The Charmant Som circular loop from Valombré

Le Charmant Som is very busy due to the access road to its sheepfold coming from the Col de Porte. Its other sides, however, offer a wilder approach, particularly when coming from Valombré and Malamille. This route offers a relatively long but varied circular route, featuring ridge walks and crossings over slabs and sharp limestone pavements, whose wild character contrasts with the crowds at the summit arriving via the mountain pastures.

Details

1697745
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.48 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,999 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,003 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,115 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,503 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

From Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, take the CD520b up towards Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. Just before La Diat, at the entrance to the Grand Logis gorge, turn right onto the Pont de Valombré and park before the barrier (Porte de l’Enclos), as the Route de Vallombré is closed to general traffic.

(S/E) Take the Route de Valombré, which runs flat towards the west.

(1) Ignore the first path branching off to the left towards the Arête de Bérard and continue along the road until just past a wide left-hand bend as you emerge from the forest.

(2) Head south-west along the forest track that climbs to the left on the right bank of the Ruisseau de Valombré. It re-enters the forest and crosses the historic path several times. Take either of the two paths.

(3) After crossing a stream, at the junction at 1105m, leave the track for good and take the path which climbs steeply, winding southwards, bypassing a few rocky sections in the forest and emerging at the foot of the scree beneath the cliffs of Charmant Som.

(4) The path levels out, turns left and joins the small pass at Le Collet on the Arête de Bérard. Just below Le Collet, it joins the path coming from point 1.

(5) At the small pass, join the path coming from Les Cottaves (Saint-Hugues side –GRP® Tour de Chartreuse), and take it to the right. The path follows the ridge for a short while, then ascends diagonally across the entire south-east face of the Charmant Som, which is made up of beautiful limestone slabs and sharp limestone pavement.

(6) At the end of the slabs, rejoin the paths coming from the sheepfold. Turn right and climb up the grassy slopes to the summit.

(7) Descend northwards along a path that is steep at first. It then veers to the right and runs along the grassy ridge of Chamechine, which, with little change in elevation, leads to the summit of the Combe de l’If above Malamille.
Continue along the left bank of this valley to join the paths leading to the summit of Pré Bâtard.

(8) Head down the Pré Bâtard to the left along the well-marked cattle tracks. At the edge of the forest, the path becomes a stony track, turns westwards and passes near springs where cattle come down to drink. Remember to close the gate properly behind you.
As you approach the Fontaine de l'Oursière, you’ll come to a right-angled junction.

(9) Take the path – the Sentier de la Cochette – to the right for a long, level traverse. As you approach the ridge descending from the right, join the path coming from the Route de la Charmette further down and climb eastwards in tight hairpin bends to the Col de la Cochette.

(10) Descend the winding path on the other side. At the foot of the rocks, the path heads off to the left and then descends through the forest until it joins a forest track.

(11) Follow it straight ahead until you reach the road at Habert de Malamille.

(12) Follow this gently sloping road down to the junction of the circular loop you passed earlier.

(2) Carry straight on, retracing your steps along the route you took on the way out, to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,513 ft - Valombré Bridge/Porte de l'Enclos - Guiers (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.33 - alt. 2,579 ft - Start: Arrête de Bérard trail
  3. 2 : mi 1.43 - alt. 3,015 ft - Start: ascent through the Bois de Valombré
  4. 3 : mi 2.08 - alt. 3,681 ft - Final junction: forest track/path
  5. 4 : mi 3.08 - alt. 4,852 ft - Valombré Forest Walk
  6. 5 : mi 3.22 - alt. 5,010 ft - Small pass
  7. 6 : mi 3.93 - alt. 5,682 ft - Exit from the slabs/alpine pasture path - Charmant Som
  8. 7 : mi 4.28 - alt. 6,099 ft - Summit - Charmant Som
  9. 8 : mi 5.16 - alt. 5,361 ft - Combe de l'If/Pré Bâtard summit
  10. 9 : mi 6.17 - alt. 4,295 ft - Junction with the Sentier de la Cochette - Col de la Charmette
  11. 10 : mi 7.56 - alt. 4,062 ft - Col de la Cochette (1250m)
  12. 11 : mi 8.26 - alt. 3,310 ft - Crossroads: Path/Forest track
  13. 12 : mi 8.62 - alt. 3,087 ft - Habert de Malamille
  14. S/E : mi 10.48 - alt. 2,513 ft - Valombré Bridge/Porte de l'Enclos

Notes

The circular route is long, mainly due to the closure of the Valombré road to traffic, which means you have to walk both ways. As a result, the areas crossed on this side are particularly peaceful and ideal for wildlife spotting.

No technical difficulty; only the descent from (7) is a little steep.
The path is well-defined (though not always signposted) throughout, except perhapsbetween points 7 and 8, but the tracks running along the Chamechine ridge are fairly easy to follow up to the clearly visible summit of Pré Bâtard.

Worth a visit

The tranquillity of the area (except near the summit) makes it ideal for observing the flora and fauna of the Chartreuse.

Alternatives: it is also possible to reach the small pass (5) by following the Arête de Bérard, ascending from (1).

Between (5) and (6), in the middle of the slab section, pitons and bolts lead off to the right for a traverse across the slabs towards the summit: the route is not very difficult as the slope is only moderately steep, but it requires a rope and belay equipment, and a helmet if possible.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
mang
mang

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After reading the reviews for this hike and the one titled "Charmant Som via the Bérard Ridge", we decided to do this hike in reverse up to point 5, finishing by heading over the Bérard ridges.
We didn’t rely too much on the route description and followed the track using GPS.
A significant difficulty to note at point 10 at the Col de la Cochette. The ascent there is very well maintained (coming from the Valombré bridge), but the path on the other side has been badly damaged by several fallen trees lying across the way, and getting past them can be slippery and turn into a slide. In places, the path is little more than a faint track on a steep, earthy slope. Personally, I wouldn’t risk it again. This path is also badly damaged and very, very narrow in places between points 10 and 9, and the passage isn’t very reassuring. We chose to descend via the Berard ridges, taking into account a previous review, and we didn’t regret it. Perhaps it’s worth doing again (either way) as a circular route, using the route via points 2, 3, 4 and the Berard ridges.
No one on the path except, of course, at the summit!
The overcast weather meant we couldn’t see everything perfectly from the summit, but it was still very beautiful.

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D. N.
D. N.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A superb, varied hike with beautiful views of the Grand Som and the monastery.
A weekday in early autumn: three people at Charmant Som and two hunters at the bottom of Pré Bâtard. It took me six hours.
At the start, I chose to climb up to Le Collet (5) via the Bérard ridge path, which is magnificent. It’s more direct and avoids having to go back the same way on the return journey
The descent below the Charmant Som (7) is a bit slippery and requires care.
Don’t miss the junction with the Cochette path (9). It’s obvious, but if you’re lost in thought, you might not see it…

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luckysid
luckysid
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike with quiet paths, except from the small pass and particularly from the junction with the car park as you approach the summit, with lovely weather and the descent from the summit to point 8 (hikers coming from the Col de la Charmette).
Point 7 is indeed tricky to get past, but it’s manageable if the rock isn’t too wet.
The Cochette trail is particularly wild and very pleasant in warm weather. The Col de la Cochette is very picturesque and well worth a detour. It is a fully protected nature reserve (the Combe de l’If) left to evolve naturally.
It is possible to do the route in reverse (there is a sign at point 12 indicating Le Charmant Som), which allows you to approach point 7 from below.

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ceven7
ceven7

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk and stunning scenery.

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