Uxeau circular loop via Mont Dardon

Park in the church car park.

(S/E) Walk past the church on your right until you reach the junction with the Route de Sainte-Radegonde (D255). Turn left and follow the road for about 500 m.

(1) Leave this road and turn right, towards Chez le Quatre. Continue to the first path on the left.

(2) Turn sharply left and take this dirt track, descending for 300 m, until you reach a junction.

(3) Turn left, towards Mont Dardon, and head up a dirt track. Mont Dardon is directly in front of you. Join the Route de Sainte-Radegonde, which you left earlier.

(4) Cross it and continue towards “Montmort”–“Grand Dardon” on a tarmac road. Pass “Chez le Pat”, which sells walnuts from its own harvest (see photo). Continue for 300 m until you reach a farm.

(5) Leave the road and turn onto a path, slightly hidden on the left, just before the farm. This path climbs steeply. Continue the ascent towards Mont Dardon on this path: Uxeau is behind you. Reach the top of the path.

(6) Turn right and follow the signs for “Accès au Dardon”. The climb becomes steeper and takes you through pine trees. The access point to Mont Dardon is about 500 m away: the site is well-maintained, with tables and benches provided for picnics.

(7) At the summit, look for a small path to the right of the only car park on the site. In summer, this may be hidden by vegetation. Follow this pretty path down through the pine and chestnut trees. The path leads out onto a meadow.

(8) Walk along the meadow to the right for about 100 m, and join the lovely path coming from the hamlet of Les Gautherons, which is on the right.

(9) Follow this path to the left and join the tarmac road (Route du Dardon).

(10) Take the sharp left-hand bend on this road and continue to a T-junction.

(11) Turn right and continue along Route du Dardon. Carry on for about 1.5 km until you reach the hamlet of Vaudelin and pass through it.

(12) Turn left towards Le Pontot and continue for about 600 m until you reach a junction after the Ruisseau de Vaudelin.

(13) Leave the road and continue left onto an uphill track. Carry straight on for 2 km. You cannot go wrong on this section of the route. You will reach a tarmac road near the Glafoux farm.

(14) Take the road on the left and continue for about 1.5 km. Follow a wood on the left and arrive at the Route de Gueugnon (D25)

(15) Ignore this road and turn left at the hairpin bend towards “Bois Michelot”–“La Jeutisse”. Continue along this small road for about 1 km until you reach the sign for “La Jeutisse”.

(16) Turn right towards Uxeau, whose church can be seen in the distance. You will come to a bridge.

(17) Cross it to the left and continue along Rue des Écoles to return to the church square and the car park (S/E).

The village bar is closed.
Toilets on the square.
The Dardon site is well-equipped and ideal for picnics.

https://www.uxeau.fr/le-mont-dardon