Circular walk in the hills above Hauterives, through woods and meadows

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In the hills above Hauterives, a circular route starting from the hamlet of Les Giroux, which, after a stretch through the forest, follows the ridge with lovely views over Tersanne. You will then descend along a small road through the fields, finishing with another stretch through the forest.

Details

n°48648661
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.43 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 400 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 397 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,549 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,138 ft
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Photos

View of Tersanne

Description of the walk

You can park at the junction of the D538 and the Route des Giroux. There is a grassy lay-by with space for two cars.

(S/E) Go round the barn, cross the D538 with care and head down Impasse des Bayard to the end.

(1) Continue along the sloping forest track that starts behind it. Join the Chemin de la Tuillerie and, at the junction, turn left towards the D538.

(2) Cross it carefully and continue along the tarmac road opposite, which goes downhill. You will arrive about fifty metres before the Ruisseau d’Ambouchet.

(3) Turn left onto the small path at the edge of the field that runs alongside a fence.

(4) Cross the stream (fixed ford): this is often dry in summer. Just after the ford, follow the track that heads into the forest on the right. At the exit, after skirting a field, join a path that is accessible to cars.

(5) Follow it uphill until you reach a tarmac road.

(6) Follow it to the right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,148 ft - Junction D538/Route des Giroux
  2. 1 : mi 0.4 - alt. 1,302 ft - Forest track following the hillside
  3. 2 : mi 1.67 - alt. 1,522 ft - D538
  4. 3 : mi 2.2 - alt. 1,234 ft - Junction before the stream
  5. 4 : mi 2.33 - alt. 1,214 ft - Stream (ford)
  6. 5 : mi 2.86 - alt. 1,191 ft - Vehicle-accessible track
  7. 6 : mi 3.06 - alt. 1,214 ft - Route des Giroux
  8. S/E : mi 3.43 - alt. 1,152 ft - Junction D538/Route des Giroux

Notes

No special equipment is required: a pair of trainers will suffice. Dogs are welcome on this walk.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
toutoinot
toutoinot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After visiting the horse postman in Hauterives, what could be better than a short walk? No particular difficulties: a short climb before the woods, then a beautiful, unobstructed view of the distant Vercors mountains… a lovely descent, then back into the woods along a pretty path before finishing.

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minacyril
minacyril
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Ideal for a leisurely stroll. Very quiet route. On the way back, discover a cave hidden by vegetation with an old cart inside. No particular difficulty, easy route to follow.

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aq38
aq38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy walk that starts with a climb along a narrow road (not shaded from the sun, so it can get quite warm at the start), then follows a path into the woods. Much of the walk is in the shade of the trees.
A lovely view if the weather is clear, but on this particular day the mist in the distance meant we couldn’t see the peaks on the Ardèche side very well, for example. An easy path with a bit of mud in the second half (after going down the small road across the field and then turning left along the stream), when you’re close to the stream in the undergrowth.
However, there are few places to park: take the small tarmac road that runs below the main road at the starting point to park.

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