Forêt des Coulmes: Grotte des Bœufs, Serre Coton, Les Croisettes and Patente

From the Isère Valley, head to the Plateau de Presles either from Saint-Pierre-de-Chérennes or from Pont-en-Royan. Continue to the hamlet of Le Faz, to the car park at the cross-country ski centre.

(S/E) Continue along the road for a few dozen metres, then turn right onto a signposted path towards Fontaine de Pétouze, which descends to the hamlet of Chamfra.

(1) Continue straight south along the path, which begins to climb through the boxwood, then turns sharply left towards the wooded ridge. About thirty metres after this bend, a path marked by a cairn branches off to the left and leads, on level ground, to the entrance of the Grotte des Bœufs. This cave is easily accessible via its main passage, adorned with rather massive concretions.

(2) Retrace your steps to the main path, turn left and climb through the boxwood towards the ridge. Just before the ridge, at a path junction, a marker with white and green markings indicates the boundary of the state-owned forest.

(3) Turn left to head back up along the boundary between the state-owned forest (green mark on a white background) and the municipal forest (red mark on a white background). The path, between these markings, veers left to cross level, due north, to the ruins of L’Étoile.

(4) Turn right towards the east to head back down, still following the same markings, to the junction of the forest tracks coming from the Combe de Ravassière.

(5) Cross these tracks and continue eastwards between the forest markings, following the occasional faint trail, as there is no longer a defined path. The route thus marked climbs a steep slope through the forest, then the terrain levels out to reach the Serre Coton ridge.

(6) Head straight down towards the east (still off-trail, but the terrain is fairly easy to follow by making a few switchbacks) to the Pot du Varare, then climb up the opposite side to reach the nearby Route Forestière des Croisettes.

(7) Take this paved forest road to the left until you reach the Croisettes junction.

(8) Leave the roads and head north along a good forest track towards Patente. At a junction, you can reach Patente either to the left via La Clairière, or straight ahead (GPS track) by climbing slightly to join the Route Forestière du Mont Noir.

(9) Turn left to descend to the Carrefour de Patente.

(10) Head up to the right, straight up the slope, to the information panel overlooking Malleval-en-Vercors.

(11) Retrace your steps to the Carrefour de Patente.

(10) Turn right onto the Route des Coulmes (D31) towards Le Faz and, after about 50 metres, turn right onto the signposted path (multiple directions) then, immediately, turn left towards the Clos Michet car park: the path, running along the hillside, leads to the Source de Bury.

(12) Head down towards the north-west to the Prairie de la Ganasse.

(13) Turn left onto a generally level route (with gentle ascents and descents) to Clos Michet.

(14) Turn right towards La Faz for a few short climbs, then a long descent via the Grande Combe. Join the D31.

(15) Cross the road and continue downhill to the first houses.

(16) Complete the descent and turn right onto the road leading back up to the Cross-Country Ski Centre (S/E).

A varied route with variable signposting, generally on good paths or tracks and even occasionally on tarmac roads.

Only the section between (5) and (7) is off-trail but well marked by foresters. It is not very difficult but features some fairly steep sections in the forest.

For those who find this section daunting (or those with children), it is possible to turn left at (5) to follow the forest tracks leading to the Piste forestière du Chandelier, which you take to the right to reach Les Croisettes (8).

The Grotte des Bœufs is easy to visit, even with children: bring a torch to make your way through the cave and see the stalactites and stalagmites.

As the route is mainly through woodland, there are no particular views, except at the Table d’orientation (11), so a return trip there is highly recommended.