The Hucel Viewpoint from Lugrin

Start from the car park by the town hall and church in Lugrin (see practical information).

Signposts are located at major junctions.

(S/E) Leave the car park, passing by the war memorial, and turn left onto Chemin du Grand Tronc. Walk uphill and past the school. Then take the^first left, onto Chemin de La Plan. The tarmac soon gives way to a path winding through meadows and hedgerows. Further on, you’ll return to the tarmac; note the Hucel viewpoint opposite and above.

(1) At the stop sign, cross the D321 with care(it is a busy road) and continue along the sloping lane to the left, the Chemin de la Maison Vieille. Head up into the hamlet of Véron. At the T-junction, turn left, ignoring a lane on the right and then one on the left, until you reach the Chapel of Véron.

(2) Shortly after the chapel, turn right onto a path towards Les Combes. After about a hundred metres, when the path turns right, take a smaller, less stony path on the left. Climb steadily. You’ll come out onto a wide path; follow it to the left and cross a stream over an old bridge.

(3) As you leave the bridge, turn right onto a path towards Chez Cachat (do not enter the hamlet of Les Combes). The path, through the forest, is very steep, with short hairpin bends and a direction that remains roughly south-southeast. You will come out onto a road at the edge of the hamlet of Chez Cachat.

(4) Follow the road to the left and immediately ignore the Impasse de la Chapelle on the left. Walk carefully along the road, past the cemetery, until you reach Thollon town hall, which is by the roadside, with the church behind it.

(5) Then turn left onto Route sur le Crêt. Pass two cul-de-sacs on the left, turn right and head steeply uphill.

(6) At the “Give Way” sign, turn left towards Le Hucel. Pass a wayside shrine on the left, cross the Impasse des Vernes on the left, turn right and head downhill (on the left, a sweeping view over Lake Geneva).

(7) At the bottom, at a place called Le Hucel (a beautiful house on the right), leave the road and take a path on the left towards the viewpoint. After about a hundred metres, pass a house on the left and take a path between two hedges.

(8) At the signpost marked “Fin du Hucel”, take the^first path on the right (not shown on the map). After a short, very steep climb, you reach the viewpoint (panoramic view, information boards, lawn, telecommunications mast).

(9) At the far end of the lawn, leave the mast on your left and head down a steep path into a wood. At the bottom (signpost, information board), turn sharply left and follow a path that crosses a beech forest on the hillside between forest plots nos. 15 and S5. You will reach the signpost marked "Fin du Hucel".

(8) Then take the^first path on the right towards Les Combes and Troubois and begin a steep descent. Follow several hairpin bends through the forest.

(10) At a T-junction, follow the^GRP® Littoral du Léman to the left (rare red and yellow markings). Ignore several turnings on the right and arrive at the hamlet of Les Combes.

(11) Turn left and cross the hamlet to a large drinking fountain. Then turn right onto the Chemin des Cherreres and descend steeply. You’ll come out onto the Route des Combes; follow it to the left for about a hundred metres.

(12) Turn right onto a path that goes round a sawmill on the right. You’ll rejoin the road at a hairpin bend, near the Chapelle de Véron which you passed on the way out.

(13) Here, there are two options:
- Cross the road, enter Véron, go past the chapel and follow the outward route in the opposite direction to the church at Lugrin.
- As shown on the map, follow the road to the right and immediately take the^first left, the Chemin du Raquaz. Immediately ignore a property entrance on the left and head down a steep slope. Cross the main road and continue straight ahead. Rejoin the main road further down and immediately reach a crossroads (bridge on the right).

(14) Then turn left towards Chez Busset and Thollon. At the stop sign, continue straight ahead and descend gently. Ignore the side streets, cross a stream and arrive at a stop sign at the foot of Lugrin church. Then take a one-way street on the left which climbs up to the rear of the church. Walk past the church on your left and return to the starting car park (S/E).

Parking:
The car park at Lugrin church is free but limited to 4 hours (blue zone). If you wish to, and think you can complete this hike in under 4 hours, the permitted time is sufficient. Otherwise, drive along the Chemin du Grand Tronc and park in one of the adjacent car parks, near the school, shortly after (S/E).

Hiking boots are required. The ascent between (3) and (4) and the descent between (8) and (10) are very steep.

There is a bakery, butcher’s and chemist’s near Lugrin church.

A detailed map is required (at the very least the one accompanying this description).

Hike undertaken by the author on 6 August 2023.

Superb panoramic view from the viewpoint (9), which overlooks Lake Geneva from a height of 600 m and is located just 1 km as the crow flies from its southern shore.

The route alternates between forest paths and small tarmac roads. Beautiful views of Lake Geneva and its Swiss shore, as well as the Montagne des Mémises.