Circular loop starting from Les Moulins Chérier

A beautiful walk alternating between open views and paths along the Isable river.

Details

17799709
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.92 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 517 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 512 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,068 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 666 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the foot of the church in Les Moulins Chérier.

(S/E) Take the tarmac road that climbs past the town hall, Rue du Haut des Moulins. You will soon reach a crossroads with a calvary.

(1) Turn left, then continue along the path that climbs up to the hamlet of Bonnabaud.

(2) Turn left onto the road going uphill. You will then rejoin the tarmac road. At the fork between an uphill and a downhill road, turn right onto the uphill road. Then take the path slightly to the left and follow the hiking signs. When you reach the hamlet of Crésoilles, continue straight on along the tarmac road. Do not take the road on the left that descends towards the D 53.
After a left turn in the hamlet, take thefirst road on the right and you will soon reach a crossroads.

(3) Take this path on the left. Follow the existing hiking sign if in doubt. The steepest slopes of the hike are after this crossroads. Cross the D 31 and continue on the path slightly to the left. At the exit of the woods at the top, you will come to a crossroads with several paths.

(4) Turn left to walk along the edge of the forest and enjoy a superb view of the valleys on your right. Reach the Croix de Grassidet, cross the tarmac road and continue on the path opposite. Cross a small wood and you will come to a Y-junction.

(5) Take the path on the right, enter the woods again, cross a stream and come to a tarmac road.

(6) Turn right onto the uphill path, cross a road and reach a crossroads at an isolated house.

(7) Continue left along the path, a few metres further on at the Calvary crossroads, continue right and you will arrive at the hamlet of Les Faux.

(8) Turn right to walk alongside the farm and then the edge of a wood. At the Y-junction, keep right along the edge. Cross the fields, enter the wood again and continue climbing through it until you reach a four-way junction.

(9) Take the path on the right and finish the climb at Croix Piouse. Find a wider path and follow it slightly downhill to reach the main track.

(10) Turn right and at the next bend you will find the start of a path.

(11) Take it to the left and continue through the woods until you reach the hamlet of La Murette.

(12) Turn right onto the D 31 for a few metres, then turn left onto the path before thefirst house you come to. Walk along the meadow to reach the hamlet of Point du Jour.

(13) Turn right and walk past the house overlooking the road. Continue along the edge of the woods and, after crossing a stream, you will reach a four-way crossroads.

(14) Turn right downhill. At the water treatment plant, continue along the path opposite it. You will reach the hamlet of La Pertière.

(15) Turn right after thefirst house you come to. Continue along the road to reach the hamlet of Bancillon.

(16) Take the small path on the right that runs alongside a hedge of thuja trees.
Please note: the wide path on the left is private and leads to a farm.
Cross the Isable via the footbridge. Follow the river on its right bank and, after a circular bend, you will reach the hamlet of Blanchardon and a crossroads with a calvary.

(17) Turn right onto the uphill path and continue straight ahead until you reach the Chez Rouchon crossroads.

(18) Take the tarmac road on the left. Walk alongside the cemetery and then return to the initial crossroads you passed on the way there.

(1) Turn left and retrace your steps to return to the car park at the church of Les Moulins Chérier (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 667 m - Parking at the Église des Moulins Chérier church.
  2. 1 : km 0.16 - alt. 679 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 0.77 - alt. 735 m - Bonnabaud hamlet
  4. 3 : km 1.89 - alt. 801 m - Crésoilles hamlet
  5. 4 : km 3.11 - alt. 973 m - Summit intersection
  6. 5 : km 4.5 - alt. 952 m - Crossroads of the cross
  7. 6 : km 5.3 - alt. 925 m - Carrefour de la Condamine
  8. 7 : km 5.7 - alt. 971 m - Isolated house
  9. 8 : km 6.38 - alt. 970 m - Les Faux
  10. 9 : km 8.61 - alt. 1,053 m - Crossroads towards Croix Piouse
  11. 10 : km 9.36 - alt. 1,067 m - Main path
  12. 11 : km 9.88 - alt. 1,039 m - Fork
  13. 12 : km 11.56 - alt. 922 m - La Murette
  14. 13 : km 12.07 - alt. 871 m - Point du Jour
  15. 14 : km 13.26 - alt. 854 m - Four-way crossroads - Isable (rivière)
  16. 15 : km 14.51 - alt. 748 m - La Pertière
  17. 16 : km 15.43 - alt. 771 m - Le Bancillon
  18. 17 : km 16.41 - alt. 688 m - Blanchardon
  19. 18 : km 17.27 - alt. 721 m - Chez Rouchon
  20. S/E : km 17.92 - alt. 666 m - Parking at the Église des Moulins Chérier church.

Notes

In good weather, bring sun protection (cap, hat and sun cream) as many sections are not shaded (especially at the beginning).
Wear sturdy walking shoes. In winter, some sections are often snow-covered.

Worth a visit

- Monts de la Madeleine.
- Bourg des Moulins Chérier.
- Chérier (Romanesque church) and Notre-Dame de la Salette.
- Val d'Isable.
- Au Pré de mon Arbre restaurant in the hamlet of Montloup.
- Numerous crosses, Piouse, Grassidet.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
polpette
polpette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The broom was in bloom in early June, so the hills were dotted with yellow spots everywhere. Really lovely!
A stroll through forests, meadows and fields...
A must-do.

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anne ubrig
anne ubrig

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk, with no major difficulties, apart from the length. It's best to have your mobile phone with you, and to have downloaded the app and the map of the walk.
I did this walk on Tuesday 3 June, in very gloomy weather at first, then in the rain. Too bad! And of course, at the beginning of June, the grass was very high. no big deal!

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abouamine42
abouamine42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We left Roanne in foggy conditions but arrived at Moulin Chérier to glorious sunshine.
The hike starts off strong with a fairly steep 2.5 km climb.
The route is very pleasant.
Thank you.

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pierre huraux
pierre huraux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, fellow hiker.
A beautiful hike with no difficulty other than the distance. As the weather was fine and very hot, we decided to shorten the route a little by going from point 7 to point 11, along the well-marked path. Despite a few minor errors along the way, my GPS still showed a total of nearly 18 km, with 5½ hours of actual walking.
It should be noted that the downhill path from point 16 (Le Bancillon) to the stream had not been cleared, with tall grass, nettles and uneven ground: descend with caution.
A beautiful hike with varied scenery, but with many sections exposed to the sun: set off early in summer if you are concerned about the heat.

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zab2m
zab2m

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 6 May 2023 in good weather.
It took us six hours, including an hour's break (picnic plus dandelion picking: cramaillote).
A minor mistake: I missed the fork at point 14 and we caught up via the small road at the junction further up.
The rain of recent days had left some large puddles and wet paths, particularly after the water treatment plant (between 14 and 15).
Magnificent rolling landscapes and what a spring: the cherry trees were bursting into white bloom, while the soft greens mingled with the dark pines. A perfect route for a warm-up. 1 hour 15 minutes from Lyon via the A89.

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Rolag
Rolag

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike in the sunshine, a varied route with a few very wet sections at this time of year. We only encountered one other person. No difficulty whatsoever. I recommend it for a day out in the fresh air with the family.

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RaphiL
RaphiL
• Edited:

Hello

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