From the Loge des Gardes to Point du Jour

Departure from the car park of the La Belle Verte hotel-restaurant, where you can leave your car.

(S/E) Head to the crossroads on the departmental road.

(1) Cross it and take the path opposite that leads up to the foot of the slopes. Follow the path that passes in front of the paragliding site (beautiful view of La Chabanne, the Chemin de la Ligue and the Puy de Dôme). Further on, you can make a round trip to the beautiful megalithic site marked on the right.

(2) Further on, continue along the forest track on the right, called Route Sainte-Marie. You will come to a fork.

(3) Take the path on the right that descends into the forest (follow the GR®3A markings). You will then arrive at another track, at Plan des Fournets.

(4) Turn left to follow the track southwards, which descends through the beech trees. Keep heading south through the forest. Pass La Gaillante, near an isolated chalet reminiscent of a hunting lodge.

(5) Continue straight ahead (here, leave the GR® on your right and cross the departmental boundary to return to the Loire), descending to the hamlet of Vernassière.

(6) Do not cross the hamlet, but turn before it onto the grassy path that descends to the right.

(7) At the next intersection, continue straight ahead to the Red Cross.

(8) Cross the road and take the path opposite that leads to the Croix du Vernois.

(9) At this crossroads, turn left, then left again.

(10) At the three-way junction in front of the house, take the left path, then turn right.

(11) Then turn left onto Chemin du Fau, which leads to Les Barchenières (organic flour mill, on-site sales).

(12) Cross the bridge and take the second road on the left, which climbs towards an abandoned house. Leave Chemin de Seignolles on your right and take the next road on the right.

(13) Follow this path through the forest to the Croix du Trêve Feugère.

(14) Opposite, take the path that descends to the hamlet of Feugère.

(15) Turn left onto the road and follow it to the second intersection.

(16) Turn right towards the hamlet of Plasson.

(17) After the first house, turn left onto Chemin de la Belle Chara, which offers a beautiful view to the south and west.

(18) At Route d'Oblette, turn right, then left onto the dirt track that leads to Trêve Oblette, where you will join Route de Moutloup.

(19) Follow it to the right, cross the bridge over the Ban, and arrive at the Croix de Montloup.

(20) At the three-way junction, go straight ahead, then turn right onto Route de Saint-Just-en-Chevalet for just 100 metres.

(21) Then, keep left on the small path that leads to the hamlet of Les Pras, avoiding the road. Turn left, then right back onto the road, and after the farm, take the first path on the left.

(22) Then follow the track known as the Grand Chemin on the left.

(23) After passing the Davamine house on your right, continue north until you reach the Croix de Blanc.

(24) There, turn sharply right, then immediately left onto the path that leads to the wonderful panorama of the Croix de la Loge (weather permitting, the setting sun colours Mont Blanc and the entire Alps chain pink).

(25) Turn left to take the path heading north down to La Murette.

(26) Cross the D31 and take the dirt track opposite that leads down to the Point du Jour farm (stopover lodge, meals) (E).

The Druidic Stones of the Loge des Gardes, the beech forests of the Bois des Fournets, the restored Barchenières mill (flour for sale), beautiful views of Trève Feugère, Belle Chara, Mélèzes, Croix de la Loge...