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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’. On arriving in Saint-Disdille, the car park is on the left (large sign).
Red and yellow markings
(S/E) Head towards the lakeshore (beach). Turn left and continue, heading west-south-west, along 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 situated between the wall (on your left) and the lakeshore (on your right). This path is fitted out in places with a footbridge, handrails, steps, etc. After passing a grove of box trees on your right, you’ll 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 alongside a wire fence on your left and you’ll come to a concrete esplanade where an old jetty once stood.
(3) Continue along a wide path and walk alongside a lawn bordered by a hedge on your left. Go round the Thonon swimming pool grounds on the left. Pass a metal barrier and come out onto Avenue de Ripaille.
No signposting
Follow the avenue to the left for about fifty metres.
(4) Turn left onto the small road leading to the entrance of Ripaille Castle. Retrace your steps.
(4) Here, there are two options for returning to the starting car park:
- Walk back along the lakeside path in the opposite direction (red and yellow markings).
- Follow the circular loop as shown on the map and described below.
Back on Avenue de Ripaille, turn left and follow the road on the left-hand pavement, running parallel to a wide cycle path. At the roundabout, take the first road on the left, Chemin de la Forêt.
(5) At the forester’s cottage (possible detour – see ‘During the walk’), continue along the road signposted as a dead end. Go past a barrier and turn right onto a gravel path to walk alongside the wall of the Domaine de Ripaille once more. Further on, you’ll rejoin the tarmac road. When the road curves to the right, carry on straight ahead along the wall. At the corner of the wall, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing.
(6) Then turn left onto Avenue de Saint-Disdille, keeping to the right-hand pavement, heading towards Parc de la Châtaigneraie. Continue straight on along this avenue until you reach a roundabout in Saint-Disdille: the starting car park is on the left (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
