The Venon circuit starting from Sonnant d’Uriage

The walk starts at Sonnant d’Uriage. You can park in the car park of the small shopping centre or at Manabio on the Route de Gières.

(S/E) From the car parks, follow the Route de Gières towards Uriage until you reach the second path on the left, called the Vieux Chemin.
(Please note, there are two paths called the Vieux Chemin. I took the second one on the left as it has the signposts for the walks, but you can take the first one and follow it; by turning right at the junction, you’ll join the second one.

(1) At the Le Sonnant signpost, follow the signs for Saint-Martin-d’Uriage. Follow the road until you reach the start of the hiking trail.
Please note that there will be yellow markings throughout the walk, except between the church at Saint-Nizier and Le Rossin.

(2) Start climbing straight ahead, passing a few houses. You will then reach a steep forest track that runs alongside the Ruisseau de Bréduire.
Cross a small bridge and continue to follow the stream for a short while. You will then move away from the stream to begin the ascent. Continue to follow the yellow markings (there is only one path on this section) until the next junction.

(3) At the ‘Les Vignasses’ marker, follow the signs for Venon La Chalp. You’ll leave the forest track to join a small road, the Route de la Rivoire, where you’ll pass a beautiful farmhouse on your right. It’s a quiet little road (I didn’t see a single car), pleasant to walk along and shaded. Follow it to the hamlet of La Rivoire. Walk through the hamlet – there are a few houses there. Continue along this small road until you reach the Ruisseau des Combasses.

(4) Take the small path climbing up to the right after you’ve crossed the stream. It runs alongside the road for a short while at the start. Further on, do not take the path climbing up before the river. At the landmark, there is a Yellow Cross.

(5) At the ‘La rivière’ signpost, follow the signs for Venon and stay on the path on the right. You’ll cross the Rau des Combasses.
On this path, you’ll pass a few pretty, well-hidden houses, as well as some ruins of old houses or huts, over a distance of 200 to 300 metres. There’s also a small vineyard here. It’s very pretty.
At the ‘Champ Ruti’ signpost, carry on towards Venon La Chalp, straight ahead. On the right, there is a small hut. This whole section takes you through the forest.

(6) At the ‘Sous Reyné’ signpost, carry on towards Venon La Chalp, still straight ahead, until you reach the next signpost, ‘Les Grands Champs’. On this stretch, you’ll have a view over the Grenoble valley.

(7) In Venon, at a place called La Chalp, follow the road to the junction, then take the road opposite which runs past the church. You’ll pass a few houses and the Prèssembois farm. This section is along the road, with no shade. You’ll walk alongside fields, sometimes with animals, and houses, and there are some lovely views over the Grésivaudan valley.

(8) Leave the road and take the forest path on the right, towards La Muriannette. Follow this path to the first junction, marked ‘La forêt de Combelou’, and head towards Les Cochettes by following the hairpin bend to the right.

(9) At the next junction, known as ‘du Wallon des Puits’, take the second path on the left. The signposts have been removed. The path is fairly wide, descends and joins the D164.

(10) Turn left onto this road and follow it for about 1.5 km to the village of Saint-Nizier. When you reach the church, leave the yellow markings for a while, before rejoining them later. Follow the road and pass through Saint-Nizier, continuing straight on. Then take the D280 to the village of Le Rossin (a long stretch of road, therefore).

(11) At the signpost for Le Rossin, take the small path leading down to the right, towards Saint-Martin-d’Uriage.

(12) After about 400 m, cross a small bridge and enter the forest. Follow the path to Saint-Martin-d’Uriage

(13) In the village, the path continues along a street and leads to the signpost for Saint-Martin-les-Tilleuls.

(14) Head towards Ruisseau de la Bréduire on the right. You’ll gradually see the church opposite, then pass by it; it’s on the left. Continue along this street, Route des Artisans, keeping straight on, then take the Route du Repos to the cemetery. Walk alongside the cemetery, then rejoin a path through the forest.

(15) Look out for the Le Sonnant stream, below on your left. Follow the path to the end to reach the Ruisseau de Bréduire.

(2) You can then head back down Rue du Vieux Chemin and, following the route in reverse, return to the car park (S/E).

This walk is more of a leisurely stroll; it’s not difficult, and the elevation changes are fairly gentle, apart from the first hundred metres, which aren’t too steep, however. It’s rated as moderately difficult because of the distance covered.
Near Les Vignasses, you’ll find a few old shelters, though they’re not the sort of place you’d want to linger in; however, they’re a treat for the eyes for anyone who loves old stone buildings.
Much of the walk follows a road (which is not very busy, if at all) and offers glimpses of the villages of Saint-Nizier and Le Rossin. The sections along the road are not shaded, except near La Rivoire (which is deserted and shaded).

This walk offers some lovely views as you reach Venon La Chalp.
The section through Les Vignasses is very pleasant, set in woodland, with small ruins of shelters, barns and houses.