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Start from the square in front of the 12th-century Romanesque church in the village of Champagne. Car park behind the church.
(S/E) Head west, passing under the archway to the left of the presbytery. Go straight on, past the abbey, and cross the level crossing. At the bend, continue straight on along a dirt track to the foot of the hill. Then climb up to the right along the path for 100 m, then turn onto the first small path on the left and join the old Saint-Rambert–Le Puy railway line.
(1) Turn right, heading due north to follow the track, pass under two bridges, and continue for about 1 km. Cross a vineyard, cross an old railway bridge, then take a path on the left leading near the Prette Lodge (a former manor house).
(2) Follow the tarmac road to the right, pass a quarry, and continue straight on until you reach the Roman bridge in the village of Peyraud, about 1.8 km away.
(3) Cross it, then turn left onto Rue de l'Église until you reach the foot of the hill. Continue along the path climbing up opposite (yellow and white markings), towards Verlieux. Continue along this fairly steep path for 300 m, then at the first junction, turn left onto this stony path. Pass a White Cross (panoramic view), continue through the vineyards and follow a wide dirt track to Verlieux, where there is a lovely little chapel.
(4) Just past the chapel, turn left onto Rue du Puits de l'Enfer for 150 m, following the yellow and white markings. Continue along the first dirt track on the left, which descends steeply for about 40 metres; leave the track on the left, cross the bridge over the Ruisseau de Crémieux and continue straight on along this ascending forest track to the village of Bogy.
(5) At the first houses, turn left onto Montée du Maréchal, then right and continue to the junction with the library shelter. Turn left onto Chemin de Vernas, then keep right at the three-way junction at Dorels. At the end of the tarmac road, continue along the dirt track until you reach a high-voltage pylon. Ignore the path on the left, turn right then left onto Chemin de la Tour aux Oiseaux until you reach Mas du Vernas (a group of farm buildings).
(6) Head down the path on the right, cross the Ruisseau du Baral, then follow this path back up to join a wide dirt track at the knoll of Juvet.
(7) Turn left onto it, keep left at the junction just ahead. Continue for about 400 m, then head down to the right towards the village of Brunieux. Cross the road, go under the archway and turn left, passing a fountain with a hand pump.
(8) Continue right onto Route des Vignobles, keep right at the three-way junction and arrive at Grenier. Ignore the dead end by turning right onto Chemin de Mouchons for about 300 m and continue to a right-angle bend. Pass the farm on your right, go straight on along a dirt track for 50 m and turn right. Then take thesecond path on the right which descends through the Saint-Joseph vineyards. When you reach the old railway line, turn left and pass in front of the open-air theatre before arriving at the entrance to the Rochevine gallery.
(9) Go round the tunnel on the right, ignoring the path on the right that leads downhill. Cross the viaduct and, after 200 m, look for a small path on the left, behind the vines; it’s not very easy to spot. Go down this path, pass under a tunnel and follow it until you reach the Lyon–Nîmes railway line.
(10) Do not go under the bridge but turn left and follow this path to the next bridge, running alongside the railway line. Turn right onto Rue de la Source, go under the bridge, then take a small alleyway on the left to reach Place de la Mairie. Join the D86 (Rue Lamartine), follow it to the left on the pavement and head for the church car park (S/E).
If you’re lucky enough to find the church door open, do pop in for a look.
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