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The starting point is on the right bank of the Loire, just after the Vourdiat bridge. A small road descends to the right after the bridge (or to the left if you are coming from Saint-Jodard) and leads to a few parking spaces for 5 to 6 cars.
(S/E) From the car park, take the path that leads down to the left, along the Goutte Martel stream. After a few hundred metres, the path crosses the stream via a recent wooden bridge, before climbing quite steeply to reach the plateau. During the climb, in a meadow on the right, you will notice a small sheepfold in poor condition, with a few occupants. Take the opportunity to admire the view of the Loire, to the north and west. The path gradually flattens out to reach the hamlet of Rossignolet
(1). At the intersection, turn right towards the hamlet of Rives, which you will reach after a few hundred metres. Continue to the next crossroads.
(2) Ignore the road on the right, turn left to continue through the hamlet and start descending through the meadows. Just after the first right-hand bend, turn left onto the path that descends steeply between the meadows. A little further down, you will see an old sign indicating that this path was a road before the dam was built. The path joins the banks of the Loire on a beautiful grassy esplanade, then turns left along the riverbank before climbing back up towards a few houses. Continue straight ahead until you reach the first road.
(3) Go down to the right until you reach the stop sign (junction with the D56). Take care when crossing, as visibility on your left is reduced. Go up the D56 on your left for 50 metres to find a paved passage (a few wooden steps). Go down the D56, cross again to find the path that runs alongside the Loire.
(4) At the edge of the Loire, note a small earthen esplanade that is also suitable for picnics (if the sun is not too strong, as there are no trees in this area). The path then climbs gently up the right bank of the Loire until it reaches the Pont de Pinay car park. Head for the junction a few dozen metres to the left. Keep left again to climb up the Chemin des Buis.
(5) When the path turns left, take the path opposite that climbs up the hillside. A few trees along the edge provide welcome shade on sunny days. Halfway up the hill, the meadow on the right is home to a few donkeys who will happily come and greet you if you approach them calmly. Continue along the path to the railway line and cross it with caution: there is a metal gate on each side to mark the crossing, but you still need to be careful. On the other side of the railway line, take the path along the edge of the meadow that leads to Impasse du Riout. Continue climbing gradually until you reach the first street on the left, Rue de la Marelle. It passes in front of the school and leads to the town hall square in Pinay. See Practical Information.
(6) Continue along Rue de la Marelle, cross Route de la Digue and head towards Saint-Jodard (still on a section of the D56). At the first bend, keep to the left of the calvary and descend via Impasse de Goutte Martel. This quickly turns into a path, then a trail after crossing the stream on a stone footbridge. The trail then climbs steeply to the entrance to Saint-Jodard, back on the D56.
(7) Stay on the D56 for about a kilometre. After a left-hand bend, you will come to a crossroads in the right-hand bend that follows.
(8) Leave the D56, which continues to the right, and go straight on along the Voie de la Reculat. Continue to the bridge over the railway line. Before the bridge, take in the panoramic view of Saint-Jodard and Pinay. Continue along the Chemin de la Reculat until you reach the small hamlet, with the calvary on your right marking the start of the final descent.
Once you have passed the hamlet of La Reculat, ignore the marked trail that branches off to your right and continue downhill. The trail leads directly to the starting point car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
