From Sarras to Ardoix through forests and streams to the north, then the southern ridge.

Departure and parking in Sarras at the end of Rue Neuve, near the Ay river after the sports complex. Large grassy park.

(S/E) Take the path eastwards towards the complex on the right. Reach a footbridge crossing the Ay river.

(1) Cross the river via the footbridge. Turn left onto Route de Revirand. After 150 metres, look for and take the path on the right that climbs up the rocks. After 150 metres, near a rock and an information board, ignore a path going up and to the left and continue straight ahead. The path leads clearly to the hamlet of Revirand.

(2) Take the road on the left. After 300 metres, ignore the road going down to the left and continue straight ahead. After 100 metres, leave the road and take the hairpin bend to the right onto a concrete two-lane road. Head towards the house on the left, then opposite the house, go uphill to the right. Follow the road that goes around the Bernarde houses on the right. Walk past the Peyret house on the left. 400 metres after the Peyret house, leave the road that branches off to the left and continue straight ahead along the path. After 50 metres, you will see a path on the right leading downhill.

(3) Take this path downhill heading north towards the Bois des Arrents forest. After 600 metres, on a ridge, the path turns sharply left. After 550 metres, the path turns sharply left and climbs steeply. You will clearly reach the edge of the forest and a vineyard.

(4) Walk along the vineyard on your left for 50 metres and at the end take the path opposite downhill. Descend in three zigzags near a stream and then climb back up to the left in an area with several streams. Cross a stream via a slightly rickety footbridge, which you can bypass. Then, 200 metres further on, cross the Malaval stream via a more solid footbridge. Reach a vineyard and follow it along the path ascending to the right. Arrive at Route des Combes.

(5) Cross the road and continue straight ahead. After 150 metres, ignore the road branching off to the left and head towards the buildings on the left. 200 metres from the buildings, ignore a path branching off to the right and take a hairpin bend to the left towards Ravin Des Combes. Cross the Ravin des Combes stream. 200 metres after the stream, ignore a path branching off to the right and take a sharp left turn uphill. The path then becomes a wider track passing a pond on the left. Walk alongside the large Léorat house on the right. You will arrive at a road near the houses of Cormes.

(6) Follow the path on the right for 50 metres, then continue to the left, ignoring a path branching off to the right. Ignore a path branching off to the left and continue straight ahead through the vineyards. Walk alongside a reserve and a pond on your right. Continue along the main path and ignore the first turn-off to the right towards the forest. Ignore a second turn-off to the right and the hamlet of Le Pissord and turn right towards the crops. 350 metres after this second crossroads, you will reach a crossroads in the meadows.

(7) Turn right towards the forest. After 50 metres, ignore a path branching off to the left. Walk alongside a fruit tree plantation on the left and go around it to turn left. After 250 metres, ignore a path going downhill to the right and follow a hairpin bend uphill to the left, heading south-west into the forest. After 850 metres, you will arrive near a stream. Without crossing it, turn left onto a faint, slightly overgrown path. Zigzag twice to reach a meadow area and climb towards its northern end. Walk alongside a fruit tree plantation on your left and you will reach a path.

(8) Take the path on the left for 150 metres and you will reach a crossroads. Take the hairpin bend on the right. After 150 metres, ignore two paths on the right. After 400 metres, ignore a path on the left and take the path downhill on the right. Reach and cross the Pralong stream. Immediately after the stream, take the hairpin bend uphill to the left, heading south. Note the reservoir below on the left. You will reach a road at a place called Le Baud.

(9) Take the path on the left towards the hamlet of Thoué. Walk past the houses on the right. Ignore Rue du Suc de Verre coming from the right and 50 metres further on, opposite a house, turn right onto Rue du Baud for 150 metres. You will reach Route de Cormes and turn left for 400 metres. At the next crossroads, turn right onto Route de Bruas. Cross the hamlet of Bruas and after 50 metres, leave the road.

(10) Take the path on the left. When you reach the road again, follow it for 150 metres to the right. Then, at the next crossroads, take the path that curves to the right. When you reach and cross a road, head towards Château de Pestrain. After 20 metres, opposite the château, take the grassy path on the right and follow it downhill towards Tour d'Oriol.
(11) Take the grassy path that passes to the left of the boules court towards the houses. Near the houses, take the grassy path that curves sharply to the left. Reach the houses of Coupier and cross the hamlet in a straight line via Rue de Beauvoir. At the end of the hamlet, follow the road for 200 metres, then when the road curves to the left, take a path downhill to the right towards the hamlet of Masse. Climb up to the hamlet, then turn right onto Chemin des Montaillères. Continue for 250 metres to reach a crossroads and turn right onto Route De Saint-Joseph. 250 metres after the crossroads, leave the road, which curves slightly to the left, and head almost opposite through the vineyards.

(12) Follow this path, which then becomes a narrow trail between stone walls. Reach a large downhill path and take a hairpin turn to the right for 20 metres, then to the left. The path is very stony and uneven and curves to the left. In the curve, ignore a path leading off to the right towards the vineyard. You will reach a crossroads after 300 metres. Ignore the path leading off to the left and continue along the flat section to the right for 100 metres. Take the sharp left turn downhill. You will arrive near a road on the left.

(13) Continue along the path downhill opposite. You will reach the Marliet house on the left. Follow the path and turn right for 100 metres. Ignore a path leading off to the right at the foot of the rocks. Follow the path along the left bank of the River Ay for 700 metres. Cross the bridge and turn left to return to the (S/E).

No water sources except near residential areas.
Many small paths. GPS recommended.
Streams with sometimes unreliable footbridges.
From (12) onwards, the paths are very stony, descending and uneven.

Views of the Rhône, Ay and La Cance valleys.