Le Plantay walks

I had wanted to walk through this flat countryside with its multitude of ponds for a long time. I suggest this route, which starts at Notre-Dame des Dombes Abbey. It will take you past some beautiful ponds and local farms. Depending on the season, you will be accompanied by the songs of a multitude of birds. Frogs will jump out of the water as you pass by and curious cows will come to meet you.

This walk takes you through typical Dombes landscapes such as ponds, fields and copses. There are many ponds to see, making this route particularly interesting. Remember to bring your binoculars.

This easy circuit around the commune of Saint-Éloi in the Ain department will give you a glimpse of the Dombes region. It also offers plenty of geocaching opportunities for enthusiasts.

A pleasant walk typical of the Dombes. Mainly on tarmac but with very little traffic; you are on secondary roads. Along the route there is a high concentration of ponds, which are full of water in 2020. The view of the ponds is unobstructed and you will encounter many different birds. The walk is punctuated by a variety of landscapes: ponds, fields, copses and even a view of the Beaujolais region.

This loop will take you out of the medieval town to discover the varied landscape of the region, with woods, crops, a few old houses and panoramic views. The 9 km route is easy to follow and well marked in orange.

Family walk above Montluel, along the Cotey stream, between woods and farmland.

Discover the medieval town of Bourg-en-Bresse. Tour the streets to admire the well-preserved half-timbered houses. Plaques on the remarkable façades explain their history.Departure from the car park of the Monastery of Brou, a remarkable building that is definitely worth a visit.

A beautiful loop passing through a small, easy, unobstructed peak offering a wide panorama of the Bugey, the Bresse plain, the Beaujolais mountains and the Lyon region. The springs of the Reyssouze reward us at the end of the hike.

Walk in the Revermont between Revonnas and Ceyzériat via the Montagne Noire. Beautiful view of the plain and, to finish, a detour to the Ceyzériat waterfall.

Most of the walk is in the forest. The paths are pleasant, with quite a few small stones on the ground. In rainy weather or after heavy rain, the path may be muddy or even impassable in places (not sure, to be checked). The end of the walk is not in the shade, so it can get hot in the sun. Moderator's warning: a section of the route is now closed. Please wait for a detour to be put in place.

From Lagnieu, climb up to the Croix de Bramafan to discover a wide panorama of the Rhône plain, the Ain plain, Île Crémieu and, on a clear day, as far as Lyon. A very pleasant hike on well-shaded forest paths and trails.

This hike in the Monts d'Or mountains, starting from Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, will allow you to enjoy the panoramic view of Mont Thou and Mont Verdun and discover the drystone shelters that are part of the region's heritage. It follows the inner route of the Monts d'Or with a variant to shorten the circuit.

This loop, starting from Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, will take you to Mont Thou with its magnificent view of the region, then to Mont Verdun and Mont Py, and finally to Croix Rampeau before descending back to Curis. During this hike, you will see two old wash houses and, depending on the season, orchids, martagon lilies, wild asparagus and many other flowers

This walk, after giving you a beautiful view of the Château de Curis, will take you close to three mountains: Mont Narcel, Mont Verdun and Mont Py before returning to Saint-Germain. You will discover several wash houses and small chapels along the way.

This is a fairly easy hike along the northern edge of the Isle Crémieu plateau, through fields, pleasant villages and a few wooded areas.

A very pleasant trail from Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey leads first to the old village of Souclin and then to the Roche de l'Église, which overlooks it. This hike will appeal to lovers of old stones: old villages and paths often lined with timeless stone walls. This route has few paved roads and offers many panoramic views of the Rhône between Bouvesse and Vertrieu, the north of the Isère and, in good weather, even Lyon.

A beautiful winter walk in a park entirely dedicated to leisure activities. Please note: Several reports indicate that it is not possible to walk around the lake

This short, easy loop starting from Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d'Or will take you to the ruins of a retting pit and a hermitage. In September, you can see colchicum flowers and, if you feel like it, extend the circuit to the Croix Rampaux: a viewpoint over the Saône plain and the Alps.

This is a short, easy loop that allows you to discover the panorama at the confluence of the Rhône and Ain rivers, the picturesque village of Anthon and its surroundings, including the banks of the Rhône and the beautiful town hall of Chavanoz.

A Short yet tough hike through the Monts d'Or. Very nice in good weather and on dry ground.

This loop starting from Poleymieux will take you to discover the drystone shelters, traditional huts built from dry stones in the Monts d'Or. The route passes through the forests on the northern slopes of the Monts d'Or and beautiful meadows. You will follow part of the geological discovery trail with its excellent information panels. The paths are easy for the most part, but the forest trails can be steep and tricky in wet weather.

This is an easy, shaded walk where you can see many orchids in April and a few restored drystone shelters. Mont Thou offers beautiful views of the Saône valley and the Ain plain, and even further depending on the weather. Drystone shelters are dry stone structures found in the Monts d'Or.

This short loop of around ten kilometres from Poleymieux church will take you on a journey through time. Go back 200 million years with the Monts d'Or geological trail. Then travel to the 19th century with the surprising drystone shelters, the Carrière battery, the magnificent lime kiln at Polyemieux and finally the Ampère Museum. And finally, return to the 21st century with the Air Base 942 site and its secret installations.

This circuit takes us from the village of Hières-sur-Amby at the foot of the cliff to the archaeological site of Larina on the cliff. It offers panoramic views of the Pilat Massif, the Monts du Lyonnais, the plains of Lyon and the Ain, and the foothills of the Bugey.

A shaded trail that takes you through the Gorges de Verbois, very pleasant in hot weather, and past some typical buildings.

An easy hike to discover the drystone shelters of Mont-d'Or. The cabornes are huts built of dry stone, which were used as shelters and for storing tools by farmers. They were also sometimes used as dwellings.

An easy loop starting from Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or to reach the heights of the Monts d'Or towards Mont Thou. The return route passes via Mont Cindre. There are some lovely views and several drystone shelters to discover along the way.

This is a very pleasant circular walk starting from the pretty village of Vernas, which takes you along attractive paths and trails, often shaded by trees, to the Plateau des Aviateurs, where a military aircraft crashed in 1944 and another in 1969. A small chapel, commemorative plaques and a sign commemorate these events. Wide panoramic views of the Rhône plains and the Alps in the distance can be enjoyed throughout the walk.

Parking: 4 spaces for cars a few metres from the start of the path.It's rare to find a quiet walk that barely touches tarmac in the Monts d'Or. This one does just that. You get to spend two hours in the forest near Lyon without any physical challenge. Ideal for families.