From Le Grand Bois to Saint-Régis-du-Coin

Head to the area known as Le Grand Bois and Les Trois Croix, which lies on the road leading up to the Col de la République from Bourg-Argental. Upon reaching the Auberge du Grand Bois, turn immediately left at the junction signposted for Saint-Genest-Malifaux. Just a few metres past this junction, park in the car park below the inn. The walk starts from this point.

(S/E) Leave the car park and take the road where road signs point towards Saint-Régis-du-Coin. Walk for about fifty metres until you reach a fork in the road where you’ll find a signpost for the “Les Trois Croix” walk. Take the gently ascending dirt track on the right. Continue straight ahead on the main path, ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left, until you reach a junction where you’ll find the signpost for the “Bois Frison” walk.

(1) Continue straight on, still ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left, until you reach a tarmac road.

(2) Cross it and take the Chemin du Prélager opposite. Walk through the hamlet of Prélager via the Chemin de l’Ancienne École and continue straight on. You will reach a crossroads with a hiking signpost. Ignore the path on the right and the one on the left, taking the middle one instead and continuing straight on. At the next crossroads, keep to the right and continue straight on along the main path, ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left. You will reach a crossroads where there is another hiking signpost marked “Carrière du Prélager”.

(3) Ignore the path on the left and continue straight ahead. At the next Fork in the road, turn left even though the yellow and white markings indicate a Yellow Cross. About 300 m further on, turn left again to cross a^first wooden ladder over a pasture fence and then continue straight ahead on the path. Pass a small iron cross set into the rock, the Pierre Saint-Martin. Pass a^second wooden ladder over a fence.

(4) A little further on, cross a^third ladder over a fence and continue straight ahead on the path which climbs up to the Crêt de Chaussitre.

(5) On reaching Mont Chaussitre, head to the foot of the cross and the orientation table. After admiring the view, retrace your steps and continue straight ahead, leaving the path you took on the way up to your left. Continue until you reach a crossroads where there is a hiking signpost and a cross.

(6) At this junction, keep to the right. The path joins a tarmac road. Follow this road downhill to reach the hamlet of Le Teil.

(7) Just before the gate of the first house, take a narrow path on the left which runs alongside the house until you reach a road and the hamlet of Le Creux. Cross this hamlet along this road until you reach a crossroads and turn left. Continue along this road until you reach another crossroads where there is a cross on the left.

(8) Immediately after the electricity pylon, take the path leading down to the right. At the bottom of the descent, where there is a small signpost, leave the path that continues straight ahead and turn sharply right, almost going against the flow of traffic. Continue along this path until you reach a road. Cross it and continue along the path opposite until you reach the bridge.

(9) Cross the small wooden bridge and continue to the right. Follow this path until you reach a road at a cross.

(10) Turn right towards the village of Saint-Régis-du-Coin. Pass the church on your right and continue along the road through the village to the final junction at the exit, about 150 m past the church.

(11) Turn left, leaving the road for an uphill dirt track. Reach a tarmac road and take it to the right. Arrive at a crossroads, turn right and, 20 m further on, leave the road to climb up a path on the left until you reach a cross-path.

(12) Cross this to continue along the path opposite. Pass a wooden cross and continue straight ahead for about twenty metres, ignoring the path branching off to the left. Then climb up the wide path on the left. You will reach a crossroads where the “Panére” hiking signpost stands.

(13) Head up the path on the left. You’ll reach a Fork in the road; continue by taking the right-hand branch. Stay on the main path, ignoring a side track on the right further on, and you’ll reach a junction of three paths.

(14) Turn left onto the path until you reach a site where large standing stones are located.

(15) At this site, in addition to the large standing stones, there is an orientation table. After admiring the view, continue along the same path, heading downhill. Cross a junction where there is a hiking signpost and continue straight ahead. You will reach another junction.

(16) Continue towards the Gimel peat bogs. Cross the wooden footbridges to traverse the peat bogs and exit to the north by taking a dirt track on the right. You will reach a crossroads; continue straight on along the Route de la Croix de Caille. Follow this tarmac road to reach a crossroads, the starting point of several dirt tracks, on the right.

(17) Take the^GR®7opposite and follow the red and white markings to reach a junction at an elevation of 1197 metres.

(18) Continue straight on, following the red and white markings, to reach the junction at the end of the circular route.

(1) Turn right and follow the route back the way you came to reach the car park (S/E).

(16) At the Gimel peat bogs, there are several nature trails to choose from. If you wish, you can leave the main route of this hike to explore the peat bogs in greater detail.