The Grand-Ballon circuit via Le Haag and Le Firstacker

Start from the Firstacker car park on the Route des Crêtes, above the Col Amic and the village of Goldbach-Altenbach.

(S/E) Cross the Route des Crêtes and follow a path to the Col du Firstacker.

(1) Head left up the Yellow Disc marked trail, cross the Route des Crêtes and continue to the old Gertacker sheepfold.

(2) Cross the scree and continue on the Yellow Disc path through the forest towards the Col du Haag.

(3) At the junction with the Yellow Cross path, follow this to the right, pass the Oberer Sattel hut and continue to the Col du Haag.

(4) Turn your back on the farmhouse inn and head up towards the Grand Ballon via the Red Rectangle path, turning right twice.

(5) Directly below the Monument des Diables Bleus, follow the path that climbs to the left and leads to the radome and its balcony-style orientation table at the summit.

(6) From the summit, head to the Col du Grand Ballon via the Red Rectangle trail, which descends to the right towards the pass.

(7) Cross the car park and the road, then follow the path that starts to the right of the La Vue des Alpes restaurant and heads through the woods towards the Col de la Judenhut.

(8) Well before the pass, take the Red Rectangle path on the right towards the Ferme-auberge du Grand Ballon. Pass in front of the Chalet René Girny.

(9) Continue straight ahead.

(10) At the farmhouse inn, cross the Route des Crêtes and continue on the Red Rectangle trail towards Col Amic as far as Firstacker. To do this, after crossing the road, head down to the left and cross the road again before turning onto the path on the right at the end of the descent to reach the pass.

(1) Head down towards the car park (S/E).

Shelter available at the Oberer Sattel hut (1,250 m) on the southern flank of the Grand-Ballon.

Ferme-auberge du Haag: Col du Haag on the Route des Crêtes - 03 89 48 95 85

La Vue des Alpes restaurant and Maison de l'abeille et du pain d'épices at the Col du Grand-Ballon

Grand Ballon Farm Inn: Route des Crêtes on the ascent to the Grand-Ballon from the Col Amic - 03 89 76 95 79

The Sudel Chapel, above the Col du Firstacker: built in memory of the soldiers who died for France at Sudelkopf during the First World War.

The Monument to the Blue Devils at the summit of the Grand-Ballon.

The extraordinary view (when the sky is clear) of the snow-capped peaks of the Bernese Alps.

The orientation table at the radome, the Grand Ballon radar station, designed by the architect Vasconi.