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Head to the village of Dionay, located north-west of Saint-Marcellin in Isère. Park your vehicle in the small car park near the town hall or in the one behind it, below the town hall.
(S/E) Take the D27a eastwards, between the church and the town hall. Pass the municipal weighbridge and immediately take the small road down to the right.
You will soon see the sign for "Pinet - 480m". Turn left towards Grand Grange. You are now on the tramway, which climbs gently towards the Chambarans hills.
When you come to a small road, turn right and, a little further on, leave this same small road on the right and take a grassy path. When you return to the road, continue straight ahead along the tram line.
(1) At a hairpin bend, you will reach a tunnel, which you can easily cross thanks to the torch you have taken care to bring with you. You will come to a road; cross it and continue straight ahead.
(2) You will pass two gates used to secure a field. Make sure you close them behind you.
(3) You arrive at the sign for "Grand Grange - 620m". You come to a fork in the road; take the right-hand path.
(4) You will arrive at Chapelle Rodon (sign). There are tables and benches where you can take a break if you wish. You will come out onto the D20, which you will follow downhill to the right (there is a sharp bend to the left). Be careful, as traffic travels fast here. Once you have passed the bend, you will see the small road you need to take opposite you (to the left of the road, signposted "Bessins 3km"). Almost immediately, turn left again onto the small road that goes uphill (Chemin de la Feta).
Just before a house, turn right onto the Reneliers descent (sign). After the last house, the tarmac gives way to a grassy dirt track. Continue downhill until you return to the D20a. You can no longer take the road opposite. You must take the D20a on the left, go around the bend to find a road that branches off to the right (yellow markings). This road will take you to the village of Bessins.
(5) Go to the church in Bessins and continue downhill until you see the cemetery on your right (there is a water point at the entrance). Turn left (away from the cemetery).
(6) When you reach the sign for "Mercier - 438m", turn right onto Allée du Puits Saint-Ange, then quickly take the first path on your left towards Le Mouret (sign). At a fork, take the left branch. You will come out onto a small road, which you take on the right to enter Saint-Appolinard.
(7) Continue to the church, which you will pass on the D20, heading south. At the village exit, a sign will point you towards Saint-Antoine and Font du Loup (1.3 km). Follow the direction indicated on the right. Continue to the cemetery (there is a water source along the wall) and turn right. Your small road leads to a walnut grove.
(8) Be very careful in the walnut grove. This is where orientation is most difficult. You will see a thin white stake topped with a plaque bearing the number "680". There is no real path on your right. Nevertheless, proceed diagonally, following the path created by the walnut trees. You will soon reach the edge of the walnut grove and discover a well-marked, sunken path that descends into the valley. Take this path.
(9) You will come out onto a small road. You will see the sign "Font du Loup - 376m". Take the small road on the right. On your left, you will see a field. At the end of the field, take the path on your left that goes uphill (discreet yellow markings). When you reach a road, make a first turn left then right, ignoring the path that goes uphill opposite. You will come to a small road, which you take on the right, and very quickly arrive at a crossroads. Turn right again. At the end of the straight road, as the road turns to the right, take a faint path opposite, in the grass, along a hedge (laurels, hazelnuts, boxwood).
(10) At the end of the hedge, take the path on the left, which is not very obvious at first but becomes clearer once you have gone around the corner of a building. Descend for a while until you come to a small road, which you take on the left.
(11) You will arrive at a crossroads with a sign for "Les Gavaniottes-368m". Turn right (towards "Frison - 1.3 km"). At the next fork, take the left-hand path (chemin du lavoir). Then, fairly quickly, take the path that descends to the right. You will come out onto another road, which you should take straight ahead. After passing a crossroads, take the left fork (route de Frison, yellow and red markings). Leave the tarmac road that leads to a private property and take the path that descends to the right.
(12) You will arrive at the Étang de Frison (or Étang de Chapaize). Go around it on the left, taking the dyke. Once you have passed the dyke, take the path that goes up to the right.
(13) You will arrive at Champeux (metal cross on the left, sign on the right). Take the sunken road between the two, heading towards "La Cuma". You will arrive at the D27, which you will take to the right, leaving it very quickly by taking the lane on the right (Rue de la Ménagerie). You will enter the village of Saint-Antoine l'Abbaye. You will arrive in front of the imposing gate of the abbey with its colourful, varnished roof. Go through it to enter the large courtyard of the abbey, a sort of tree-lined esplanade. Go to the back, to the abbey.
(14) Enter the Abbey and take the time to enjoy the coolness and admire the frescoes in particular.
Once you have finished your visit, return to the esplanade and enter the large porch leading to the museum. Exit at the back and take the alleyway that climbs up to the right. You will see picnic tables in front of you. Turn left (Chemin du Clos) to reach the stadium. At the fork, turn right. Your path will also turn right and then climb steeply.
(15) When you reach the sign for "L'enclos - 441 m", turn left and follow this small road, which climbs for a good while. Then it descends again.
(16) You will come to a T-junction (signposted La Bâtie - 490 m). Turn right and continue along this small road.
(17) You will pass the charming Saint-Jean le Fromental chapel hidden among the trees. Take the opportunity to stop for a break. Continue along the road towards the sign for "Saint-Jean le Fromental - 490m" and go straight on towards Dionay (1.4 km). Climb up to the antenna.
(18) When you reach the antenna (sign for "Cul de Perrette - 507m"), turn left. Your path will turn right, winding down into a valley before climbing back up to Dionay, your starting point (S/E). So we've completed a circular path!
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