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Park in one of the car parks near Chirens Church.
(S/E) You will be in front of the façade of Chirens Church with the church behind you and a large iron cross in front of you. Set off to the left along the departmental road. Walk past the village hall. Very soon, you will see a narrow lane on your left (Chemin de Beaudiné). Take this lane and follow it to the end of the Val d'Ainan.
(1) Halfway down the valley, on your left, you will see a platform with educational panels explaining the glacial origins of the valley. Continue on your way.
At the end of the path, you will find a T-junction. There is also a sign: L'Anvers alt. 451m.
(2) Turn left towards the Arsenal and Clermont. You will soon come to another signpost (L'Arsenal), which you ignore by continuing straight ahead. You will come out onto the D82, which you take on the left.
Be careful here. Stay on the left side of this road as there is no hard shoulder on the opposite side.
You will come to a stop sign on the D1075.
(3) Be very careful here: cross with great caution as this road is very busy.
Opposite, take a small road that climbs steeply. This is Chemin du Mollard, which is a one-way street (except for public services). Follow this road. It winds its way uphill. When you reach a platform with a car park on the left (at No. 408), continue on the right. Almost immediately, take a grassy path on the left. This leads to a small road, which you take on the right.
Very quickly, you will see a sign for La Reviriaz - altitude 541 m, at the edge of a path on the left.
(4) Take this path, which is particularly pleasant as it runs through the woods. Follow it for a while until you come out of the woods. Walk alongside a small pond. You will come to a small road, which you should take on the left. This will take you to the village of Clermont. At the stop sign, turn left.
You will see a sign for Clermont - altitude 571 m.
(5) Turn right towards the tower, taking the Chemin de la Tour. The tarmac gives way to a wide stony path that climbs up to a meadow. Continue climbing up the meadow, keeping to the right, on the edge of the woods. When you arrive directly below the tower, you will see a path leading into the forest on the left. Take this path.
You will soon arrive at an esplanade in front of the tower. Enjoy the view of the Chirens valley and, in the background, the Chartreuse mountains.
(6) Turn back and follow the same route as on the way up (when you leave the esplanade, there is a fork in the path. Take the path on the left). You will return to the meadow and descend towards Clermont.
(5) Back in the village centre, at the sign for Clermont - Alt. 571m, take the street on the right towards Chirens (there is no pavement). You will come to a fork near a transformer. Go down the dead-end street opposite on the left (this is Impasse de la Courriaz).
(7) Your cul-de-sac turns to the right, and you will see the sign for La Courriaz - alt. 534 m. Continue to the right towards La Garangère. Your road turns into a beautiful grassy path. You will come to a road; make a zigzag right/left turn to continue in the same direction. Your road is closed to vehicles over 2.30 m wide and over 19 tonnes.
You will arrive at the sign for La Garangère - altitude 527 m.
(8) Turn left and then immediately right (double sign for Charpènes/Garangère). When you reach a farm, take the path down to the left.
You will come to a T-junction. You will see the sign for Le Ruibet - altitude 482 m.
(9) Turn left. You will soon come to a fork and a sign for Les Brosses - altitude 482 m. Take the gravel path on the right towards Chirens (ignore the grassy path).
At the entrance to Chirens, you will see a sign for Les Jolis - altitude 465 m.
(10) Continue straight ahead (not marked in yellow). You will come to a stop sign. Continue straight ahead (pedestrian and cycle zone). Your lane turns right to return to the church and your starting point (S/E).
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