The quarries of Meillerie

Departure from the Meillerie landing stage, parking on Quai Marin Jacquier. Access via the D1005 (formerly N5), between Evian-les-Bains and Saint-Gingolph (French-Swiss border). Follow the sign for "Quai-promenade" shortly before the Meillerie exit when coming from Evian, or shortly after entering Meillerie when coming from Saint-Gingolph.

Yellow + red and yellow markings (see practical information)

(S/E) With your back to the lake and the landing stage, follow the signs for "Locum par la Fauconnière" towards the clearly visible church tower, taking a small, steep road with a stream on your left. At the stop sign, cross the D1005 (be careful, this is a busy road) and continue straight ahead on Chemin de l'Abbaye, with the stream now on your right. Pass under the old railway bridge and go around the church on the right.

When the road begins to curve to the right, leave it on the left and take a steep path that leaves the church on your left. At a place called Bois-Coment, turn left. You will come out at a hairpin bend in the road and follow it to the right towards the Pierre à Jean-Jacques Rousseau. At the T-junction with another road, turn left downhill and you will immediately reach the stone in the hollow of the right-hand bend (bench).

(1) Continue downhill and, at the next bend (to the left), leave the road on the right and pass under the conveyor belt for gravel from the Etalins quarry. Immediately take the path that branches off to the left and climbs above the road (signs).

Yellow markings

(2) After a right-hand bend in the path, at the "Pré Fournet" sign, turn left onto a path (not shown on the IGN map) which allows you to explore the bottom of the old Balme quarry. Descend slightly and pass in front of some old buildings on your left (railing). Facing a sort of old masonry terrace with a solitary spruce tree, turn left between two low stone walls. Follow the faint path, taking care on the steep slope on your left. Make a sharp right turn and return to the lone spruce tree (marked with a yellow marker on this side). Then pass the old buildings again and return to the main path.

Yellow + red and yellow markings

(2) Take the path on the left towards Locum (up to point (7); follow this direction at each junction with signposts). Follow several steep hairpin bends through the beech forest. At a right-hand bend, there is a beautiful view of an unnamed wooded peak that seems to plunge into the lake. At the next bend (guardrails), there is a beautiful view from the western end of the top of the old Balme quarry. You will soon reach a crossroads at La Fauconnière (signs).

(3) Leave the main path as it turns right and follow a less marked and less steep path to the left. Keep a good distance from the top of the old Balme quarry: there is no risk of vertigo or other danger if you stay on the path, but do not venture to the left (risk of fatal fall). You will reach the eastern end of the top of the quarry (railings, view of Meillerie and Lake Geneva). Continue eastwards, descending into a fir forest. Cross a stream and continue eastwards (no signposts here) on a faint path, still in the forest.

(4) After a slight descent, a sign urges caution when crossing the Rochers du Balairon. Start on a narrow ledge, descend via wooden steps and finish along a rock face on the right-hand side: this entire section is equipped with a cable to help you descend safely. At the bottom (signs), climb slightly through a lush forest and then descend again. After a marker post, the path widens and the terrain becomes more open. Just before reaching a meadow, turn left onto a path that winds through the undergrowth. Pass above the old Balle quarries (railing) and come out onto a small road. Follow it to the right and climb towards some houses (view of Pointe de l'Aritte).

Yellow markings

(5) At a right-hand bend (cross, signs), leave the^GRP® trail on your right, leave the road and take a small tarmac road on your left, passing house no. 29 on your left. The tarmac gives way to a grassy path. Pass a fountain on your left and descend a winding path. Pass a wooden chalet on your left, turn right between two bollards, each topped with a carved eagle, and descend a steep tarmac road. Cross a road and continue straight ahead, passing a house on your left and then walking alongside a low stone wall on your left. Take a sharp right turn and you will come out onto a small road.

(6) Then turn left and descend steadily. Cross the old railway line. Cross the D1005 road at the pedestrian crossing (be careful, this is a very busy road) and turn left (yellow arrow at the kerb). Walk along the road on the right-hand pavement (be careful, the pavement is narrow). After No. 11 and a low stone wall, go through a small gate on the right (sign saying "Accès public au lac" [Public access to the lake]). Go down a few steps, walk past an abandoned house, go down two staircases and you will arrive at Locum beach.

Yellow markings + yellow arrows on a navy blue background on the Compostela trails
From here, to return to Meillerie, the route runs constantly and as close as possible to the lake on the right.

(7) Facing the lake, turn left (west). At the end of the beach, take a path that passes a few pontoons on your right. Ignore the steps leading up to a white house on your left and continue along the lake, crossing the pebbles at the water's edge (no objective risk). Continue along a path slightly above the lake and ignore the paths on your left. Pass an old lime kiln on the left, then the old pier of the Balle quarry on the right. Continue along the lake. Cross the pebbles at the water's edge a second time, then walk alongside the buildings on your left (signposted "Promenade Tournesol"). Continue along the path. After a slight climb with a high stone wall on your left, you will reach the old railway line and a tunnel.

(8) Leave the tunnel on your left and continue west on the path. Join the D1005 road and follow it on the right. After a few metres, leave it and go down a stony track on the right (signposted "Bacounis, Compostelle"). At the right-hand bend, leave the track on the left and go around a building housing boats on the right (cross the boat launch rails). You will come to the port of Meillerie and take the south quay opposite. At the end, cross a stream, leave a restaurant on your right and continue along the quay by the lake. At the T-junction, turn right and follow Quai Marin Jacquier to the Meillerie landing stage (S/E).

Hiking boots are required. Forest paths can be muddy in wet weather. Due to steep slopes, hiking poles may be useful.

This hike includes steep sections that require extreme caution. It is therefore not recommended for people who are prone to vertigo. Be particularly vigilant when children are present.

The lakeside path between (7) and (S/E), known as the "Chemin des Bacounis" (named after the former boatmen on Lake Geneva), was opened in 2009, following the application of the principle of easement, which requires residents to allow pedestrians to pass. It therefore crosses private property: please respect the area and follow the recommendations on the signs. Similarly, between (5) and (6), you may sometimes feel as though you are crossing private land, but passage is duly authorised.

No drinking water points have been identified along the route (there are several fountains, but there is no guarantee that the water is drinkable). There are no shops in Meillerie or Locum. There is a bar-restaurant in Meillerie.

Markings and signage:
- Regardless of the colour of the markings, the markers are present in moderate density. However, there are many signposts with yellow arrows along the route, which are very useful.
- The yellow markings are more visible in the opposite direction to this hike, particularly the arrows indicating a change of direction. However, the anti-clockwise direction has been chosen here in order to offer the most difficult route at the start of the hike and the easiest at the end.
- In addition to the markings, there are signs at all major crossroads indicating directions and estimated walking times.

A 1:25,000 map is always useful (at least the one accompanying this description).

Hike completed by the author on 27 April 2016.

- Throughout the outward journey, from Meillerie to Locum, there is a beautiful forest trail and superb views overlooking Meillerie and Lake Geneva.
- Throughout the return journey, from Locum to Meillerie, along the lake shore.
- Views of the old Balme quarry: from below, on the circular loop starting from (2) and from above around (3).
- Landing stage at the old Balle quarry, between (7) and (8).
- Meillerie Church with bell tower, which once belonged to an abbey priory.
- Pierre à Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1), so named because it was on this rock that the philosopher wrote his novel "Julie, or the New Heloise".

Swimming opportunities (in season):
- In Meillerie, on a small sandy beach, west of the landing stage, after the small fishing port.
- In Locum, on the pebble beach (7).
In July and August, the water temperature fluctuates between 17° and 22°.