From Carapone to Rains on stone-lined paths

This 10km loop hike starts from Saint-Clément-sur-Guye, with the Carapone at its highest point (440m), and takes in the villages of Saint-Clément-sur-Guye (Romanesque church listed as a historic monument in 1927, a tower to the east of the church), Rains, commune of Joncy (pretty stone houses), Le Petit Ballay, its square tower, its 'Murgers' (piles of stones removed from the vines), before Corcelles (hamlet of Saint-Clément).

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 186 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 191 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 421 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 250 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park and starting point are behind the church of Saint-Clément.

(S/E) Head northeast on Chemin des Moulins, a small tarmac road at first.
After about 700m, you come to the Croix Poulin and the Carapone.

(1) Continue on the same path and follow the ridge north-northwest, descending gently. Pass by old mills and cross a paragliding area (view of the village of Vaux-en-Pré on the right). Continue straight downhill to a crossroads with a view of Genouilly.

(2) Turn left towards Rains. After approx. 300m, ignore a trailhead on the right and follow the path to Bois de Brossedent. Cross the wood, staying on the main path (south-south-west, then south), and ignore all the side paths.

(3) At the T-junction, turn right. You'll come to a small road, which you should turn left onto towards Rains. Walk through this pretty village with its stone houses to its end, ignoring the road on the right.

(4) Continue along the right-turning road through the hamlet of La Place. At the next crossroads, turn left onto Chemin du Petit Ballay.

(5) In this hamlet, take the 1st road on the left. This immediately turns left and becomes a track. At the crossroads, continue on the right-hand track, which turns right twice.

(6) At the junction, follow a left-hand path lined with 'murgers' to reach a road.

(7) Take the 2nd right towards Corcelles.

(8) In this hamlet, turn left at a three-way junction. Climb the hill to Saint-Clément-sur-Guye and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 405 m - Saint-Clément-sur-Guye
  2. 1 : km 0.7 - alt. 416 m - Poulin Cross
  3. 2 : km 3.93 - alt. 268 m - Crossroads. Close to the - Guye (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 5.67 - alt. 279 m - T-crossing
  5. 4 : km 6.83 - alt. 275 m - Rains
  6. 5 : km 7.6 - alt. 286 m - Le Petit-Ballay
  7. 6 : km 8.14 - alt. 323 m - Intersection
  8. 7 : km 8.92 - alt. 355 m - Towards Corcelles
  9. 8 : km 9.49 - alt. 343 m - Corcelles
  10. S/E : km 10.02 - alt. 405 m - Saint-Clément-sur-Guye

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
sylpaguiche
sylpaguiche
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

These are just suggestions on my part, having done this hike and had a few "doubts" at these points due to a lack of signposting. Along the entire route, there are a few crosses hidden by vegetation and few directional markers. It is a magnificent hike that deserves better signposting.

At point 2: After Brossedent, it would be good to add "after 500 m, take the path on the right and cross................".

At point 3: After "Cross this pretty village and its stone houses to the end on the left, ignoring..............."

At point 4: Change everything: "Continue to the next crossroads and turn right. Cross the hamlet of La Place, ignore a small road on the left and continue to La Croix. At the crossroads, turn left and follow the Petit Ballay path for 600 m. In the hamlet, take the first road on the left. After a left-hand bend, the road turns into a track. At the crossroads, continue on the track on the right, which will turn right twice."

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NanaDidi
NanaDidi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The region is charming and we really enjoyed this walk, especially the scenery and the pretty villages with their stone houses.
Thank you

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alainlem
alainlem

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A bit of tarmac, of course, but the ride through the villages and hamlets is very pleasant.
At point 2, it's easy to divert to a picnic area near the Vieux Pont de Genouilly (500m return journey).
Thanks Patron...

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hrosay
hrosay

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk. Ended with a nice climb.
But above all it was close to a very welcoming hostel! The sandwiches stayed in the bag!

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Bandline
Bandline

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 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 small villages you pass through and the scenery are very beautiful. The directions are very clear. I'd definitely recommend it!

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AscleKef
AscleKef

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hiked from Genouilly and in the opposite direction.

A very pretty walk, ideal for getting back into shape. There are plenty of viewpoints along the way and the section between Saint-Clément and Rains, with its old houses, cadoles and piles of stone gathered from fields, is really fantastic. Thank you for this discovery!

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Marijean
Marijean

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

lovely walk, easier than medium difficulty, beautiful scenery with a view of Mont Saint Vincent almost all the time, a little shady.
picnic table at the exit of the village in front of a superb panorama.

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Borosmoke
Borosmoke

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This walk is absolutely magnificent. Start by discovering the village of Saint Clément, whose church is full of character, not to mention its pretty houses. A beautiful, typical Charolais village. A delightful passage through the village of Rains, with its beautiful château, old chapel and wash-house. There are splendid views all along the walk. Cadoles, mills. Not forgetting the cows, donkeys and sheep. I highly recommend this walk to all tourists who want to immerse themselves in the region. Note that this is a walk that I consider to be easy rather than moderately difficult. I did it in two hours and 25 minutes, including a short packed lunch. It was a sunny walk in winter. The gradients are easy

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MARTDomi
MARTDomi

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It was difficult to park in Saint Clément. So we took the walk at point 2 and parked in Genouilly.

Nice and pleasant walk

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cloclodemacon
cloclodemacon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk on 22 March in cool weather with a few showers. Very varied route, easy but with a few climbs. Beautiful views ... In my opinion, not to be done in the middle of summer.
Thanks to the author

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ben1
ben1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

parish specific to Brittany, a beautiful route among the stones and especially at the end with these IMPOSING stone walls.
Lots of nuts !!!!!

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RD7163
RD7163
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A short hike at the end of the confinement period.
Some fine views. The hamlets of Rains and Corcelles are worth a visit, with their beautiful stone houses.
You should also take the time to visit Saint Clément, with its lovely viewpoint and orientation table.

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domval
domval
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The long straight stretch at the start, most of which is tarmac, is the least interesting part of the route, but it does have 2 mills, one of which is very well restored, and a lovely view of Mont St Vincent and Vaux en Pré on the other side. The views of Genouilly, the woodland crossing and the hamlets of Rains and Corcelle are superb, as are the impressive piles of stone gathered from fields.

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Kilau
Kilau
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful walk with no difficulties and varied scenery.

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paulcadet
paulcadet
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is a lovely, varied little walk with no difficulties, which can be done in autumn, winter or spring. We made a diversion to Genoully, where there is a pretty bridge with a river and picnic tables. Don't hesitate to walk around the pretty village of Saint-Clément and see the viewpoint a hundred metres from the church.

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