The Tossiat–Saint-Martin-du-Mont route

Start at Tossiat Stadium (car park).

(S/E) Turn right (east-north-east) onto the Route de Journans and, at the Fork in the road, turn right.

(1) At the next junction, turn left, cross the Reyssouze (river) and enter Journans via Rue du Moulin (D52h). Continue to the church.

(2) Take the path that climbs to the left of the church in Journans. Follow the path, ignoring two paths on the right. After 600m, turn right at a treeless clearing and continue level for about 50m.

(3) Turn left onto the bumpy track which climbs straight up the slope for 200m, ignoring the tracks that run level. The track then curves to the right (you’ve finished the hard part; the slope levels out considerably).

(4) Get back on your bike for a 1 km stretch of straight, almost flat track through the forest.

(5) Change direction; the path turns 90° to the left – do not go straight on, as there is still a section of metal barrier there. Reach the crossroads and the signpost marked ‘Le Bois du Seigneur’.

(6) Continue along the^GR®59to reach Le Fayet.

(7) Stay on the level path to the right, then 100 metres further on, turn left. The descent is then stony: proceed with caution if you’re a beginner or not particularly sure-footed. You’ll reach La Tour.
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(8) Turn right at the ‘Chemin du Peroux’ sign. You’ll then join the road leading down towards La Croix Pommier. The downhill path running alongside Colombier Hill is currently badly damaged; it’s best to follow the road at the top of the hairpin bend to reach the La Croix Pommier crossroads.

(9) Turn right and cycle for about 1.4 km, passing through Salles, until you reach the Pion crossroads.

(10) Turn right onto the Chemin des Fontaines, following 100 metres of tarmac followed by 100 metres of steep, stony track. You’ll reach another junction of paths.

(11) Turn left at this point onto a grassy track overlooking the road and the vineyards. The end of the track is somewhat overgrown with brambles for 60 metres before climbing steeply to the right for 100 metres and joining a lovely country lane that branches off to the left, gently sloping down towards the Chanaz washhouse.

(12) Continue along the road to the junction you took on the way there.

(1) Turn left to reach the car park (S/E).

At the start of the route, you can see the source of the Reyssouze and its old washhouse. At the end of the route, in Tossiat, you can admire the Chanaz washhouse and its large picnic area. The water that feeds the washhouse is cool and delicious (I’ve drunk it many times).

Places to see:
- the source of the Reyssouze in Journans and its washhouse, and along the way, the Glaude and the Bombé
- the Chanaz wash house in Tossiat and its large picnic area
For wine lovers:
if you’ve got a large rucksack, at the ‘8 ’ stop you can certainly sample and take away some Bugey or Cerdon wine – it’s almost all downhill from there! There are other winegrowers in Gravelles-le-Haut.