From Cheyssieu to Saint-Mamert le Haut

(S/E) Leave the square in front of Cheyssieu church and its car park by going down the small flight of steps leading to the town hall. At the bottom of the steps, turn right. Pass a narrow lane leading uphill on your right until you reach a “Stop” sign. You will see a sign reading “Le Village – alt. 213m”. Cross the road to head up Rue des Jardins opposite. You’ll come to another “Stop” sign. Cross the D37 at the pedestrian crossing and continue opposite onto Route de Caraz. You’ll see yellow markings on one side and the red and white markings of^{the GR®65}on the other. Follow this small road as it begins to wind gently downwards.

(1) You cross a bridge over the Suzon. Further on, ignore a path on the right to reach another bridge.

(2) Continue straight ahead after this bridge. The road narrows. After a while, you’ll pass a complex on the left with a black hangar topped with solar panels. Carry on until you reach the junction with the sign for “Les Cartariés alt. 226m”.

(3) Turn right towards Les Côtes d’Arey, leaving the^GR® behind^. You are now on a dirt track, running relatively straight through the fields.

(4) You’ll come to a fairly busy road where you’ll see a wooden cross (Croix du Jubilé). Cross the road and continue straight ahead towards the Chemin du Bouchet. Very soon, on the right, take the Chemin du Lièvre (signposted “Les Barlettes alt. 248m”). Head towards Les Côtes d’Arey. You’ll come to a road; cross it and continue along the dirt track opposite.

(5) You reach some sports grounds, including a rugby pitch, then a busy road. You’ll see the sign “Les Côtes d’Arey – alt. 251m”. Head down the dirt track opposite, slightly to the right, towards a path that climbs up to the right as well. You’ll find the yellow, white and red markings again.

(6) In the hollow, you’ll find a ford, which is usually dry. Cross it and climb a steep slope to the right.

(7) You come out onto a small road, in the middle of a bend. Head up to the left. At a Fork in the road, take the right-hand path (signposted Montée Saint-Mamert le Haut).

(8) Quite soon, you’ll find the Chemin de Chaillit on your right. Head down it: you’ll leave the^GR® again but follow the yellow markings. Ignore a faint path coming in from the right and continue along your own.

(9) You come out onto a small road which you follow down to the right. You will see the sign for “Petit Cour alt. 350m”. Your road bends to the right and you should completely ignore the one coming from the left (signposted “Chemin de Petit Cour”). You arrive in the valley. After a bend to the left, the main road bends to the right; you continue straight on (signposted “Chemin de Petit Cour” again).

(10) Further on, you cross the D131a, Route de Vernioz, and continue straight ahead. A sign indicates that the road you have just left is closed to vehicles over 15 tonnes. Further on, you cross another tarmac road and continue straight ahead. The path descends before climbing again in a curve. A little further on, you reach a crossroads of dirt tracks (signposted “Réserve de chasse et de faune sauvage”). Take the left-hand track.

(11) You come out onto the D37; traffic moves quickly here. Cross with care and continue straight ahead onto a small tarmac road (Chemin des Étangs). At the first junction, turn right (signposted “Route de Beauchuzel”). When the road bends 90° to the right, carry straight on (there is a “Stop” sign opposite).

(12) The Route du cimetière comes from the left: do not take it under any circumstances and continue to the right. A little further on, ignore a small lane on the right and you will very quickly enter the church square, thus returning to your starting point (S/E).

The walk starts in front of the church in Cheyssieu, a small village in the Isère department, situated north of the town of Roussillon.

This walk follows roughly equal parts small tarmac roads and wide dirt tracks. The long straight stretch between points (3 and) 5 may seem monotonous, but otherwise this walk offers some interesting sections.

Halfway through the walk, at point (6), there is a ford to cross, which is usually dry. However, after heavy rain, this may not be the case. If there is a lot of water, return to the road, turn left heading east, and take the first small road on the left. Drive up to a hairpin bend to reach (7).

The peaks of the Pilat are constantly in view.