Date of your route : Jul 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Thank you for the information. We followed the route as described as far as the village of Chaudun, but once we arrived in the village, between the lodges and the cemetery, there was a sign pointing to the Col de Gleize via the Chemin de Ronde. So we thought, ‘We’ll be able to do a circular route; we’ve got plenty of time, which is great.’ The path starts by following the river along the track leading up to the cemetery, so you have to retrace your steps after seeing the cemetery and the chapel wall. To access the path, you need to lift a small chain. The path runs alongside the river for a few hundred metres and then branches off to the right, but it’s not easy to spot. Then you follow the path, guided by a small blue string; it’s magnificent and the walk goes round the Roc du Vautour. So far, so good; when we reach the large meadows, we must continue straight on, following the stream on the left as we climb. Then, once you reach a large, solitary tree in the meadow, you need to look for the path on the right, which isn’t easy to spot as there are several tracks. After a while, you can see the path in the distance as it climbs, and you’ll find it. Once on the path, it’s magnificent, but that’s when things get tricky. There’s a section I find dangerous for those with a fear of heights. The path runs through a narrow gorge where the crumbly rock has been carved out with shovels to form steps. But you can feel the ground is loose, you see this steep slope full of small stones beside you, and you can imagine that a fall down there would be dizzying, as I suppose the bottom drops off onto a cliff. So NOT RECOMMENDED for those with a fear of heights. I managed to make my way down using walking poles, but it was borderline panic-inducing for me and my partner. It’s a shame there isn’t a sign at the start in Chaudun warning that the walkway passes through rocky cliffs and the like. However, at the end of the path in the other direction, there is a sign saying ‘Walkers’ path: warning – cliff path, danger’, so we only saw it at the end of the walk. The walk was superb, with exceptional views, and no crowds on the dangerous walkway; we didn’t meet a single person – it must be said that passing others wouldn’t be easy. If I’d known this beforehand, I wouldn’t have done it, but I don’t regret it, so if you’re thinking of doing the same, learn from my experience and make sure you have the necessary equipment to secure yourself during the tricky section.
I should point out that I’m sharing this information regarding an alternative route to the suggested itinerary; had we returned via the same path as the outward journey, we wouldn’t have had that scare. But if, like me, you’re tempted by a circular route when you see the sign, you’ll have this experience to weigh up and make your own choice.
Enjoy your hike and stay safe.
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Visorando member
Difficult 
