Chemin du Follaton, Chemin des Bidons

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This is an 8-shaped hike; you can do the southern circular loop or the northern circular loop. You can also do both, starting from the centre of the village of Dullin.

Details

n°479027
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.52 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 324 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 320 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 638 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 385 m
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Photos

Mont Grelle
Grand Bec viewpoint
Chartreuse
Let's go again!

Description of the walk

Park in the centre of the village of Dullin.

(S/E) Descend to the left via the D37a road, pass a large crossroads with the D37, and continue descending opposite. Cross the bridge over the Thiez and climb up the small road to reach an intersection.

(1) Turn right, continue for 80 to 100 m, then turn right and pass through scattered houses.

(2) Take the path on the right, descend along this path along the edge of properties and come out at an intersection near the river.

(3) Turn right and walk to the water's edge and back. Then continue downhill. When you reach the main road, cross it.

(4) Cross the Thierz bridge and turn left to go back up the path. You will come out at the edge of a meadow and then join the main road.

(5) Turn left onto the road towards the villages of Vergenucle d'en bas and then Vergenucle d'en haut. Towards the end of the houses, you will reach a crossroads.

(6) Turn left onto the small dead-end road, then turn right and follow the path, mostly through the woods, staying on the main path. You will reach an intersection.

(7) Turn left and walk to a viewpoint and back, then take the path to the left to return to the starting point.

(S/E) Climb through the village, passing two roads on your right until you reach a path.

(8) Ignore the path that will be used for the return trip, turn left, continue climbing along the road and then along a stony path, and leave the residential area.

(9) Before reaching the reservoirs, leave the path. Continue climbing along a trail through the woods, turning left towards the Grand Bec viewpoint. Continue straight ahead, then begin the descent by turning sharply to the right. Arrive at Vétonne.

(10) At the crossroads, turn right onto the road. Stay on this road and descend towards the D37 departmental road.

(11) When you reach the D37, turn right, pass in front of a cheese shop, then shortly afterwards leave the road and take the path that climbs up to the right. Follow it to the small road.

(8) Descend opposite the village via the road you took earlier (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 532 m - Village car park
  2. 1 : km 1.23 - alt. 462 m - Intersection
  3. 2 : km 1.7 - alt. 469 m - Path, on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.64 - alt. 424 m - Fork in the road (there and back)
  5. 4 : km 3.45 - alt. 385 m - Pont du Thierz, also known as - Tier (rivière)
  6. 5 : km 3.97 - alt. 432 m - Junction with a road
  7. 6 : km 4.94 - alt. 490 m - Vergenucle from above
  8. 7 : km 6.02 - alt. 505 m - Fork in the road to the viewpoint and back
  9. 8 : km 7.52 - alt. 545 m - Exit Dullin
  10. 9 : km 8.3 - alt. 634 m - Reservoirs
  11. 10 : km 9.89 - alt. 582 m - Road to Vétonne
  12. 11 : km 10.24 - alt. 558 m - Turn right onto the D37
  13. S/E : km 11.52 - alt. 532 m - Village car park

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 17 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
cocogne.bernard
cocogne.bernard

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

an easy and enjoyable hike

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User 27741561

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with scenic views, woods and clear paths.

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Lire7lynx3
Lire7lynx3

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Complete route 8. Fields often with cows and horses, wooded passages. Small sections on tarmac. Very small waterfall but pleasant spot. From the Grand Bec Bec viewpoint: beautiful views of the Chartreuse, plain with numerous villages on the Domessin side, views as far as Bugey. Ideal route for training before mountain hikes or for relaxation: some sustained climbs, a respectable length (4½ hours) and a very peaceful atmosphere on this Sunday. The "common thread" of the water bottles is brilliant: well done to the children for the decoration!

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Vero55
Vero55

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done several times, very well signposted, pleasant in all seasons... suitable for everyone... pretty little village..

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GABY et OLIVIER
GABY et OLIVIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful circular starting from the village, with a few tarmac sections but not too busy. We enjoyed the coolness of the undergrowth and the fun aspect of the circular with its beautifully decorated cans filled with explanations.

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groupe ballade73
groupe ballade73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk, best done in mid-season. Regularly beautiful views and a route with lots of fields, a countryside walk that makes a change from pure "mountain" walking

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Deuxpattes
Deuxpattes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, peaceful and pleasant route in and around a lovely village, full of fountains (and water containers!), where you can see that children are involved in their heritage.
Thank you for this unusual post!

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Cévenne
Cévenne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Chemin des Bidons + Banchet loop hike (4 circular loops, clockwise). 12 km and 400 m elevation gain.
Depart from Dullin (town hall) via the Chemin des Bidons to the Belvédère du Grand Bec, then take the GR9 to the ruins of Montbel (via the Col du Banchet and second viewpoint).
Return through the forest (Côtes 668-661-591) - Col du Banchet and section shared with the outward journey on the GR9 to rejoin the Chemin des Bidons number 9), finish the circular route via Vétonne and an (almost!) obligatory stop at La Fruitière (on the D37).
A very pretty and varied route with beautiful trails and panoramic views (Charteuse, Mont Grelle).

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JAMBO74
JAMBO74

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An eight-person hike starting from Dullin town hall, so you can leave your picnic in the car and eat at the tables in the shade or sunshine! A very pleasant forest hike with little tarmac, beautiful views and a fun second half.
And to finish off, enjoy a drink on the terrace at the port of Aiguebelette

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big bear
big bear

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with beautiful views of the Chartreuse Mountains.

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stephmt69
stephmt69

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hike done in rainy weather, so inevitably a little disappointing (even though I realise that the author is not to blame :-)

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sabliere
sabliere
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike that alternates between sparse forest passages and short stretches of country roads with very little or no traffic. This hike is generally shaped like a figure 8, starting with the Chemin des Follatons and continuing along the Chemin des Bidons (milk cans), which has varied and often quite interesting shapes. There is very little elevation gain (less than 350 m) and the walk takes almost 5 hours. In short, it is a very pleasant hike

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dandesavoie
dandesavoie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant hike with lovely views.

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opale
opale

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely, easy and very pleasant route on this beautiful winter's day.
Beautiful views from the lookout points and a clear view over much of the route,
which is very much appreciated.
After the heavy rains of the last few days, only part of the path leading to the first viewpoint
was flooded, but we managed to get through on the side despite the brambles.
A family walk that allows you to discover the village of Dullin.

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HélèneRF
HélèneRF

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant route with no difficulties
Beautiful views that we were unable to fully appreciate, hampered by the winter fog that only lifted at the end of the morning.

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