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Climb above Saint-Symphorien-de-Mahun, pass the hamlets of Gonnet and Gaspard, and continue on a road that is unpaved for a certain distance. Once back on the paved road, continue to a fork. The hamlet of Les Soies is below.
Park your vehicle near the hamlet of Les Soies.
(S/E) Take the forest road on the left. Continue along this road, passing the hairpin bend on your right, to reach the Croix de Boiray at the crossroads of five roads and paths
(1). Turn left towards Scree Blanc, via the Annonay basin tour alternative route. The road turns twice at 90°. After the second turn, you will come to a crossroads.
(2) Leave the road and take the stony path that climbs through the undergrowth. You will reach the Col de la Supyère.
(3) Take the road on the right to go around Knoll des Chomeilles and then reach the Croix du Knoll crossroads.
(4) Turn left and follow the signs for Scree Blanc, taking the very stony path that climbs quite steeply. You will then return to the eastern slope. The climb is made more difficult by the fact that the path is very loose with large stones due to the motorised vehicles that use it and erode the ground. At the top of this path, you will arrive at Croix du Barry, which is also the other name for Scree Blanc. Opposite this cross is the path that climbs up to the oppidum. It will only take you a few minutes to visit it. Return to the path you left and descend to Croix de Signolle.
(5). Here, there are four possible directions. Continue straight ahead until you reach another crossroads with six paths, the Croix des Tramezières.
(6). Take thesecond path on the left.
Walk along the knoll of the Aulanières, ignoring two paths on the left, and after passing La Paute, cross another junction.
(7). Continue along the same path to follow the knoll of Beauplot, keeping to the same mountain side. You will then reach a clearing, which is a good place to take a pleasant break before continuing the climb along the Scree Long, where you can admire your first panoramic view of the Pays d'Ay. Turn around to see the landscape towards the knoll of Vent. Pass a fork in the path.
(8) Turn left and you will reach the Rocheplate spring, which is not developed but is tapped and refreshing. Continue climbing towards Clos du Rouvey on the wide, gently sloping path. Before reaching Clos de Rouvey, the forest road turns right to join the D532.
(9). Continue along the path on the left. Enter the undergrowth. Pass Clos de Rouvey and, after climbing Bresseau, begin a fairly steep descent along the rain-eroded path to join the D532.
(10) Take it to the left and follow the meadow until you reach theGR®430, which crosses the road.
(11) Take it on the left, entering the forest on your left towards Mont Chaix. You will climb and then descend to reach a crossroads of forest roads.
At the crossroads, take the path straight ahead. You will then wind your way through a very pleasant, cool and airy forest until you reach a clearing at a place called Mont Chaix.
(12) Turn right towards Lalouvesc, continuing on theGR®430to see the mushroom information route on the left.
(13) Return to the clearing.
(12) Continue straight ahead on the path towards Knoll de Boidel.
Note: there are two paths here:
- one is very pleasant, wide and grassy, branching off slightly to the right. Unfortunately, do not take this path as it is a dead end, blocked by a landslide.
- the other to its left, which descends into the forest. This is the one you should take. Descend a little, then climb back up to join theGR®420.
(14) Turn left to descend to Knoll de Boidel, then to Knoll de Frachy, and you will arrive at a forest road with a fenced field on your right. Take this road to the right until you reach a cross at a new intersection.
(15). Continue straight ahead, leaving the path that descends to Four des Tuiles on your right. Follow the knoll of the Blache until the road turns sharply to the left.
(16) Turn right onto the path towards Veyrines. Be careful not to miss it. Pass the knoll du Trou and descend to Veyrines. Here you can visit the church.
(17) Pass in front of the church and take the road on the right that runs alongside its lawn. Then turn left and continue along a narrow path until you reach the road at the hamlet of Hermuzière.
(18) Go up the road on the left until you reach a junction leading to Grand Soulage. Cross the road and follow it to the left as it curves. Keep to the right-hand side of the road because, before the next bend, you need to turn off onto a forest road on the right. Follow this quiet, rarely used road gently uphill until you reach a crossroads just before the buildings at Boirayon.
(19) Take the grassy path on the left. Be careful here as this path is cluttered with fallen trees, but some have been cut away. Cross a stream after a descent through the undergrowth, then start climbing the ridge to reach the hamlet of Gonnet.
(20) Turn right onto the tarmac road, pass the hamlets of Bellevue and Gaspard, then turn almost due north. You will then come out at the hamlet of Les Soies and find the car park (S/E).
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