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Departure from Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte, reached from Les Échelles or Chambéry via the Col de Coux. Park in the Pont Romain car park, under a reservoir and near the wash house.
(S/E) Head north and after 50 metres, turn right onto the ramp leading up to the Voie Sarde towards the Grottes des Échelles. It passes in front of the Grotte de la Glacière, then the Monument to Charles-Emmanuel II and goes up the gorge to a crossroads.
(1) Take the ladder on the left over the parapet to climb the Sentier du Beauvoir, a marked trail that quickly rises between the rocks, with sections equipped with handrail cables but without any particular technical difficulty.
The slope then levels out to climb up the edge of the plateau and its sharp limestone pavement. The trail crosses a path, continuing straight ahead, then joins a forest track.
(2) Follow this track on the left for a while. After a flat section, it heads straight north on a steeper slope to the Pré Pollet cross-path (990m).
(3) It is possible to turn right to the ruins of Pré Pollet, then turn left towards Riondet via the Pas des Autrichiens.
After 100m, don't miss the cairn and, above all, the blue markings on the right that indicate the path up to Mont Beauvoir. It first climbs a few switchbacks that rejoin an old path, then approaches the cliff (on the left) and climbs more and more steeply up the slope. Stay on the blue-marked trail for as long as possible, even if the markers are increasingly spaced out.
When the slope levels out as you approach the summit ridge, the markings eventually disappear and there are sometimes multiple paths: the one closest to the cliff (a few metres on the east side) is the most continuous. It leads to a few rocky vantage points, among which two cairns mark the geographical summit (IGN marker on the ground).
(4) Continue along the ridge path towards the north, as the eastern slopes are now steeper. It descends to a small pass and climbs back up towards Le Caut.
You will begin to see the first clearings below on the right. Do not descend immediately, but only near the summit of Le Caut: then descend towards the east, keeping to the left to reach a cleared plateau replanted with young conifers. Cross this plantation to find a forest track which, still keeping to the left, leads to a hunters' hut at the junction with the Saint-Jean-de-Coux forest road.
(5) Head north, then immediately turn left towards the west onto a badly damaged forest track (avoid the ruts) which leads to the Col du Caut.
Descend its western slope via the steep and slippery (when wet) Gardes trail to the Fournet crossroads.
(6) Turn left to descend the stony forest road. It crosses several forest tracks, passes La Sablière and then becomes tarmac. It arrives at the first meadows.
At the top of these meadows (paragliding area), cut across the slope at a water reservoir below the road: if the meadow has been mowed, walk across it, otherwise walk along the edge of the woods and then take the paths through the woods back to the road at the Ferme Riondet lodge.
(7) From the lodge, go down the road for 300 metres and just after a left-hand bend, turn right onto a path to make a circular loop through the woods and descend towards the farms to come out onto a road at Maisons Peylin (790 metres).
(8) Take the road on the left, which climbs slightly to the hamlet of Bande.
Go down the Bande road for 200m and turn left onto a south-facing path, crossing the road and then another road near a car park. The descent continues through meadows (barriers) and then a wooded valley leading to the Belvédère de l'Écolu.
(9) Go up the road on the left and turn right onto a path that descends from the meadows and enters the forest. Follow the marked route, which leaves several paths on the right and reaches the site of the Meulière du Menuet.
(10) Continue downhill (with a few short climbs) through the forest, always keeping to the left when paths branch off to the right. A short climb leads to the Chapelle de la Madeleine chapel.
(11) Continue downhill, pass Col de la Voûte, turn left, then on the slope leave the path that descends to Saint-Christophe to climb back up to the right and resume a moderate descent of the Menuet hill.
The path stays on the ridge, passes the Menuet crossroads and then the Croix des Carriers and arrives at a statue (Sacré-Coeur) in the centre of the old Château des Échelles.
(12) Descend in front of the castle facing south, then take the old stairs to reach the old N6 (Rue des Commandeurs): Caution!
(13) Cross and turn left towards Chambéry for 100 metres. Descend as soon as possible on the right, take the Passage de l'Argenette and then turn right onto the Route des Grottes to arrive at Guiers Vif (alternative route: see practical information).
(14). Follow the "Voie Royales" until you reach your destination.
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