Circular between La Ribaudy and Pélussin

The hamlet of La Ribaudy is situated not far from the village of Chavanay, which lies on the RD86 on the banks of the Rhône at the south-eastern boundary of the Loire department. Park in the hamlet, taking care not to inconvenience the residents. The walk starts from the centre of the hamlet.

(S/E) Head towards the top of the hamlet and leave it by taking the Route de la Ribaudy on the left for about 200 metres, walking carefully along the verge. This road can be busy at times.

(1) Turn right here at the signpost marked ‘la Croix des Quatre Chemins’. Continue along the dirt track, straight ahead, ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left, until you reach a tarmac section; follow this to the right for about a hundred metres.

(2) Near a cross standing beneath a stone arch, on the edge of a property, leave the tarmac section and take the dirt track on the right. Please note: 300 metres further on, a wide track will appear on the left (this is not shown on the map). Do not take this path, but carry on for about ten metres further to take another path, slightly less visible on the left, which heads downhill, due north. (There is a high risk of taking the wrong path at this point). Continue downhill in a zigzag pattern until you reach the bank of the river (the Régrillon). Follow the river.

(3) Here, find the best spot to wade across the Régrillon without getting your feet wet. On the other bank, join the path that runs alongside the river, initially heading uphill to the left for a few metres, before reaching a junction with a wider path where you should continue uphill to the right. At the top stands the ‘La Pierre Taillée’ hiking signpost.

(4) After this signpost, take the verge on the left which runs alongside the D7 for about 250 m.

(5) Where you see a stone hut on the left, leave the roadside verge and take a dirt track on the left, heading uphill. When you reach a fork in the road, continue to the right and you’ll reach the hamlet of Petit Embuent.

(6) At the first junction, turn left onto the tarmac section. A few metres further on, at the next junction, turn left again. Carry on straight ahead until you reach the first houses in Pélussin. Continue straight ahead along Rue des Berlettes until you reach a crossroads.

(7) Turn left onto Rue du Planil and, at the next junction, keep left towards Maclas (as indicated on the road sign). Watch out for cars here. The road is busy and there isn’t much room for pedestrians.

(8) Leave the road before crossing the bridge and turn right onto Impasse de la Soie. Follow this path for about 60 metres. Before reaching the entrance gate to a property, turn right onto an uphill path where there are steps to climb. At the first junction, turn left onto a narrow path between two walls. Continue along this path, which keeps climbing, until you reach a tarmac section where you should keep going straight on. After 40 metres, when you reach a junction, turn left. Then, about twenty metres further on, leave this road and turn left towards the viaduct.

(9) Follow this path and, at the end, carry on straight ahead to cross the second viaduct and continue straight on along the old railway line. On this path, ignore a path branching off to the left and carry on until you reach a path running at right angles to it, where there is a hiking signpost.

(10) Turn onto the path on the left and continue slightly downhill until you reach a road.

(11) Cross the road and take the dirt track opposite. Please note that this track is not very visible at first, but it is definitely there. Carry on along this track. After the track bends at a right angle, continue along it until you reach a junction with another track, near the sewage treatment plant.

(12) Carry on straight ahead, passing a^first hiking^signpost , and continue straight on. You will then come to a second hiking signpost (La Truarie), where you should leave the straight path and turn left. Carry on straight ahead until you reach another hiking signpost.

(13) Turn left and cross a small stream. Take the path uphill on the right and carry on straight ahead until you reach another junction where there is another hiking signpost.

(14) Turn right onto a path leading downhill across the fields. The path joins a road at a bend. Follow it to the right for about ten metres, crossing a small road bridge, then take the path on the right which leads uphill. Carry on straight ahead until you reach the end of the Montée des Dorres in the hamlet of Gencenas.

(15) Carry on straight ahead along Rue du Plâtre, and quickly take the dirt track on the left. Continue along this track, keeping straight on, until you reach the bottom of a valley and cross the small bridge.

(16) Take the path on the other side to exit the valley. Continue straight on, uphill, until you reach the hamlet of La Ribaudy (S/E).

After crossing the second Pélussin viaduct, on the right there is a small park with a children’s playground and a few picnic tables.

Pélussin Viaduct.