Path of the water bodies between the marshes and the hills of Biol

Start from the Place de l’Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, near the market halls, in the lower part of the village.

(S/E) With your back to the church, turn right onto the Route de la Vallée de l’Hien. Pass the town hall on your left and continue to the next junction (elevation 454). Turn right onto the Chemin du Massot (tarmac). Continue along a dirt track which turns right then left. Walk alongside the marshes on your left and ignore a path on your right.

(1) At the junction, turn left. Return to the Route de la Vallée de l’Hien and first turn right then left to follow the Chemin du Cordier. The road climbs gently, leaving the hamlet of Blassin behind you.

(2) At the junction with the Chemin de Ruens, turn left, staying on the Chemin du Cordier. The road climbs, turns right, passing an old farm on the left. Continue straight on, leaving the Chemin de l’Allée on your left. At the next junction, rejoin the Chemin de Ruens and follow it to the left for a few dozen metres.

(3) Turn right onto the Montée de Charamelet. At the top of the hill, turn right onto the Chemin de Charamelet (a dirt track) and pass a blue house on your left. About 200 m further on, pass a dirt track on your left.

(4) At the junction with a dirt track coming from your right, continue straight on, pass through the hamlet of Le Bessay and ignore a track on the left.

(5) At the junction, continue straight on along Chemin de la Taillat. After a bend to the left, let Chemin de la Taillat branch off to the right and continue along Chemin de Charbilleux. Go straight on and ignore all the turnings on the left.

(6) At the end, turn left. After about a hundred metres, take a path on the right.

(7) At the T-junction, turn left. Descend into a small valley and then climb back up. At the top, continue straight on between the fields.

(8) At the end, follow a small road (Chemin de Mirieu) to the left (south). At the junction with the Route de Torchefelon, veer right towards Le Rapoux.

(9) Reach the Route de Lyon (D 520) and follow it to the left for about 200 m, taking the footpath on the left-hand side. Then turn left onto the Chemin du Guillaud.

(10) At the crossroads, turn right onto Chemin de Charamelet and head downhill. Just before reaching the D 520, turn left onto Chemin des Gayères and cross the hamlet in question. Ignore a road on the left and head down towards the lower part of the village of Biol.

(11) At the junction at the bottom of the descent, turn right onto Chemin du Moulin. At the roundabout, follow the Grande Rue (D 520) to the left. Continue straight on, past the post office, until you reach the market halls. Then turn left onto Rue des Halles and head towards the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste (S/E).

Between (1) and (2): three ponds lining the dirt track extending from the Vhemin du Massot.

Towards (3): a small stretch of water on the right.

Between (4) and (5): a beautiful view of the Alps and Mont Blanc (in good weather).

Towards (5): a pond on the right.

Between (7) and (9): a very shaded stretch, a river to cross... without getting your feet wet.

Between (9) and (10): a lake on the left, in Les Lechères.

Between (11) and (12): a panoramic view of the villages of Doissin, Montrevel and Biol on the downhill section of the path.

Between (12) and (S/E): on the Grande Rue, an old wash house, on the ‘nameless river’ which murmurs with its ceaseless lapping.