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Moderator’s note added on 22/09/2020: WARNING! Please read the reviews for this walk as some people have had problems finding their way
The walk starts at the car park 200 metres above Chalencon (traffic in the village is restricted to local residents).
To reach the start of the walk by car: in the centre of the village of Saint-André-de-Chalencon, near the church, continue through the village and take the steep road towards Chalencon (north-east).
(S/E) Head down towards the hamlet, which is visible from the car park. Enter this tiny village. After 100 metres, you’ll reach a straighter, unnamed street with the entrance to the castle steps opposite (open only in high season). Note the low wall on the right; just before it, take the mule track (beautifully restored; marked in yellow) which descends to the Ance Du Nord, which you cross via the magnificent Pont Du Diable.
(1) Continue along the path to the right, which runs alongside the Ance. 200 metres further on, ignore a track on the right and stay on the main path, which climbs back up towards the village of Durand. Walk through this small hamlet, staying on the tarmac road (heading north-east) for 250 metres.
(2) At the canal (covered by a concrete slab), which can be seen on both sides of the road, turn left onto this slab (yellow markings); 50 metres further on, it passes in front of a detached house.
The path, which is well marked, is fairly wide at the start but becomes very narrow in places; at times it runs alongside the canal, at others it veers away from it, winding its way along the Ance valley. Always stay on the well-marked path with yellow signposting. Note that there are a few sections with rock steps, which present minor difficulties but are very accessible, particularly as these sections have been made safer by cable handrails.
(3) Cross the Ruisseau du Cros; note the cable attached to the culvert, which makes this crossing easier. Head up the opposite slope through the woods to rejoin a wider track (GR®®3F). Take this track to the right (yellow markings + red and white markings). Follow theGR®® (red and white markings). After initially taking the track to the right, 200m further up, at the first junction, take the track on the left. After another 250m, at the second junction, take the track on the right to reach Le Cros 400m further on.
(4) At Le Cros, by the cross (on the right), take the small tarmac road on the left leading to Tiranges. Continue straight on through the village until you reach a street running perpendicular to your direction (cross on the left),
(5) Turn left onto this street (Rue du Châpre; still following the red and white markings). 100 metres further on, at the junction, continue along the left-hand road, which immediately becomes a simple track that you follow for 300 metres.
(6) At the junction of three tracks, take the middle one (still markedGR®®). As you approach Chaumont, head towards the centre of the village on the left, leaving theGR®® which heads north-east towards Boisset.
(7) In the village, at the next crossroads (with a cross on the left), turn left onto the narrow lane (heading south) which leads out of the village and continues as a track (marked in yellow; follow this until you return to Chalencon).
At a fork in the road on the way out of the village, just past the last houses, carry on in the same direction (south-east); do not take the track branching off to the right.
(8) Keep heading south-east: ignore the track on the left and, 100 metres further on, the one on the right. 1 km further on, as you approach the Ruisseau du Moulinet, continue along the descending track, ignoring the track on the left (which leads back up to Le Cros).
(9) You’ll rejoin theGR®®3F(Tiranges–Le Cros–Chalencon). Follow the track on the right which runs alongside the stream, which flows into the Ance du Nord 200 metres further on. Cross the river 300 metres further on via the 15th-century Pont de Bounery (incorrectly known as the Roman Bridge).
The track (marked yellow + white-red) then leads back up to the car park (S/E) situated 300 m further upstream,
One last look at Chalencon Castle.
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