Cessens to La Chambotte circular loop

Park in the car park at Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette.

(S/E) Return to the D54 and follow it to the right. Then turn left at the junction and continue for about 50 metres along another road.

(1) Leave this road at the bend and follow the signs for the Tours de César. You’ll reach the towers and the castle ruins.

(2) Continue along the path, turn left at the fork about 200 m further on and carry on to the next junction.

(3) Take the path on the right and join a cross-country track.

(4) First turn left then right towards Mont Laval and join the ridge path.

(5) Follow this path to the left as far as the hamlet of La Chambotte

(6) Cross the D991b and turn left onto the Route du Belvédère. Leave this road at the three-way junction and continue straight on along the small road, which becomes a track through the mountain pastures.

(7) Carry on along the path that follows it, reach a junction and go straight on.

(8) Turn onto the track that descends steeply to the left and rejoin the D991b.

(9) Cross over, turn left onto it for a few dozen metres, then take the path on the right which joins a wider track. Turn right and head straight on along a meadow.

(10) When you reach the edge of the meadow, turn left into the Teppes à Monard and head uphill to a crossroads.

(11) Turn right and join a white track.

(12) Turn right and follow this track to the Jean Blanc crossroads.

(13) Continue straight on and, at the three-way junction, head straight ahead onto the road to join the D54 at a hairpin bend.

(14) Ignore the road and take the track on the left, which rejoins it further up. Then turn right onto the road to return to the car park (S/E).

The path along the ridge is shaded but sometimes runs close to the cliff, allowing you to enjoy the views in many places.

Some sections may be slippery as the path is sometimes steep.

Stop at the ruins of the Tours de César and at La Chambotte: the path to the viewpoint is very busy at weekends.