Montferrand, Cleyzieu, Mont de l’Ange circular loop

Park in the car park next to the railway line, a short distance from the village of Montferrand, right by the River Albarine.

(S/E) Walk to the centre of the village; at the wash house, take the tarmac road opposite on your right, which leaves the village and runs alongside the railway line on the right. You’ll reach a crossroads immediately after a gate leading to a farm field.

(1) Take the left-hand path, marked in yellow. Walk alongside the meadows until you reach the small stream, the Leat Ravinet, very close to the Cascade du Pissoir. You can make a detour to see this waterfall.

(2) Cross this stream, then continue to the right along the yellow-marked path, passing close to the Grotte du Pissoir. Cross the river over the stones – please note: in the event of heavy rain, the crossing may be difficult. Continue uphill through the forest, then, after a few hairpin bends, reach a quiet road.

(3) Turn right onto this road and follow it. Before reaching the village of Dorvan, you’ll come to a crossroads of footpaths.

(4) Leave the road and the yellow markings on your right, and turn left downhill onto this forest track. You’ll reach a bridge over a stream.

(5) Cross the bridge and continue until you reach the Leat Ravinet.

(6) Continue along the leat, alternating between its left and right banks. You’ll reach a Y-junction at a place called Le Muret.

(7) Turn left here, crossing the river. Head up the path alongside grazing meadows. You’ll come to a large, old wash house, below the village of Cleyzieu, with a sewage treatment works nearby.

(8) Continue uphill to reach the centre of the beautiful village of Cleyzieu, passing in front of the church.

(9) Head towards Mont de l’Ange, as indicated on a sign, by taking a small road on the right as you leave the village after the church. You’ll reach a hairpin bend.

(10) Here you have two options:
- turn left and continue downhill to reach the village of Mont de l’Ange directly via the yellow-marked path,
- take the path opposite – this is the route shown on the map – and then rejoin the road. You’ll come to a three-way junction.

(11) Turn right, then take the path that follows it, keeping to the right. Enter the woodland and continue slightly uphill until you reach a T-junction at the highest point.

(12) Take the path on the left, head downhill and reach the edge of the woods at a place called Golet de Pètrement. Turn left and follow the edge of the woods. You’ll then come to a wider track, followed by the road at Creux de Lent.

(13) Ignore the road here and take the path on the right. Cross the meadows. Continue across the open plateau, with beautiful, vast meadows stretching across the whole plateau. At a three-way junction in the path, keep left to reach the top of the Rochers de la Falconnière, at the Balcon de la Falconnière viewpoint.

(14) Walk along the top of the cliff, though it is quite a distance from the edge. Carry on until you leave the edge of the meadow. Join a wide path leading down into the forest. Follow this long, gently sloping path, which winds to the left, to reach the village of Mont de l’Ange.

(15) Walk through the village, reach the D60, then take the shortcut opposite which brings you back onto the road about a hundred metres further on. Then turn left onto it and follow it to the Montferrand car park (S/E).

Make sure you wear shoes suitable for walking in water, as the path runs alongside the bed of a small river.

(9) Village of Cleyzieu.
Between (13) and (14), on the left in the middle of the meadow, right at the foot of a tree, lies the Gouffre de Lent; it has been sealed off for safety reasons.
Between ::14: and after the Balcon de la Falconnière: a viewpoint on the right, offering a panoramic view from the edge of the cliff over the Albarine valley towards Saint-Rambert. Please note: this is a dangerous viewpoint; do not approach the edge.
(15) Mont de l’Ange: head here to discover the little bakery right in the centre of the village.