From Ain to the Moutonnière Plateau

A pleasant hike with a slight incline, shaded sections and sections on dirt trails. This hike combines nature and heritage as it passes close to two castles.

Details

3303318
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 222 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 215 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 331 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 229 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) The walk starts in front of the church in Villette-sur-Ain. Turn right, then go up to the left.

(1) Continue left on Montée de la Vieille Côte. At the "Sur Côte" signpost (cross), turn left onto Route des Dombes, then left onto Rue Chez les Mathieu.

(2) When you reach the farm, turn right, then turn right again to cross the Gaillot. At the crossroads, after the hamlet, continue straight ahead and at the next crossroads, turn left onto the dirt track.

(3) At the "Terres Froides" signpost, continue straight ahead towards Moulin de Fau. The dirt road turns into a path which can be very muddy in heavy rain. First pass by the Moulin de Fau, then the path runs alongside a stream which you will need to cross. Once out of the undergrowth, turn right and pass between two fields where the path can be difficult to see. When you reach another dirt track, turn left.

(4) At the crossroads at Le Lent, turn right and follow the path. Cross the D93 road and continue straight on until you reach the fish ponds.

(5) Take the path on the right that goes through a wood and crosses a stream. Follow this path to the Domaine de la Moutonnière.

(6) At the La Moutonnière signpost, continue straight ahead towards Bois Manon. Continue straight ahead until you reach a pond on the left, then continue along the path through the woods.

(7) When you come out of the woods, turn right, then at the La Palud signpost, turn right until you reach the Les Barrières signpost.

(8) Then turn left onto Route des Barrières and continue along this road until you pass Ferme de la Tour on your right, then the château of the same name on your left.
You will come out onto the D 93, which you follow to the right for about 300 metres.

(9) At the Pré Millet signpost, take the dirt track on the left. Follow this track and then the footpath until you reach a road.

(10) At the Le Grand Pont signpost, turn right towards Villette-sur-Ain. Follow this path and then, at Chez Marion-Les Corrières, take the hill on the left. Descend to the village on the left, along the Route des Dombes.

(11) Turn left to reach Montée de la Vieille Côte.

(1) Retrace your steps to return to Saint-Martin Church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 247 m - Saint-Martin Church
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 264 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.11 - alt. 310 m - La Jacquetière farm
  4. 3 : km 2.44 - alt. 299 m - Terres Froides signpost
  5. 4 : km 3.88 - alt. 312 m - Crossroads at the hamlet of Le Len
  6. 5 : km 5.36 - alt. 302 m - Fish ponds
  7. 6 : km 6.41 - alt. 314 m - La Moutonnière signpost
  8. 7 : km 7.72 - alt. 331 m - Junction with the Grande Trace
  9. 8 : km 8.52 - alt. 318 m - Route des Barrières
  10. 9 : km 10.03 - alt. 248 m - Pré Millet signpost
  11. 10 : km 11.08 - alt. 231 m - Grand Pont signpost
  12. 11 : km 11.92 - alt. 292 m - Fork to the left
  13. S/E : km 12.7 - alt. 247 m - Saint-Martin Church

Notes

60% tarmac
Hike with a slight incline and two technical sections on potentially muddy trails.
Good footwear is essential.

Worth a visit

There are two castles along the route: La Moutonnière, a 17th-century castle, and, a little further away, the Château de Richemont, a 13th-century Savoyard castle in very good condition.
The Church of Saint-Martin is an 11th-century Gothic church.
The route runs alongside the Golf de la Sorelle, which also offers accommodation and a restaurant.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
marion.claude
marion.claude

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this itinerary. A beautiful, varied route that allows you to discover the beginning of the Dombes, which is much more wooded than you might expect. Very beautiful view of the Bugey and the beginning of the Ain valley.
The route is very clear, well chosen and particularly pleasant in May, when we followed it. There is little elevation gain, it is easy to do, and you can picnic by the ponds.

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Marrom
Marrom

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This route, which is very good, lacks signage at certain points.

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TotoB
TotoB
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, easy and pleasant with interesting views and points of interest along the way.
However, it is almost entirely tarmac (fortunately, there is little traffic), and the few sections of path are difficult to spot or have been turned into logging tracks... What a shame!
As a result, we had to make a detour of nearly a kilometre and a half between points 5 and 6, as the path that was supposed to be taken at point 5 clearly did not exist, even though the PR markings were there!
After point 7, heading towards point 9, I recommend turning right at the La Palud fork, as the Château de Richemont is worth a visit.

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Laure Br
Laure Br

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A tranquil route, tranquil atmosphere, pleasant surroundings, generous shaded areas that are much appreciated in summer weather.

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andomir
andomir

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, varied and hilly hike with lovely countryside scenery.
Best done in dry weather, as the paths through the woods are very muddy!
The tarmac sections are not a problem as there is no traffic
Can also be done on a mountain bike

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Waitukubuli
Waitukubuli

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk; the paths and small streams must be lovely to see in the summer. The heritage along the way makes us want to go back 70 years, to another era... To be repeated on a day when the weather is unusual, or should I say mystical.

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Annick01
Annick01

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A peaceful country walk. Although 60% of the route is on tarmac, these are small roads with no car traffic. A lovely stretch through the woods, the Sorelle golf course and some beautiful properties. A pleasant walk despite the tarmac sections.

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Zaab108
Zaab108

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike. Very muddy path in forest area.

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kratostoxic
kratostoxic

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Route with many tarmac sections.
Personally, I didn't find it particularly difficult.
Disappointing because there were no interesting views for me.
However, the hike was very well summarised and described.

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Kanougole
Kanougole

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, with one small regret: there are a lot of tarmac sections, but the paths are very pleasant, shaded and a little wild. The final stretch is steep but interesting.
Thank you for the discovery.

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