Along the water, between Montélier and Fauconnières

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If you take this easy walk in spring, you will be charmed by the songs and gurgling of the water in the canals, streams and rivers that you will follow along the way. You will also be able to appreciate the great diversity of species in the vegetation, which is in full bloom at this time of year. An option (an extra half hour round trip) allows you to continue on to the village of Fauconnières.

Details

n°1920599
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.98 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 19 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 19 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 185 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 166 m
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Photos

Stone in honour of the washerwomen
The Lavoir, starting point
Path along the banks of the Guimand
Meadow near the Guimand

Description of the walk

(S/E) Park at Pont du Guimand, near the wooden sign at the starting point. Take the path that runs alongside the Guimand.

(1) When you reach a barrier, cross the road (Chemin de la "Commière") and continue to the right along the bank of the Guimand.

(2) Go through another barrier, turn left and cross the Guimand on a small wooden footbridge.

(3) You will arrive at a sign for "water retention basins".
Walk straight ahead to a large metal gate, following the LGV railway line.

(4) Go through the gate and after about 250 metres, cross the small stream called Le Jonas. When you reach a small lake, go around it keeping it on your right, and just after it, turn right to continue along it. Join a small road on the left.

(5) Turn left and follow this road, passing in front of the Petit Laval farm and following the small canal.

(1) Turn right to return to the starting point. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 185 m - Departure
  2. 1 : km 0.95 - alt. 177 m - Intersection
  3. 2 : km 2.3 - alt. 167 m - Wooden footbridge
  4. 3 : km 2.39 - alt. 167 m - Retention basin sign
  5. 4 : km 2.57 - alt. 166 m - Metal gate
  6. 5 : km 3.9 - alt. 173 m - Turn left onto the road.
  7. S/E : km 5.98 - alt. 185 m - Arrival

Notes

Alternative route: (3) You can go to Fauconnières by taking the small path on the right that passes under the railway line (you may need to duck your head) and follow the Guimand to the entrance to the village, then return by the same route (allow an extra half hour).

It is advisable to do this walk in spring or autumn when there is enough water in the streams.

Worth a visit

- Observe the diversity of trees along the banks of the Guimand and the rich flora in the wetlands.
- Monteynard Castle and its canal.
- Montélier Park with its pond.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
User 5039394

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The passage under the railway line (not very visible) to get to Fauconnieres should be indicated between points 2 and 3.
If you want to see the centre of Fauconnieres and its pretty church, you can make a small circular loop by taking the wooden bridge over the Guimand, continuing on, then turning left when you reach the Alixan road, passing in front of the church, crossing through old Fauconnieres, joining the Montélier road, and turning left to take the path that runs alongside the Guimand.

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banditxxx
banditxxx

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Well-shaded route from the car park (which is quite hidden, but easy to find thanks to GPS guidance via Gmaps) to WP1, along the Guimand, much less so afterwards. Unobstructed view of the Vercors, but you're at ground level, so nothing new in the region. Walking along the embankment in the initial section from WP1 to 2 to avoid the road, mainly paths from WP3 to 5 and tarmac from WP5 to 1, spoils the end a little before returning to the Guimand. Suitable for those who enjoy gentle, flat jogging.

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Calinebour
Calinebour

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, completely flat route along the Guimand... Arrived directly at the starting point without being from the area... No difficulty with the app...

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leodis
leodis

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A simple, flat walk that is easy to do with the family.
We found the starting point using Google Maps (marked "Au fil de l'eau").

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dederomans26
dederomans26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant section, between a stream and woods. The section across fields is nice, but ends in a farmyard and on a road (not very busy).
However, it is quite difficult to find the starting point.

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Jubru26
Jubru26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Flat route along the river.
Protected from the wind by tall trees along the entire first part of the path.
An easy walk for all ages.

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bibi1956
bibi1956

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

difficult to find the starting point

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Chansaud
Chansaud

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

It would be a good idea to give people directions to the car park at the starting point, as we locals had a lot of trouble finding the starting point, which is quite far from Montelier.

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VIVY-DADOU
VIVY-DADOU

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

We hike without GPS. As a result, the description is a little too brief, especially for the start: "Pont du Guimand"
which we couldn't find near Montélier.
So we set off from Fauconnières and started the hike via the alternative route.
Thank you anyway for all your hard work...!

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TRIADOUdaniel
TRIADOUdaniel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, with no elevation gain, to be done when the weather is fine and there is no wind, as the mistral wind can blow strongly across this unobstructed plain.

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isabelle.fin
isabelle.fin
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A walk accessible to all, with shade and sunshine, very pleasant.
We just did the walk in reverse; I hadn't noticed that No. 1 wasn't the starting point.

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grandin
grandin ★

christianmarce

It is possible that a moderator may have changed the description slightly during the selection process. Does this affect the reliability of the description?

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christianmarce
christianmarce

I have the impression that someone has modified the route and description of this hike, which I wrote... Is that possible? Originally, it started at a wash house near the hamlet of Les Marteaux and followed the Moulin path back to the wash house...

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christianmarce
christianmarce

I am the author of this hike and I have just corrected the route based on the comment made by hiker JY26, whom I would like to thank.
Thank you for your suggestions!
Enjoy your walks!
Best regards

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for the information you have provided us about this hike.
We hope that the author will take this into account and update it.

See you soon!

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