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Start from the village centre at the Place de la Mairie in Saint-Siméon-de-Bressieux
(S/E) Head west along the Grande Rue and at the first junction turn left onto Rue des Chênes, passing the school on your left.
(1) After the school, take the path going uphill opposite until you reach a road.
Cross the road and follow the grassy path to the right. You’ll reach a tarmac section; turn left onto the grassy path going uphill. Walk past a fountain and a house on the left and join a road, following it to the left. Ignore a road going uphill to the right and continue on level ground until you reach the residential area of Charpenay.
(2) Continue straight ahead, ignoring a road to the right. Then reach a crossroad, cross it and take the path opposite at elevation 451. Follow the path until you reach a crossroad at elevation 463, cross it and continue uphill.
(3) At the next junction, turn right onto the road, which becomes a track, and walk past the house on the right. Cross the forest almost in a straight line, ignoring the paths to the right and left and following the yellow markings. You will reach a road at a place called Combe Bajat.
(4) Do not cross the road; instead, take the path on the edge of the forest that climbs to the left, marked in yellow. Running almost in a straight line through the chestnut trees, the path reaches a cultivated area and a junction with several paths at elevation 592. Follow the path to the right along the edge of the forest until you reach a road.
(5) Cross the road (on the right is the slightly rickety ‘Germone’ hut at an elevation of 600 metres).
Follow the yellow-marked path downhill. Ignore a path on the right, then two others on the left with a rough, steeply ascending section.
(6) You’ll come to a small pond and a bungalow hidden in the forest on the right.
Continue along the path which climbs and curves to the left. Then, at elevation 555, turn right at a right angle and head downhill to reach the first footbridge (there will be three in total in this area). The markings are still yellow.
Continue straight on, crossing two footbridges and three very steep but short climbs, followed by a muddy stretch. You’ll reach a crossroads at the 612-metre mark.
(7) Turn right to reach the Étang des Mermes, where you can see the dam. You can take a break here as there are facilities available. Return to the junction at elevation 612.
(7) Head south-east, to the right of the path you took to reach the pond. After 200 metres, pass the Cabane Cyné on your left. Continue straight on to reach a bend in the road.
(8) Take the path on the left at a right angle, which crosses the forest almost in a straight line. Pass a junction and reach the 618-metre mark. The path curves to the right; 300 metres further on, let the path continue straight ahead and take a path on the right which leads to the road. Take care: cross the D71 road and follow the descending path opposite.
(9) Halfway up the slope, take a path on the left leading to the Planchettes bog and cross it via a footbridge, veering to the right. After crossing, head right to meet a path coming from the opposite direction. Take a sharp left-hand bend and ignore the path leading straight ahead. Continue through the forest until you reach a road; cross it to arrive opposite the private Bressieux pond.
Go round the pond on the right along a path that can be very muddy in places. Follow the yellow markings. You will reach the Essarts public pond. You can admire it and stop for a break by going round it on the left; there are benches and tables under shelters there. Go round this pond on the right and you will reach a cross-path.
(10) Turn left to reach and cross a road. Follow the unmarked path opposite. This path descends, curving to the right as it runs alongside the meadow below on the left. Reach a track coming from the right. You will then find the yellow markings again. Follow the path downhill to the left, running alongside the fence. Arrive at a meadow on the right and reach a road at L’Abbaye.
Follow the road uphill opposite, passing close to the houses at Margaron, La Combe Rousse and then Rossière.
(11) After the last houses in Rossière, take a path downhill to the left.
Walk past the house on the right. Further on, ignore a path branching off to the left. You’ll reach a crossroads at Combe du Bos. Continue straight ahead, then walk alongside the reservoir on the right. There’s a slight climb towards the village. Follow the path uphill, which cuts straight across towards the church.
Cross the roundabout and, before the EDF transformer, turn right onto the road towards Les Gonnettes and follow it for 300 metres.
(12) Turn left and, 50 metres further on, turn right uphill. Turn left and follow the grassy path leading to the Croix Trouva at elevation 494. Continue along the grassy path climbing opposite, blocked by large boulders. This path leads to Bressieux Castle, which you can explore from every angle. Continue downhill opposite the castle.
(13) The path, initially a dirt track, turns into steps leading to a road and the cemetery opposite. Pass as close as possible to the cemetery, skirting it on the left, and arrive on a road opposite Bressieux Town Hall. After the town hall, immediately turn left onto the descending path. Join a track and follow it to the left. Reach a road and turn left for 50 metres.
(14) Continue right onto the D71h towards the village. Reach a major crossroad and follow it to the right on the right-hand pavement.
When you reach the centre of the village, turn left, walking alongside the buildings of the former Girodon silk mill with its beautiful glass roof. A little further on, you’ll return to the starting point at the town hall (S/E).
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