Parking is available at the Parc de la Châtaigneraie car park in Saint-Disdille. To get there, leave the N5 road (Thonon-Amphion) at Vongy and follow the signs for "Z.I. de Vongy" and "Parc de la Châtaigneraie". When you arrive in Saint-Disdille, the car park is on the left (large sign).
Red and yellow markings
(S/E) Head towards the lake (beach). Turn left and continue west-southwest on the shaded path, which remains a few metres above the lake.
(1) When you reach the boundary wall of the Domaine de Ripaille, continue south-west along a path between the wall (on your left) and the lake shore (on your right). This path has been improved in places with a footbridge, handrail, steps, etc. After walking alongside a boxwood undergrowth on your right, you will reach an old tower in the boundary wall.
(2) Continue along the path beside the wall. Further on, turn right to get closer to the lake. Then turn left and take a wide path through the pine trees. Walk along a fence on your left and you will come to a concrete esplanade that used to be a pontoon.
(3) Continue along a wide path and walk along a lawn bordered by a hedge on your left. Go around the Thonon swimming pool park on the left. Go past a metal barrier and you will come out onto Avenue de Ripaille.
No markings
Follow the avenue to the left for about 50 metres.
(4) Turn left onto the small road that leads to the entrance to Château de Ripaille. Retrace your steps.
(4) Here, there are two options for returning to the car park:
- Take the lakeside path in the opposite direction (red and yellow markings).
Follow the circular loop marked on the map and described below.
Back on Avenue de Ripaille, turn left and follow the road on the left-hand pavement, parallel to a wide cycle path. At the roundabout, take the first road on the left, Chemin de la Forêt.
(5) At the forest house (possible detour, see "During the hike"), continue on the road marked as a dead end. Go past a barrier and turn right into a gravel lane to walk along the wall of the Domaine de Ripaille again. Further on, you will come back to the tarmac road. When the road turns right, continue straight ahead along the wall. At the corner of the wall, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing.
(6) Then follow Avenue de Saint-Disdille to the left, on the right-hand pavement, towards Parc de la Châtaigneraie. Continue straight ahead on this avenue until you reach a roundabout in Saint-Disdille: the car park where you started is on the left (S/E).
