From Chante Caille north of Champagne aux Granges to Saint Désirat

Start from the small car park next to Laboratoires Aguettant, on the D86, south of Peyraud.

(S/E) Head west, towards the hill. At the junction, continue straight ahead and, just after the railway bridge, turn immediately right. After the^first house, turn left at a sharp angle. Continue southwards to the hamlet of La Prette and a wrought-iron crucifix.

(1) Take a path on the left and pass between the cross and the wall. Go straight on, due south, ignoring the offshoots to the left. Further on, the path turns left and immediately leads to a T-junction.

(2) Turn right. Walk due south, then south-southeast, along the embankment of an old railway line, passing under several bridges. You will reach an old tunnel.

(3) Go round the walled-up tunnel on the left. Return to the old railway line and continue south-west for about 800 m until you reach a crossroads.

(4) Leave the railway line and take a path on the left, into a small wood. At the Fork in the road that appears shortly afterwards, take the path that descends to the left. After the^first house, you’ll come out at a crossroads in Saint-Désirat.

(5) Turn left into Rue du Coteau. As you come out of a right-hand bend, turn left, still on Rue du Coteau. Then take the^first right, Rue de la Condamine. Cross the D 291a and go straight on, along Chemin de la Madone, passing a street on your right and continuing to the crossroads.

(6) Turn left onto Chemin des Grands Champs. Pass the depots and car park on your left and continue straight ahead (east-northeast). At the^first house, take the small stone bridge on the left.

(7) Immediately afterwards, turn right and cross the railway line at the level crossing. Follow the D 86 on your right for several dozen metres. Cross the road carefully and follow the Chemin des Écolanges to the right. After about 500 m, the path turns right at a 90° angle. When the path turns left, continue straight ahead on a path not shown on the map to reach the right bank of the Rhône.

(8) Turn left, follow the river on your right and ignore two paths branching off to the left.

(9) Pass the old pier of the traille ferry and continue along the bank of the Rhône heading due north. Further on, the path turns left and joins the Chemin de l’Île de la Sainte.

(10) Then turn right and you will soon reach the riverbank. Continue until you are about 250 m from the downstream tip of Île de la Sainte.

(11) Then turn left onto a farm track not shown on the map (if a farmer is working in this field, see the Practical Information section). Join a road and follow it to the right. Then cross the D 86 (be very careful, as the road is very busy). First turn left then right to follow the Chemin de Chantecaille to the car park (S/E).

(11) If a farmer is working in the field, do not go through, but continue for about 400 m and turn left across the field to join a path. Turn left and rejoin the original path on the right.
There are regular crossings between the fields.

No special equipment is required.

TO ALL HIKERS (SES) WHO FOLLOW MY HIKES: you can post photos indicating the location on the route.

Stunning views over the Rhône Valley.
At the point (7), there is a small stone bridge at least 250 years old or more.
Along the Rhône, a fitness trail.
It would be interesting to learn about the history of this old railway line (freight).