Circular between La Ribaudy and Pélussin

The hamlet of La Ribaudy is located not far from the commune of Chavanay, which is on the RD86 road along the Rhône river at the south-eastern edge of the Loire department. Park in the hamlet, without disturbing the residents. The hike 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 on the side of the road. This road can sometimes be busy.

(1) Turn right here at the signpost marked "la Croix des Quatre Chemins". Continue along the dirt track, ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left, until you reach a tarmac section. Follow this to the right for about 100 metres.

(2) Near a cross standing under a stone arch, at the edge of a property, leave the tarmac section and take the dirt track on the right. Be careful, 300 metres further on, a wide path will appear on the left (this is not shown on the map). Do not take it, but continue for about ten metres to take another path, slightly less visible on the left, which descends northwards. (There is a high risk of taking the wrong path at this point). Continue zigzagging downhill until you reach the river (the Régrillon). Follow the river.

(3) Here, find the most suitable place to ford the Régrillon without getting your feet wet. On the other bank, join the path that runs alongside the river, initially climbing a few metres to the left, then coming to a junction with a wider path where you should continue uphill to the right. At the top, you will see the "La Pierre Taillée" hiking sign.

(4) After this signpost, take the side road on the left that runs alongside the D7 for about 250 metres.

(5) Where there is a stone hut on the left, leave the side of the road and take a dirt track on the left uphill. When you reach a fork in the road, continue on the right and you will reach the hamlet of Petit Embuent.

(6) Turn left onto the paved road at the first intersection. A few metres further on, at the next intersection, turn left again. Continue straight on until you reach the first houses in Pélussin. Continue straight on along Rue des Berlettes until you reach a crossroads.

(7) Turn left onto Rue du Planil and, at the next intersection, follow the road to the left towards Maclas (direction indicated on the road sign). Be careful of cars here. The road is busy and there is not much room for pedestrians.

(8) Leave the road before crossing the bridge and turn right onto Impasse de la Soie. Continue along this path for about 60 metres. Before reaching the entrance gate to a property, turn right onto an uphill path with steps to climb. At the first intersection, turn left onto a narrow path between two walls. Continue along this path, still uphill, until you reach a paved section where you should keep going straight ahead. After 40 metres, turn left at the intersection. Then, after about 20 metres, leave this road and turn left towards the viaduct.

(9) Take this road and, at the end, continue straight ahead to cross the second viaduct and continue straight ahead on the old railway line. On this path, ignore a path on the left and continue until you reach a perpendicular path 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 it and take the dirt track opposite. Be careful, this track is not very visible at first, but it is there. Continue along this track. After a right-angle bend in the track, continue along it until you reach an intersection with another track, near the sewage treatment plant.

(12) Continue straight ahead, pass the^first hiking^signpost and continue straight ahead. Then you will come to a second hiking signpost (La Truarie) where you must leave the straight path and turn left. Continue straight ahead until you reach another hiking signpost.

(13) Turn left and cross a small stream. Take the path uphill on the right and continue straight ahead until you reach another intersection with another hiking signpost.

(14) Turn right onto a path that descends across a field. The path joins a road at a bend. Follow it to the right for about ten metres, crossing a small bridge, then take the path on the right that goes uphill. Continue straight ahead until you reach the hamlet of Gencenas.

(15) Cross this hamlet following the road to the right, turn left at the hairpin bend into Rue du Plâtre and take a dirt track on the right. Continue straight ahead on this track until you reach the bottom of a valley where you will have to ford a stream as a small bridge in poor condition is unusable.

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

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

Pélussin Viaduct.