The Val Sainte-Marie circuit

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Good morning, dear readers
All in all, a very good walk to keep up my training.
It’s clear that if you’re looking for scenic views, there aren’t any on this particular route… or at least not many…
As at the Pelandré meadow, the view over the ‘Val Marie’ is obstructed because, quite naturally, nature is reclaiming its territory.
The signposting is good, though it’s worth noting that as the path isn’t used very often these days, you might find yourself a bit unsure between points “5” and “6” because the vegetation is growing and the forest path is starting to get quite overgrown; however, with a good read of the “IGN” map, or if you’re equipped with a GPS, there’s no problem, and you’ll reach the Col de la Rochette (point 6) without any trouble.

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Date of your route : Feb 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
Not too many details in the first part. Just follow the GR 9 to the four-way junction. Then carry on for about 2 km after this junction, when the GR 9 branches off to the right.
It’s not always easy to make out some of the signposts in winter when there’s snow, or in summer.
The distances are sometimes too vague. For example, “as you enter the forest”, when in fact you have to head into the forest and after a while the path splits in two. What “saved” us was meeting a cyclist (what a slog in the snow!) who was coming from the Col de la Rochette. We found his tracks very helpful, as there are often no signposts.
Otherwise, the description is, at best, vague – you get the gist of it, but it’s not an easy path to find.
As for us, we covered 930 metres of elevation gain and 18 km. The return journey by road is endless and really takes it out of your legs!!
It’s an interesting walk, very steep on the way up and similarly steep on the way down.
Hike completed on 17/02/2021

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

I didn’t find this walk particularly interesting, apart from a lovely climb that ends at the foot of a cliff with some magnificent trees.

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Date of your route : Apr 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A route that can be tricky in places: no mountain bikes or horses allowed!
You can round off the walk by visiting the ruins of the old Carthusian monastery…

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Date of your route : May 21, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

You can make this walk even more rewarding by visiting the ruins of the Val Sainte-Marie Charterhouse. To do this, at the hamlet of Les Vignes, turn left straight away, follow the winding road and take the first grassy path on the left, which leads to the Chaillard stream. Cross the stream to reach a wide path. Turn left and follow this path uphill for 300 m. Cross the stream again and take a path that is clearly visible from the bank. After 300 metres, this path leads to the ruins of the 12th-century Carthusian monastery. To return, follow the same path back in the opposite direction until you reach the road. Take this road to the left; after about one kilometre, it will take you back to Bouvante le Bas.

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