The Vernéa valley starting from Savas

A short walk that alternates between open sections and woodland. No particular difficulty apart from a descent on clay which can be slippery, or even very slippery.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 240 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 240 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 434 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 281 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park between the church and a playground (it’s off-limits to those over 10, and besides, you’ve come for a walk).

(S/E) Leave the small car park and head up the hill via Impasse de Chichateney. Follow the yellow markings. Ignore a dead end on the left and another on the right. The path turns to the right. A little further on, turn left.
At the top of the hill, you reach a complex crossroads.

(1) On the left, there is a sign: Les 5 chemins – alt. 405 m. Ignore the two paths on the left and take the Chemin des Grandes Terres opposite, heading towards Vernéa. This small road quickly turns to the right.
You will come to a large concrete cylinder on your right; this is the water tower.

(2) Further on, between two fields, on the left, take a dirt track marked by a yellow signpost and, a little further on, a yellow stripe on a solitary tree. Ignore a vague grassy path. You’ll reach a fork with a metal gate in the centre. Take the right-hand path, temporarily leaving the yellow markings. You enter the forest.

(3) Don’t miss the discreet path on your right; take it. Broken branches on the trees confirm that you are not the first to pass this way. The descent is not steep but is made a little tricky by very slippery clay soil after the rain. Very soon, you come to a fork. Ignore the poorly maintained branch on the left and take the right-hand path. Towards the bottom of the descent, you’ll come to a T-junction. Take the right-hand path. The track is now cut into the hillside but wider.
You’ll come out onto a dirt track.

(4) Take it to the left. You are in a small valley. You’ll find the reassuring yellow markings again. Follow this fairly wide track. Two paths join together on the left. Ignore them and continue to the right. Very soon, you’ll cross a sort of concrete ford. Continue along a pretty stream.
You reach a crossroads with a sign: Vernéa – alt. 289 m.

(5) Carry on straight ahead, towards the communal woodland. Further on, the markings suggest you take a path on the right. Ignore this and continue along your little road. A little further on, you cross the stream via a bridge with aluminium railings.

(6) Immediately afterwards, head up to the left onto a dirt track. Very soon you’ll come to a fork. Take the right-hand path. Walk alongside a meadow on your right. At the top of the meadow, turn right. It’s quite a climb, but don’t worry – you’ll go back down every centimetre you’ve climbed. At the top of the hill, you emerge from the woods and reach a T-junction. Take the right-hand path, which descends slightly. This leads onto a small tarmac road at No. 1705, Route du Cancelet. At least, that is what is written on the letterbox mounted on a post on your left.

(7) Take this Route du Cancelet on your left. It continues to climb steadily. Ignore the Route du Vernéa, which joins from your left. Carry on straight ahead.
You come to a crossroads with two signs: Chemin des Filiâtres and Chemin du Piron.

(8) Take the latter on the right. Ignore a dirt track that cuts across your small road. You enter the hamlet of Le Piron. After a metal gate, you’ll see a dirt track leading down to the left. Take this track, following the yellow markings. Further down the slope, you’ll come to a fork. Leave the yellow markings by heading right. You’ll reach the plain and emerge onto the small road known as Route de Sous Savas.

(9) Take this road to the left. After a while, it will take you back to your starting point (S/E). On the way, you’ll pass a row of very flashy villas.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 306 m - Savas Church
  2. 1 : km 0.82 - alt. 404 m - Signpost Les 5 Chemins alt. 405 m
  3. 2 : km 1.97 - alt. 423 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 2.57 - alt. 406 m - A discreet path on the right
  5. 4 : km 3.31 - alt. 329 m - T-junction leading onto a wide path
  6. 5 : km 4.9 - alt. 292 m - Signpost Vernéa alt. 289 m. Follow the - Vesonne (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Gère
  7. 6 : km 5.64 - alt. 282 m - Path on the left after a bridge
  8. 7 : km 6.95 - alt. 363 m - No. 1705, Route du Cancelet
  9. 8 : km 7.61 - alt. 402 m - Junction of the Chemins des Filiâtres and du Piron
  10. 9 : km 9.16 - alt. 304 m - Junction of Imp. Guillotière and Route de Sous Savas
  11. S/E : km 9.99 - alt. 306 m - Savas Church

Notes

The start is in the centre of the hamlet of Savas, which is part of the municipality of Savas-Mépin. When travelling from Saint-Jean-de-Bournay towards Vienne, before crossing the TGV line, turn right.
At the start, to the west of the church, there are toilet facilities and a water tap (which were spotlessly clean when I was there).
The nearest shops and amenities are in Saint-Jean-de-Bournay.
(Between 3 and 4) There is just one tricky bit to watch out for: you’ll be going down an unmarked path that’s quite slippery (clay soil). With good shoes and a bit of care, you should be fine.

Worth a visit

The very pretty town of Vienne and its historic sites are not far away.
During the walk, you’ll be treated to views of various peaks, notably the Pilat.
You will descend through the pretty Vernéa valley.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
liliane.clarens
liliane.clarens

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route starts with a beautiful climb, continuing through fields of crops and woods with numerous chestnut trees in a very colourful setting.
There are farms with a few adobe and pebble buildings, which I always enjoy admiring.
The recommendation between 3 and 4 means you need to be careful, but given the carpet of leaves, everything went well.
Thank you to the author for this autumn walk with its perfect description.

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Sud 8
Sud 8
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied hike with beautiful passages through the woods with beautiful autumn colours, a few little-used roads
all in all a challenging route in the countryside. Thank you to the author.

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CEBULAK
CEBULAK

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, but be careful: the path through the woods is a bit overgrown

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gilbert.agnes@orange.fr
gilbert.agnes@orange.fr

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The end of the description for route 3 is a bit confusing, which meant we ended up walking a good kilometre further, but that’s no big deal when you’re out hiking.

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RAMOND BERNARD
RAMOND BERNARD

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but in very hot weather, both at the start and finish on the tarmac, it gets really hot!!!
A bit too many narrow roads; it might be lovely in autumn or early spring, but our little dog was panting for breath!!! However, a satnav is essential as the route isn’t signposted and there are lots of paths to choose from.

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