mont Narcel, Mont Verdun and Mont Py before returning to Saint-Germain. You will discover several wash houses and small chapels along the way.

This hike will take you to the Croix Rampeau (viewpoint over the Alps and the Saône plain), the Tour Risler (Poleymieux-au-Mont-d'Or), the ruins of a hermitage, the remains of a tannery and several old wash houses. Depending on the season, you will see daffodils, orchids, wild asparagus (edible), martagon lilies or fields of colchicum.

From the Minimes site to the Croix du Paradis in Guéreins, walk along the heights of the Val de Saône with views of the Monts du Beaujolais before returning along the towpath by the river.

This hike in the Monts d'Or mountains, starting from Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, will allow you to enjoy the panoramic view of Mont Thou and Mont Verdun and discover the drystone shelters that are part of the region's heritage. It follows the inner route of the Monts d'Or with a variant to shorten the circuit.

This short, easy loop starting from Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d'Or will take you to the ruins of a retting pit and a hermitage. In September, you can see colchicum flowers and, if you feel like it, extend the circuit to the Croix Rampaux: a viewpoint over the Saône plain and the Alps.

This hike will take you to a Madonna statue lost in the woods, then to a lime kiln and an old military structure. After skirting Mont Verdun, it will lead you near Mont Py, then to a hermitage and a charcoal kiln. After a visit to a wash house and the climb to the Croix Rampeau, the return journey will take you through a small tunnel and past another wash house and a discreet passageway beneath a house in St-Germain. The GPX track on the app or a GPS is required.

This loop, starting from Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, will take you to Mont Thou with its magnificent view of the region, then to Mont Verdun and Mont Py, and finally to Croix Rampeau before descending back to Curis. During this hike, you will see two old wash houses and, depending on the season, orchids, martagon lilies, wild asparagus and many other flowers

A beautiful route, fairly challenging in the first third with alternating ascents and descents. Beautifully diverse landscapes. Magnificent panoramic view at the start of the route.

This loop starting from Poleymieux will take you to discover the drystone shelters, traditional huts built from dry stones in the Monts d'Or. The route passes through the forests on the northern slopes of the Monts d'Or and beautiful meadows. You will follow part of the geological discovery trail with its excellent information panels. The paths are easy for the most part, but the forest trails can be steep and tricky in wet weather.

This hike follows paths already covered in other hikes, but is nonetheless interesting. Best done in dry weather, as there are a few steep sections.

A walk that will take you through a variety of different landscapes and offer some lovely views. A route best undertaken in dry weather.

A pleasant hike with a few steep climbs, good for your heart rate, best done in dry weather as some sections are muddy and slippery in wet weather.

This hike is best done in dry weather, with trees providing shade from the sun.

This circular starting from Chasselay will take you to the Batterie des Carrières (a fortification dating from 1874) through vineyards and forests. You will see the perfectly restored Poleymieux lime kiln, surrounded by numerous panels describing how it worked. On the way back, depending on the season, you may see various orchids and martagon lilies.

A hike in the Monts d'Or massif that takes you along both well-known and lesser-known paths; best undertaken in dry weather, as some sections can be very muddy and slippery when wet. Take care when crossing the 4x4 training ground. At weekends, if vehicles are present, ask permission to cross

This circular route will take you to the statue of the Madonna, installed in 2009 to replace another Madonna that was stolen. Along the way, you will see the Saint-Antoine hermitage, the tomb of the hermit Benoît Rousset, and a drying shed. You may encounter horses and mountain bikes. Be careful in rainy weather as the paths can be slippery and muddy.

This is an easy route, best undertaken with good walking shoes. However, be careful in wet weather as the clay soil can be slippery and muddy in places. Along the route, there are information panels explaining the formation of the Monts d'Or massif.

A hike through the woodland that mainly follows unmarked paths; GPS and the Visorando hiking app are recommended, and the route should be undertaken in dry weather. There are a few very steep sections; walking poles are recommended. The hike takes approximately 3½ hours. Get your walking boots on.

This circular route will take you along part of the geological trail, past the lime kiln and the quarries, as well as numerous drystone shelters, which served as shelters for farmers and, in some cases, as dwellings after the last war while their occupants waited to find permanent accommodation. Please note that in wet weather, some sections may be muddy and slippery.

This hike is best done in dry weather. In wet weather, the trails will be very muddy, with a few sections that will raise your heart rate but nothing insurmountable. The hike begins on a quiet paved road for about 700 metres. Please respect the area and do not leave any rubbish behind.

This hike follows part of the Madone hike, with a variation at the start and finish. Please note that there are some very steep sections, so walking poles are strongly recommended to avoid slipping in wet weather.

This short loop of around ten kilometres from Poleymieux church will take you on a journey through time. Go back 200 million years with the Monts d'Or geological trail. Then travel to the 19th century with the surprising drystone shelters, the Carrière battery, the magnificent lime kiln at Polyemieux and finally the Ampère Museum. And finally, return to the 21st century with the Air Base 942 site and its secret installations.

An extended tour of a pretty village in a beautiful location in the Monts d'Or.

This circular starting from Couzon-au-Mont-d'Or will take you to the remains of the Monts d'Or Aqueduct, a charming little wash house and a few other ruins. The first and last thirds of the route follow marked trails, while the central part follows small unmarked paths.

A rustic route on rocky paths starting from the village of Poleymieux, one of the most beautiful villages in France, which joins theGR® du Mont Thou, offering a nearly 360° view of the entire region: in particular, views of the Alps and Mont Blanc, the Monts du Lyonnais and the Beaujolais. Pass by an old wash house and picturesque rocks before finishing the climb up the ridge of Mont Thou to the summit.

Between Lissieu and Chasselay, the Chemin de Machy walk is a quick round trip that allows you to discover Machy Castle and the surrounding countryside. The walk alternates between wooded and sunny areas.

A long walk starting from Montuel that will take you to the heights of the coast. In good weather, you can enjoy views of the Alps and the Bugey. If you feel so inclined, the Madonna will thank you for stopping by the Saint-Barthélemy Chapel on your way back.

Family walk above Montluel, along the Cotey stream, between woods and farmland.

Most of the walk is on paths through the woods or along farm tracks. There are a few short sections on country roads. For those who want to diversify their activities, there is the option of a day's fishing at Lac Neyton.