The Belvédère du Hucel from Thollon

Departure from the main town of Thollon-les-Mémises. Park in the large car park located beyond the D24 road, on the right when coming from Neuvecelle or Saint-Paul. This car park is flanked by the town hall, the church, the post office and a football stadium; there are recycling bins here.

Directional signs are located at major intersections. There are also yellow arrow posts and a few markers of various colours, which are only mentioned in the description when necessary.

(S/E) Head towards the town hall (large fountain) then turn right to cross the D24 at the pedestrian crossing. Then first turn right then left to take the Route sur le Crêt. Pass two dead ends on the left, turn right and climb a steep slope at the beginning.

(1) At the "give way" sign, turn left towards Le Hucel. Pass an oratory on the left, ignore a cul-de-sac on the left, turn right and descend (views of Lake Geneva on the left).

(2) At the "Le Hucel" signpost, leave the road and take a path on the left towards the viewpoint. After a hundred metres, pass a house on your left and take a path between two hedges.

(3) At the "Fin du Hucel" signpost, take the first path on the right (not shown on the map; the middle path, marked with arrows, will be taken on the way back). After a short, very steep climb, you will reach the viewpoint (panoramic view, information panels, lawn, transmitter).

(4) At the other end of the lawn, leave the transmitter on your left, find a signpost and go down a steep path into the woods. At the bottom (signpost, information panel), turn sharply left and follow a path that crosses a beech forest between forest plots 15 and S5. Reach the signpost marked "Fin du Hucel".

(3) Follow the path you took on the way there southwards.

(2) Back on the small road, turn left and then immediately right at the corner of an oratory towards Le Maravant (signpost, red markings). Stay on the road going uphill, ignore a lane on the left at the "Le Maravant" road sign, and pass the "La Rassetaz" and "Le Maravant" signposts in succession.

(5) At a three-way junction (with a wine press on the right), turn right (ignore the signpost pointing to the left). Climb gently and ignore all the access roads to houses on either side. Descend and you will reach the D24 road.

(6) Cross the road (take care) and follow it downhill to the right (there is a pavement only on the left-hand side). At the crossroads after a tennis court, cross the D24 again (pedestrian crossing) and turn right onto a smaller, less busy road. At the stop sign, continue straight ahead.

(7) At the "give way" sign, cross the D24 one last time (be careful) and follow the road opposite the tower towards Chez les Vesins. Take the^first right, Route Saint-Roch (signpost "Altitude 928m"). Pass the school on your right, immediately turn right, leave the church on your left and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Good trainers are sufficient for this short walk, which mainly takes place on small, quiet roads. In wet weather, the climb to the viewpoint and the descent (short but steep) can be slippery.

No drinking water sources were found along the route. There is a mini-market at Chez les Aires (6).

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

Hike completed twice by the author, the first on 3 November 2017, the second on 30 October 2018.

Superb panoramic view from the viewpoint (4), which overlooks Lake Geneva from a height of 600m and is only 1km as the crow flies from its southern shore.

Along the way, there are beautiful views of Lake Geneva and its Swiss shore to the west and north, the peaks of the Vaud Alps to the east and the impressive Montagne des Mémises very close to the south.