Refine your search for walks in Écotay-l'Olme
Écotay-l'Olme walks
From Vieil Ecotay to Montplaisir
Visorando Member
4.04 mi
+397 ft
-400 ft
2h 10
Easy
Departure from Écotay-l'Olme (Loire)
Starting from Vieil Ecotay, this is a pleasant, family-friendly walk with no real difficulty, taking you to the hamlet of Montplaisir as you follow the Cotayet stream and then the Moingt.
Le Bout du Monde from Vinols
Local authority3.14 mi
+463 ft
-479 ft
1h 50
Easy
Departure from Bard (Loire)
After passing through Bellevue, you’ll walk alongside the vineyards and reach a plateau from where you’ll see the Vizézy Gorges and the village of Essertines to your right, and the tower of Old Ecotay and the Cotayet Valley to your left.
You’ll cross the Cotayet and pass through beech woods. Following a steep path, you’ll reach the ‘end of the world’, near the ruins of an old hamlet. Taking a path through the valley, you’ll reach Vinols.
Le Vieil Écotay
5.04 mi
+873 ft
-889 ft
3h 05
Easy
Departure from Bard (Loire)
After passing through the hamlet of Celle, a pleasant hillside path descends to the Charavan river, then climbs back up to Quérézieux, surrounded by deciduous trees. The descent offers a splendid view of Bard, then of Vieil-Écotay nestled at the bottom of the valley, with its beautiful stone houses, castle, church, wash house, and two rivers that meet under a magnificent little stone bridge.
The Roman road starting from Vinols and passing through the village of Bard
7.61 mi
+1,673 ft
-1,647 ft
4h 55
Moderate
Departure from Bard (Loire)
This route will take you from Vinols to Bard, featuring a few steep climbs. In Bard, you can enjoy a meal at the Auberge de la Grand Font. On the way back, a short detour via the Roman road will offer you a magnificent view of the Forez plain.
Vé Vinau
3.09 mi
+630 ft
-640 ft
2h 00
Easy
Departure from Bard (Loire)
This route will allow you to discover the hamlet of Vinols from different angles. It crosses the Cotayet twice and winds its way through woods of Garoles and Fayards.
The Forez Mountains on the heights of Montbrison
15.88 mi
+3,054 ft
-3,028 ft
10h 00
Very difficult
Departure from Bard (Loire)
This route takes you from Vinols to Lérigneux via Bard, with a few steep climbs up to an altitude of 1,200 metres. On the way back, a short detour via the Roman road will give you a magnificent view of the Forez plain.
The Pic and the Cotayet
3.65 mi
+686 ft
-666 ft
2h 15
Easy
Departure from Bard (Loire)
This route crosses the River Cotayet twice and offers varied scenery: low stone walls, beech groves, paths lined with hazel trees, and views over the plain and the Alps.
The village of Bard and its two rivers
6.89 mi
+823 ft
-814 ft
3h 55
Moderate
Departure from Bard (Loire)
This walk, starting from the village of Bard, will take you along the banks of the two streams that flow through the commune: the Cotayet and the Bouchat. You’ll enjoy lovely views of the mountains and the Forez plain.
Chemin de Cordailleux
3.45 mi
+541 ft
-538 ft
2h 05
Easy
Departure from Bard (Loire)
On leaving the village, as you head down towards the wash house along the sunny side of the hillside, you can admire the Charavan ravine and the Bouchat woods. The footbridge over this stream leads to a disused leat, a reminder of rural life in days gone by. The return route via the Charavan footbridges passes close to a ‘devil’s game’ hidden beneath the moss. On the flat stretch, the Montel picnic area and book box provide a pleasant end to this walk.
Charavan Valley
2.69 mi
+276 ft
-292 ft
1h 30
Easy
Departure from Bard (Loire)
You will discover the charms of Charavan, Bard and the Forez plain from an enchanting perspective.
Circular route from Verrières to Lérigneux and Bard
11.83 mi
+1,844 ft
-1,844 ft
7h 05
Moderate
Departure from Verrières-en-Forez (Loire)
A lovely walk through countryside and woodland in the Monts du Forez.
Vizézy Valley Circular Tour
4.81 mi
+1,142 ft
-1,129 ft
3h 10
Moderate
Departure from Essertines-en-Châtelneuf (Loire)
This circular route passes through the medieval site and Saint-Étienne Chapel, with the Source du Pic, which was once considered miraculous. The route then follows the river, before returning via the Bois d’Hérieux. A walk offering stunning views over the Vizézy valley.
The waterfall route in Essertines-en-Châtelneuf
5.27 mi
+965 ft
-971 ft
3h 15
Moderate
Departure from Essertines-en-Châtelneuf (Loire)
Starting from the village of Essertines-en-Châtelneuf, this route, winding through woodland and countryside, passes through small hamlets and by the Trézaillette Waterfall.
Chazelles-sur-Lavieu–Verrières circular loop
10.34 mi
+1,867 ft
-1,873 ft
6h 25
Moderate
Departure from Chazelles-sur-Lavieu (Loire)
A lovely walk, partly through woodland in the Monts du Forez, passing by the Saut du Diable waterfall.
Route of the Fraisse Chapel via Mont Sémiol
5.79 mi
+896 ft
-906 ft
3h 25
Easy
Departure from Châtelneuf (Loire) (Loire)
This route passes near an ancient volcano, Mont Sémiol, which offers beautiful views of the Forez plain from its heights, then continues to the Fraisse Chapel at an altitude of 1,012 metres.