From the Déôme Valley to Burdignes

Access via the D1082 road. Coming from Bourg-Argental, level with the sewage treatment works and at the junction leading to the Péroux industrial estate, turn right towards the works and the river, heading for the hamlet of Moulin Ferrand. Cross the river and park 100 m further on, to the left, in a lay-by.

(S/E) Start from the car park beside the access road to Moulin Ferrand. Head west towards the hamlet along the Greenway. Pass under the first bridge (formerly a railway bridge). Walk alongside the hamlet on your right, then pass under a second bridge.

(1) 30 metres after this bridge, turn right onto the circular path. Reach the road coming from the hamlet and continue to the right. Cross over the Voie Verte you took earlier. Follow this road uphill to the hamlet of Rachassieux.

(2) Walk past the buildings on the right. Ignore a path leading uphill opposite and turn right towards the last building in the hamlet. Follow this path as it climbs southwards, then veers westwards towards the hamlet of Doivieux. 200 m from the hamlet, ignore a path coming from the left. At the entrance to the hamlet, and before the first building, look out for a path climbing steeply to the left.

(3) Take this path climbing to the left towards the meadows. The path curves to the right into the forest. Climb through the forest and, on a stony, steep section where the path splits in two, follow the left-hand track. Continue climbing until you reach the hamlet of Les Granges.

(4) Carry on to the left after the first house. Walk past another house on the left and head up into the meadow. The path is barely visible as it is marked out in the grass: you’ll need to make two circular loops to reach the edge of the woodland to the east. Go through a fence and join the forest track. Turn right towards Burdignes. After 300 m, turn left towards La Madone. Pass to the left of La Madone and head down towards the village.

(5) Walk through the village along the main street. At the central junction, head towards the town hall and the church along the road leading to Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue. Follow this road for 1.5 km, ignoring, after 600 m, the road branching off to the left towards Montchal. You’ll reach the hamlet of Les Louaves and the houses on the left. After the houses, take a path leading down to the right towards a house. Walk past the house on your right. Head down into the forest along the forestry track. The path then curves sharply to the right to join a wider track.

(6) Turn left onto the track and follow it for 400 m until you reach another track. Take the track that winds down to the right towards the east. After 500 m, you’ll come to a junction, where there are often piles of logs, near a building opposite. Follow the track to the left for 20 metres, then cross towards the corner of the meadow, going over a fence.

(7) Cross the meadow along the hedgerows until you reach, opposite, a gap in the fence and a forest track. After 100 m, ignore a track leading down to the left. Continue slightly downhill towards the north-east. This well-marked track leads to a bend in the road near a pylon.

(8) Ignore the path leading towards the pylon and the road, and take the path heading downwards to the north. This path, which is not very busy but well marked, crosses the forest, curving to the left. You will come to a path branching off to the left, but turn right instead. After 150 m, on a steep descent, you will reach a road. Follow this road to the right, passing the Voie Verte car park on your left. You’ll reach a main road near a metal bridge (a former railway bridge).

(9) Here you reach the newly created Voie Verte. Cross the main road before the bridge and follow the Route de Ceylionnas eastwards for 600 metres. Leave the road and take a path leading downhill to the left. The path reaches a tarmac section of the Voie Verte coming from the right. Take the Voie Verte, which descends very steeply and winds round bends. Pass close to a tunnel situated below, hidden amongst the vegetation on the right (a tunnel which once led to Burdignes station).

(10) Follow the Voie Verte along the old railway line. Ignore a road branching off to the left and then the road leading up to the hamlet of Dovezet.

(1) Ignore the path leading uphill to the left, which you took at the start. Following the reverse route of the outward journey, pass under the two bridges and walk alongside the hamlet of Moulin Ferrand. The finish is then 200 m away (S/E).

Village of Burdignes.
Greenway following the route of the old railway line.