La Grange Rouge and the Grand Méandre

Parking is available on the D9 towards Levier when coming from Larnod, at the start of the stony path on the right after the bridge. To get there, coming from Larnod via the A83, take the D9 left at the roundabout towards Levier, go under the bridge and take the small path on the right about 100 metres from the bridge. Yellow-blue markings, then no markings.

(S/E) Head back towards the D-road and the bridge by turning left into the field and following the safety barriers. Pass to the left of the bridge, follow the road 50m further up, staying in the field that runs above it. Take the stony path on the left, climbing up to the Grange Rouge farm. You pass between the buildings. On the right, a view of the feudal keep at Montferrand.

(1) At the junction with the small tarmac road, leave the signposted path and head up to the left. At the nearby hunting car park, take the forest track on the right. You’ll soon come to a fork; continue straight on along the ascending path on the left. At the next fork, turn right, continuing along this well-defined path.

(2) You arrive at and enter a clearing; walk a few metres to the right towards its far end to find a forest track which you take to the left (note: you must enter the clearing). Trail markings are in the opposite direction to the walk. You walk alongside piles of stone gathered from fields (dry stone walls). You will soon reach a path which you follow down to the right, running alongside a clearing. At the end of the path, turn right.

(3) You’ll come to an X-shaped crossroads; take the right-hand branch and, at the next junction, head down to the right again. You’ll reach a clearing:
- enter it quietly in the hope of spotting a few chamois. In front of you stands the keep of Chenecey’s feudal castle. Follow the edge of the woodland on the left for 200 metres and, when it turns at a right angle, look out for a path leading ten paces to a pile of stone gathered from fields, which you pass to climb up to the right to the viewpoint, situated about 200 metres away. Don’t miss the path on the right that leads you there.
- If you do not wish to go through the clearing, take the forest path on the left which runs along the edge of the woods to reach the viewpoint directly.

(4) Leaving the viewpoint, head up to the right to find a signpost. Continue straight on towards Les Granges Mathieu. Go down the gravel Chemin du Point de Vue and, at the small tarmac road, turn left (MTB marker 57). Shortly afterwards, at the Stop sign, head back up the stony path on the left. Turn around for a view of Mont Poupet.

(5) You’ll soon come to a fork. Turn left, passing a large hunting lodge along a stony path that leads back into the woods. When it splits into two clearly marked forest tracks, take the right-hand path (painted orange arrows, which may not be there for long).

(3) You’ll reach the top of the X-junction. Turn right here, then right again at the second fork just ahead. Shortly after entering a fir forest, at the fork, head up to the left. Stay on this well-defined, generally straight path, ignoring any cross-trails you come across.

(6) Take care here: at a fork, always stay on the widest path, which descends slightly to the left.

(7) At the right-angled junction, shortly after (about fifty metres) the Larnod forest signs No. 24 and 25 (on the right), turn left onto the forest track that descends the hillside diagonally, again ignoring the cross-country paths and ascending tracks.

(8) When this path meets a stony track at right angles in the hollow of a small valley, head left, passing at the foot of the ‘Président’ oak. The path soon turns sharply right to climb back up towards the car park (S/E).

The route includes ledge paths and unsecured viewpoints. The trails are rocky and slippery in places. Sturdy footwear is essential and the use of walking poles is recommended.

For Visorando hikers with a poor sense of direction, I recommend using the Visorando app.