The Tête du Danay circular loop via Les Frasses Jacquier from Le Grand-Bornand

In Le Grand-Bornand, take the Bouchet valley road towards the Col des Annes. At Le Terret, just after the Héliantis hotel, take the road on the right that crosses the Borne (towards "Espace Grand-Bo" - route de la Patinoire), until you reach the three-way junction.

Park on the right-hand side of the road if you are travelling by car (Terret car park, prohibited between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.) or on the left-hand side if you are travelling by motorhome.

(S/E) Head towards La Broderie-Le Pessey, going up the valley for about 500 m to a place called Le Pessey, where a stream passes under a metal footbridge before going under the road.

(1) Take the path on the right, which starts on the right bank of the stream: head towards "Les Frasses Jacquier" on the sign indicating "Le Pessey - alt. 960 m". The path climbs steeply, first along the stream, then crossing another stream before following a long ramp. It becomes a track, passing a cross and then a chalet on the left, before joining another track, the Route des Frasses Jacquier.

(2) Turn right onto this track, which climbs steadily and passes a very old chalet before turning sharply left.
At a barrier, a sign for "Les Frasses Jacquier - 1270 m" points straight ahead to "La Tête du Danay". Continue to a four-way crossroads.

(3) At this crossroads, turn right to climb through the forest to the next crossroads.

(4) At this three-way junction, turn left (to climb, in any case). Continue along the same track, which follows a few large hairpin bends, arriving at an open area near the hamlet of Sur Frête.

(5) At the four-way junction next to the hamlet, signposted "Sur Frête - alt. 1580 m", turn right towards "La Tête du Danay": a beautiful semi-carriageway track climbs towards the wooded summit.

(6) Without any risk of going wrong (you have to go uphill anyway), you will arrive at a platform equipped with a bench (very welcome!) and three signs indicating "Alt. 1720 m". A path leads, via a final climb, to the summit itself: a plateau planted with a huge iron cross and equipped with benches and an orientation table; 360-degree panorama.
Descend to the signposts and turn right towards "Grand-Bornand".

(7) After a descent through the woods, you will come out near a large chalet on the edge of a vast clearing. Go around this chalet on the right and take the wide track that slopes gently down towards the north-west.
When you reach a copse, walk alongside a car park (for those who want to approach Le Danay by car), beyond which the track is paved and becomes a road.

(8) At a hairpin bend to the left, turn right onto a forest track (Piste des Mouillés) which starts off level but then descends steeply.

(9) Ignore the path that branches off to the left, which slopes gently, and stay on the track, which turns sharply to the right and descends steeply.

(10) At some huts, ignore a track that branches off to the left and continue straight ahead on a gentle slope.

(11) About 150 m further on, leave the track (which soon disappears) and take a path on the left that descends steeply, initially in hairpin bends.

Note: when I passed through in 2012, I did not find any signs between the Mouillés forest track and the huts, so I used the IGN map to guide me; I am sure that there are now more signs in this area.

(12) After passing a group of cabins on the left, take the path on the left at a three-way junction, which descends steeply with a few switchbacks. Shortly before the Villeneuve neighbourhood and the ice rink, the path crosses a small ravine and winds sharply.
At the sign for "La Patinoire - alt. 920 m", follow the direction for "Le Grand-Bornand", soon going around the ice rink building on the right to come out onto the road, where you turn right.
After about 500 m, you will return to the car park where you started (S/E).

We did this hike in August 2012. The signposting may have improved since then, but it was already very good, especially as this is a classic destination.

In summer, it can be very hot and there are relatively few streams to cool off in.

Technically, there are often very steep climbs and descents, especially towards the end of the route. It is therefore advisable to have a pair of walking poles and good soles. On the other hand, the paths and tracks are always very passable, often covered with earth and very easy to walk on. However, be careful on steep descents in wet weather, especially from point (12).

Definition of the name "Frasses": land covered with green scrub - coppice where young branches could be cut - Taken from the article: "On the meaning and etymology of some Savoyard place names".

In addition to the sporting interest of this hike, the richness of its landscapes and panoramas, and the architecture of the chalets encountered, the summit of Danay offers a perfect viewpoint for discovering the mountains, valleys and villages all around.