Between the lakes of Chambly and Chalain

Parking in Doucier, on the road to Chalain, in one of the car parks on the left. Yellow and white-red markings in places.

(S/E) Cross the road and head left, passing in front of ‘La Ruche du Lac’, carefully keeping to the side of the road, which is very busy during the summer. Turn right onto the stony path (MTB marker 119) which branches off immediately. Continue straight on along the left-hand track until the next junction (water tower marker).

(1) Turn sharp right onto the grassy path for a short climb to the viewpoint 300 m away at the far end of the lake.

(2) Return to the junction.

(1) Head up to the right, towards “Sur le Château”. Walk past the water tower. You’ll soon come to a T-junction; continue straight on to reach the D39.

(3) Cross it and continue left until you reach the edge of the woods, about a hundred metres further on. Two options:

• follow the hiking signs, which unfortunately run alongside the D39 for 700 m. Turn right at the first fork. Then keep right onto the stony path.
• At the edge of the woods, turn immediately right onto the stony path, which ends shortly afterwards. Continue straight on along the boundary between the two plots to rejoin the route at a right-angle bend in the stony path. This section is marked on the map, but I’m not sure if it’s on public land. Please respect the crops.

The path soon turns sharply right.

(4) When it turns left again, either:

• you continue along the stony path.
• climb up into the pasture for a circular route (opening and closing the gates and keeping an eye out for livestock, if any) for a lovely view of Lake Chambly and the Jura mountains.

Then ignore a path climbing up to the right and continue straight on until you come within sight of the village of Songeson. Climb up to the left to the church. Note its flat stone roof (lauze). Behind the church, there is a picnic table. Inside, there are two old polychrome wooden statues and some beautifully carved niches.

(5) On leaving the village, head up to the right along the Chemin de la Barette. At the last house, continue straight on along the path that cuts across the bend. Then turn left onto the stony path and enter the woods. At the nearby clearing, continue straight on at the crossroads. You will soon spot in the rock the ruts left by the iron-rimmed wheels of our old carts.

(6) Cross the main road and continue along the road opposite, towards “Vers le Château”. When it bends to the left, follow the path to the nearby viewpoint overlooking the far end of the lake and the leisure centre framed by the rocks of the valley.

(7) Set off again along the ledge path on the right, towards “La Frate”. Soon leave the path that descends to the right, staying on this track until you reach the Belvédère de la Frate.

(8) You cross a karst landscape and come to a fork. Continue straight ahead (right-hand path) along the ledge to the final viewpoint on the Roche. Be careful, as it is easy to miss it.

(9) After the viewpoint, the path widens, descending to the left and joining a crossroads. Take the first path leading down to your right towards a new junction marked by the sign ‘Place à Bois’. Turn left towards Doucier to reach a large open gravel area. Head straight down the lovely stony path which joins the first fork you passed on the way out.

(1) Continue straight ahead and return to the car park. (S/E)

The route includes ledge paths and unsecured viewpoints. Narrow paths along the edge of cliffs, rocky and slippery in places.
Wearing suitable footwear and using walking poles is recommended.

(3) and (4) Crossing fields and pastures: according to information gathered in the village, farmers seem to be tolerant of walkers. But to avoid any problems: avoid doing this walk when the grass is tall. Make sure you close the gates properly, or use the official marked paths from (3) to (4) and after (4).