Circular path on the Batier trail from Gevrey-Chambertin

The walk starts from a car park on the edge of the forest at the top of the Chemin des Issarts, which can be reached from Gevrey-Chambertin heading towards the Combe Lavaux (Rue de l’Aumonerie, Rue de Planteligogne and Chemin des Issarts.

(S/E) From the car park by the nature trail, take the path on the right that leads up into the forest; follow it until you reach the tarmac road about 300 metres further on. Turn left and follow the road uphill until it loses its tarmac and becomes a stony track. The Félix Batier trail starts here.
Ignore the path on the left (barrier) and walk up for about 50 m.

(1) Turn left onto a path through the undergrowth (look carefully for it). After about 50 m, it joins the path mentioned above and you’ll find the first yellow marker on the ground.
Turn right and carry on straight for about 300 m. You’ll reach a clearing in the woods, which you follow along.
At the end, at the edge of the forest, turn right for 100 m then turn left onto a path that leads into the woods. Follow it for about 200 m. After a slight bend to the left, you’ll see a track below (^GRP® des Grands Crus).

(2) Descend this track by scrambling down (an easy 2 m drop). Turn right onto the gravel and, after a few metres, turn left onto the path that leads down into the forest.
Descend to the bottom of the valley (Combe Grisard) and head back up the path opposite (a steep but easy climb). Cross a main track towards the end of the climb and continue straight on.
At the top, turn left onto the path which, after the wooded area, opens out onto a clearing from where you can see the whole hillside.
Follow the path along the edge of the woodland until you reach a tarmac road; cross it and follow the path which rejoins the road. Cross the road (elevation 402).

(3) Turn left opposite (signposted) and follow the path which, after 300 m, reaches the edge of the cliffs of the unnamed valley. The signposting is clearly marked. Follow these signs along the cliffs, both downhill and on level ground. The path isn’t difficult but it runs along the cliff edge, so you still need to be careful.
Once you reach the valley, turn left (steps) and, after about 100 m, look for the signpost and turn right. Go downhill and then back up the opposite side (steep). Almost at the top, at the junction of two paths, turn left and follow the signpost. You’ll emerge into a clearing (power line).

(4) Turn right, then after 100 m (elevation 421), turn left into the woods (signposted) and turn left again.
Follow the path which joins a farm track. Follow this until you reach a path branching off to the right (yellow markings). Follow this for about 400 m, up to elevation 405. The Batier path continues straight ahead.
This is where the return journey to Gevrey-Chambertin begins.

(5) Turn left onto a forest track that leads downhill. After about 500 m, you’ll come to a crossroads with signposts (including the ‘Batier trail – easy variant’ among others).

(6) Turn left (^GRP® des Grands Crus – Morey-Saint-Denis 1.7 km). Follow the track until you see the first houses. Turn right between two vineyards, take a concrete then tarmac road (Route de la Bidaude) and follow it. At the crossroads, turn right, go downhill for 100 m and turn left (elevation 303) and head back up the tarmac road to the^first bend.

(7) Take a road through the vineyards on the right. Follow it to the end. Pass under a chain blocking vehicle access, walk past a vineyard house (a small château) until you reach the edge of the woodland.

(8) Take the path opposite that leads into the woods and head down into the valley. At the bottom, head back up the path opposite,

(9) At the junction with a path, turn left and head uphill to a road suitable for vehicles (^GRP® des Grands Crus); after turning right, continue to the starting point, approximately 800 m away (S/E).

Sturdy walking shoes.
Best done in dry weather.

Vineyards, vineyards, more vineyards, and the villages below.