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Access: from Ampuis, head towards Le Recru via the D45 until you reach the Le Girard housing estate. Once at Le Girard, at the corner by the bus shelter, turn left onto the Chemin des Grands Frênes (towards the old pigeon shooting range, for those who remember it). Park about 200 m along the side of the path.
(S/E) Head towards Le Girard, cross the main road and take the path opposite, heading towards Le Grand Plomb. Go round the back of the housing estate and continue for about 100 m.
(1) At the three-way junction, take the path on the left, head into the woodland and stay on this path until you reach a junction on the gentle descent.
(2) Set off along the narrow path, which is not very visible at first but is clearly marked on the ground; stay on this path for about 800 m until you reach a junction with three paths.
(3) Take the left-hand path, which descends towards the D502, Route de Rive de Gier. Cross the road – take care of traffic (bicycles, motorbikes, etc.) whilst crossing – and, opposite, between the two gateposts, take the path that descends through the woods and leads to a small, abandoned and graffiti-covered house. Go round it via the path on the left, which continues down through the woods; follow it for about 200 m until you reach a fork.
(4) Take the path that continues downhill, cross two fords and leave the woods via a path that climbs slightly and leads to the hamlet known as Le Sorillot. Cross the block of houses and follow the tarmac road to the D45E1. On the D45E1, turn right and then, about 300 m further on, turn left onto the road towards Le Frédure. Walk alongside a woodland on your right until you reach its end.
(5) Turn right and walk alongside the large plot of land, with views of the Monts du Lyonnais and, on your left, the Massif du Pilat. You’ll come out onto a stretch of tarmac road; turn right and enter the woods. A little further on, the road turns into a stony track which passes through orchards (cherry, apricot, etc.) and joins the D45E1. Turn right and pass through the hamlet of Pacalon. On leaving the hamlet, turn left and stay on this road, which leads back into the woods.
(6) Continue along this path through the woods, cross the Ruisseau du Sifflet and reach a junction.
(7) Take the path on the left, cross another ford, then, a little further on, another ford; immediately afterwards, turn left to descend to the banks of the Ruisseau du Sifflet: the path is barely visible at first, but after a few metres, the route becomes clearly visible. Follow the stream for a good while (the path may be muddy in places, but it’s easily passable). Best visited later in the season if the vegetation isn’t too dense.
(8) Ignore the path that continues to follow the stream, but take the path on the right which climbs slightly through the woods. When you reach a stony track, turn right and follow it. Further on, cross some farmland and re-enter the woods via a signposted path.
(9) Turn left onto a path leading downhill, marked with a Yellow Cross and a White Cross. Further on, follow the path to the right, which descends steeply at first and can be very slippery depending on the weather; follow it for about 700 m, crossing two more fords.
(10) At the junction, take the path that climbs slightly; follow it for 100 m then turn left. After about 80 m, take the path on the right leading to the foot of the masts. Once you reach the masts, continue along this path to the motorhome car park beside the D502. There are a few tables and benches; views over the Rhône valley.
(11) Take the path leading uphill opposite, then follow a trail to the left marked with three crosses on a post. Follow this trail, passing close to a fir tree plantation, continue uphill and rejoin the Chemin du Grand Plomb.
(1) Turn right and follow it back to the starting point (S/E).
a beautiful hike, completed on 1 August in dry weather. The only difficulties encountered, despite the lack of markings on almost the entire route, were as follows:
Visorando Member
Easy 
