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Departure from the Meillerie landing stage (parking on Quai Marin Jacquier). Access via the D1005 (formerly N5), between Evian-les-Bains and Saint-Gingolph (French-Swiss border). Follow the sign for "Quai-promenade" shortly before the Meillerie exit when coming from Evian, or shortly after entering Meillerie when coming from Saint-Gingolph.
Yellow markings
(S/E) Follow the quay heading east. Pass a bar-restaurant and, at the next fork (signposted "baignade interdite" - no swimming), take the left-hand path which remains flat along the lake. Pass Place Eugène Veysin (signposted) and go around a restaurant on the right. You will come out at the port of Meillerie.
(1) Continue straight ahead along the south quay of the harbour. At the end of the quay, continue in the same direction and go around a house with a boat shelter on the right. Then go around a large shed on the left. At the lake's edge, cross the boat launch rails. Then turn right onto a track that climbs to reach a platform at the edge of the national road (sand and gravel company on the other side of the road).
(2) Cross the embankment, keeping to the left of the road. At the end of the embankment (sign), take a path on the left that descends. Walk at some height from the lake shore. Cross a stream on a wooden footbridge. You will arrive directly in front of the entrance to a disused railway tunnel.
(3) Continue with the railway retaining wall on your right. Pass a large tunnel on your right, from which a stream flows. At another tunnel on your right, much smaller and narrower than the previous one, turn sharply left to descend towards the lake (sign). Pass a jetty on the lake and then a small bamboo grove. You will come to some houses by the lake (signposted "Promenade Tournesol"). Pass a jetty and go around a building with a green gate, passing on the left over the small rocks at the lake's edge. Find a path and continue eastwards. At a fork, take the left-hand path, i.e. the one closest to the lake. You will come out onto a large stony area with a metal jetty on the left.
(4) Continue straight ahead, noting the masonry on the right, which is the remains of an old lime kiln.
(5) At a fork, there are several options.
- Follow the modified path and go up to the right to the D1005. Follow this road to the left to Locum beach, staying on the left-hand pavement. N.B. This road is very busy and the pavement is very narrow: this section is dangerous and of no interest!
- Turn back, taking into account the above comments, and follow the route in the opposite direction to the Meillerie landing stage.
- The path has been modified due to "beach erosion". However, the sign on site is not dated and it is unclear whether this is a simple recommendation or a prohibition... In April 2023, the route below was possible and presented no difficulty:
At the fork, turn left. Reach the lake shore and walk between pebbles and small rocks. The path then winds its way between pontoons (on the left) and small houses (on the right). You will come out onto the pebble beach of Locum (at the end of the beach, on the right at the foot of a staircase, signpost).
(6) The return journey follows the same route as the outward journey, in the opposite direction, to the Meillerie landing stage (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Difficult 
