Country:
City:
Start from the car park at the entrance to the village of Bourg-de-Sirod, next to the town hall.
(S/E) In the car park, at the signpost, follow signs for Nozeroy and walk up the path to the fortified gate of Richebourg. This is one of the old salt roads where convoys on their way to Switzerland would pay the salt tax.
(1) After the fortified gate, at the signpost, follow the sign for Nozeroy to the left along the path that climbs. At the signpost for Les Roches Graviers, continue straight on towards Nozeroy along the ridge until you reach the ruins of Château Villain.
(2) Continue along the ridge on a pleasant path until you reach a fork where the slope levels off.
(3) Turn right and follow the path to the road. At the sign for ‘Nozeroy’, walk 200 metres to the right until you reach a hairpin bend to the left. Look out for the signpost marked ‘aux Combes’.
(4) Turn right towards “Escalier des Coucous”, then quickly take a path across the field to the left which runs alongside the track. Follow the edge of the field on your right until the end. Climb over the fence using the rock for support, then walk a few metres to the left to the viewpoint.
Then retrace your steps back to the rock and take the path straight ahead. Head downhill to reach the Escalier des Coucous.
(5) At the bottom of the steps, turn left (there is currently no signpost for ‘Rocher des Commères’). Pass between large boulders through vegetation that changes frequently.
(6) At the Rocher des Commères, continue along the path as it descends. Pass through a coniferous forest, then a field, and arrive at a junction with a road. Take the small path opposite which leads downhill and reach the fork with a signpost.
(7) Carry on to the right, towards Nozeroy, until you reach the castle chapel via Rue les Chaffaux.
(8) Continue along the path towards Nozeroy for 100 metres and turn left at the signpost marked ‘Richebourg’. Follow the sign for ‘Sous le Mou’, walk for 300 metres and, at the signpost marked ‘Sous le Mou’, turn left towards ‘les Tufs’.
At the cross-path, overlooking the River Ain, turn left. Cross the bridge over the River Ain (EDF structure) and head for the Source des Tufs.
(9) Continue along the path and, at the next junction, at the signpost marked “les Tufs”, turn left towards “Côte Poire”. When you reach the tarmac road, ignore it and carry on along the path to the left. This path goes round the ridge of Côte Poire and comes back down the other side of the slope. At the three-way junction, go right and reach the junction with the signpost marked “Côte Poire”.
(10) Take the path on the left, towards “Syam”. You’ll reach a hairpin bend in the road. Ignore the road and take the path on the right. This leads to the Roche des Sarrasins.
(11) Pass between the two boulders and continue along the path to the road. Follow it to the right and enter the village of Syam. Reach the fork, just after the church, with a fountain in the centre.
(12) Turn left onto Rue du Lavoir, which runs alongside the church. At the next junction, turn right and head down to the crossroad at the bottom. Turn right, quickly ignore a road on the left and find a path on the left just past the house. Follow this path, which begins with a flight of steps, and climb up to the Chapel of Notre-Dame de la Paix.
(13) Continue downhill along the path next to the chapel and join Rue des Scilles. Turn right until you reach the D127 (Rue des Sarrazins) and turn left onto it.
(14) After the local girls’ school, continue along the path to the right, following it for about 3 km until you reach the signpost for “Les Forges”. With the River Ain on your left, walk along it there and back to the bridge to admire the scenery.
Back at the “Les Forges” signpost, follow the sign for “Perte de l’Ain, 200 m” to the left. Continue to the next fork in the path.
(15) Turn left for a round trip to reach the Perte de l’Ain. Retrace your steps.
(15) On your return, follow the sign for “La Passerelle” to the left and cross the River Ain.
(16) Carry on and, further on, at the signpost marked ‘Côte du Martinet’, turn left towards ‘Bourg de Sirod’ and reach the Chambre d’Eau. The water is channelled to supply a hydroelectric power station.
(17) Continue along the path and head for the town hall on the right (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Difficult 
