From the shores of Lake Geneva to the Pic des Mémises

Departure from the Tourronde marina (municipality of Lugrin). There are two parking options nearby:
- Car park along the D1005. Coming from Évian-les-Bains, the car park is on the right-hand side of the road, just before the artisan fisherman's shop (green-plastered house) and before the port.
- Parking spaces along the D21, which branches off to the right of the D1005 (when coming from Évian-les-Bains) at the harbour and climbs towards the main town.
From the port, the Pic des Mémises (the summit of the hike) is clearly visible to the south-east.

There are numerous signposts along the route.

(S) Follow the D1005 eastwards, staying on the right-hand pavement (be extremely careful, this road is very busy... but you only follow it for a few dozen metres). At the port, take a secondary road on the right (D21) towards Lugrin and Thollon. At the next crossroads, cross the disused railway line. Take the road on the left, then immediately turn right onto a steep lane blocked by bollards (Chemin du Vieux Tronc). At the top, follow the road to the left towards the church for a few metres.

(1) At the crossroads, turn right up Chemin du Grand Tronc, leaving the church square and war memorial on your left. Walk past the school and take the first small road on the left, which quickly turns into a path. When you reach a tarmac section, cross the D321 and continue straight ahead. You will come to a street in the hamlet of Véron. Follow it to the left until you reach the chapel.

(2) Continue a few metres past the chapel, then turn right onto a path towards Les Combes. The path climbs and winds through a wood.

(3) At a place called Les Vignes du Haut, turn left and climb steeply. At the next fork, take the left-hand path, which is slightly uphill. Cross a bridge over a stream near the hamlet of Les Combes.

(4) Immediately turn right onto a path towards Chez Cachat (do not enter the hamlet). The path, under the forest, is very steep, with a fairly constant south-south-east direction. It comes out onto a road near a sawmill.

(5) Follow this road to the right and take^{the first} left, Route des Plagnes. At the next intersection (fountain/watering trough on the right), continue left on Route des Plagnes. Cross Route de l'Emmontagnée on the right-hand side and further on you will come to a second intersection with this road (semi-circular), with a wayside shrine and a drinking fountain.

(6) Follow Route de l'Emmontagnée to the right. At the next crossroads, turn left onto Chemin de Lain towards Col de Creusaz. The tarmac soon gives way to a stony track. Climb up and enter a beech forest. Stay on the main track, ignore all the side tracks (mountain bike tracks) and climb steadily.

(7) At the signpost marked "Lain 1010m", take the^first path on the left towards Bois de la Corne and Col de Pertuis. Climb steeply, heading east then south. You will come out into a clearing at a crossroads (with a drinking trough on the left).

(8) Continue straight ahead towards Col de Pertuis. The path is steep but well marked, winding through the forest.

(9) At an intersection, turn left and continue climbing in switchbacks. Shortly before reaching the pass, the landscape opens up.

(10) At the pass, take the path on the left (north) towards Pic des Mémises. The path climbs steeply through pastures and reaches Crête des Mémises.

(11) Continue along the edge of the ridge or slightly below it, heading north-east, to the summit of Pic des Mémises (monumental cross, telecommunications pylon, panoramic view).

(12) Continue along the ridge towards the east until you reach the upper station of the Thollon cable car. Go around the station on the right (south) and you will come out at the cable car arrival area.

(13) Turn left onto a stony track that winds down the north side and roughly follows the cable car line, passing under it several times. In the first few bends, this track is lined with protective nets that are only there for skiers in winter.

(14) At an intersection, turn right and pass under the cable car line again. Then stay closer to the line to reach the lower station and go around it on the left.

(15) Go down the small road on the left. Come out onto a larger road, turn right to cross it and leave a large car park on your left. Head north towards Maravant and Hucel. Return to the tarmac and you will come to a three-way junction (with a wine press opposite).

(16) Follow the road to the right and descend gently. At the next crossroads (oratory on the left), turn left. After a few dozen metres, take a path on the right towards Le Hucel/Panorama. After a hundred metres, pass a house on your left and take a path between two hedges.

(17) At the "Fin du Hucel" signpost, if you are not put off by a further 30 metres of elevation gain, take the^first path on the right. After a short, very steep climb, you will reach the viewpoint (panorama, information panels, welcoming lawn, transmitter). Retrace your steps to the "Fin du Hucel" signpost.

(17) Then take the^second path on the right (the^first on the left if you are coming from the hamlet without passing by the viewpoint), towards Les Combes. Start a steep descent and, after several hairpin bends, join the^GRP®® Littoral du Léman.

(18) Follow the^GRP®® to the left (west-southwest), ignoring a few paths on the right (be careful here as the markings are very patchy). You will arrive at the hamlet of Les Combes.

(19) Take the small road on the right that descends towards Véron and Lugrin. Just before leaving the hamlet, turn left (north) onto a path that descends. Join the road and follow it to the left. Pass a small perpendicular road coming from the left.

(20) Shortly afterwards, leave the road and turn right onto a path that goes around a sawmill. Return to the road at a bend and continue straight ahead to the chapel of Véron.

(2) Continue west, ignore a road that descends to the right and take the next road on the right, Chemin des Maisons Vieilles. Cross the D321 and continue west on the path you took on the way there, which leads to the school. At the junction with a road, turn right.

(1) At the crossroads, with the church on your right, turn left and then immediately right onto the steeply sloping lane you took on the way there (Chemin du Vieux Tronc). At the bottom, turn left, cross the disused railway line and turn left again (no entry road). Join the D1005 and Port de Tourronde (S/E).

Good hiking boots are essential. Even in summer, bring warm clothing and rainwear.

All shops in Lugrin. Bars and restaurants in Thollon. In season, there is a bar-restaurant at the Thollon cable car arrival station. Water is available in the hamlet of Les Combes and on the Col de Pertuis trail above the Bois de la Corne: the route is very long, so bring plenty of water (and food) with you.

Compared to its initial version, following suggestions from trail runner and hiker Grégory V. (thanks to him), this hike has been modified at the bottom of the return route, thus avoiding a path along the D21 road.

A 1:25,000 map is required (at least the one accompanying this description).

Multiple panoramic views of Lake Geneva, all superb. From the Crête des Mémises, view of the north face of the Dent d'Oche and several other peaks in the Chablais.

In the hamlet of Les Combes, beautiful old houses.