Car park at La Mure on the edge of the Voie Bleue, in the commune of Cornas.
(S/E) Follow the small access road up to the D86, follow it to the left for 500 m, cross at the pedestrian crossing and take Rue de Pied la Vigne opposite for about 100 metres.
(1) Turn right onto Chemin des Eygas, then a little further on, turn right again onto Chemin des Pins, which is steep at the start and tarmac-surfaced; from the last house, it becomes a footpath and leads to the Arlettes plateau. You’ll come to a small tarmac road.
(2) Follow it northwards and continue on the tarmac until the end of the climb.
(3) Turn left onto a descending path (for the alternative route, see practical information). Pass close to some caravans, then under a ruined house (the old Coulet farm). At the next crossroads, take the path opposite heading south; it gradually turns first westwards, then due north where the slope becomes steeper. You’ll reach a flatter section, then a gentle descent to join a tarmac road.
(4) Turn left onto it. Pass the old Eygas house, then continue for about a hundred metres.
(5) Take the dirt track on your right, which is initially flat then climbs; pass under a hunters’ hut on your left and arrive at the first hairpin bend.
(6) Take the second path on the right which descends to the Largentière stream; cross it and continue straight ahead up a fairly steep slope; after a chicane created in the fence, continue along a much wider path
(7) Turn right onto it; it takes us to the hamlet of Michelas.
(8) Turn left onto the steep road for about 800 m, pass a large green henhouse; at the end of the tarmac, take the path opposite leading to the hamlet of Bressieux. Keep left and cross the hamlet.
(9) Just before a steep climb, take a small road to the left heading due south between the houses; this quickly becomes a track and winds through woods and meadows.
(10) At a fairly sharp left-hand bend, do not go straight on, but turn left until you reach a large metal gate; follow the fence on your right, and at the end of the fence, turn left. Go round the hamlet of Chante-Perdrix in this way; just above it, you will rejoin the GR®42 (red and white markings). Follow it to the right. Pass through the hamlet of Des Plaines, and 200 to 250 m after the hamlet, take a path on the left, still following the GR®. Join a small road that passes in front of the Barreau house; the road climbs. Take care and look out for a path on the left.
(11) Leave the GR®42 and take this small path on the left, which descends towards the hamlet of Précharnier. Cross the hamlet, and just before the last house, take the path on the left descending north-eastwards to join a road.
(12) Follow it to the left towards the east for about 200 m (or take the dirt track running parallel to the road). Leave the road and take the path going uphill opposite. Ignore the first path on the left and continue straight on. At the next junction, keep left and join a path leading to a house. Take it to the right and rejoin the road.
(13) Turn left onto it until you reach the first crossroads.
(14) Turn sharply right towards the hamlet of Des Peupliers. Pass the first houses, then at a right-hand bend take the path opposite, follow it and descend gently; on a flat stretch, take a small path through the woods leading to the access path to the Chanas house. Turn left until you reach the tarmac road and follow it down to the right.
(15) Turn right towards the huge cedars at the Tézier ruins (the view over the Cornas vineyards, Crussol Castle and the Rhône Valley is remarkable).Head down the vineyard path either by following the ‘Grenat’ arrow markings on the winegrowers’ trail (a fairly steep descent, so take care not to slip) or by taking the path on the right, which has a gentler gradient. When you reach the stream path, follow it to the left towards the village of Cornas and rejoin a small tarmac road (Rue du Ruisseau). Follow it to the left towards the village centre.
(16) 100 m before the church, take a flight of steps on the left, cross the stream and head uphill beneath the houses. Continue straight on (Chemin des Églantiers) until you reach the Ruisseau de Chaillot. Turn right onto it. The stream becomes a path leading to Rue de Pied la Vigne.
(17) Turn left heading north.
(1) Continue straight ahead and follow the route back in the opposite direction to reach the starting point (S/E).
very beautiful hike, I recommend it.
, as the path becomes difficult, but only for a short while.