The heights of Limony and the Limony valley

An easy hike starting from the village of Limony. Once you have climbed to the top, weather permitting, you will have a beautiful view of the Alps to the east. The return journey will take you along the Limony.

Details

2805478
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 294 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 285 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 374 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 138 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Go to the village of Limony and park in the dirt car park behind the church.

(S/E) Start the hike by heading towards the railway line and go under the track through the small tunnel. After the tunnel, turn left onto the path and continue straight ahead.

(1) At this point, there is a stream to ford. If the current is weak, it is easy to cross, otherwise you can use the small railway bridge next to it that spans the stream to avoid getting your feet wet. After crossing the stream, continue along the small tarmac road on the right and follow it until you reach the first houses in Arcoules.

(2) Cross the level crossing and then the main road (N86). Be careful, as this is a very busy road. Continue straight ahead between the houses along Rue des Vignes. Begin the climb, which gradually becomes quite steep. Further up, leave the tarmac road and take a path on the left that continues uphill. Ignore a path on the right, follow a few hairpin bends and you will reach a large electricity pylon and then a crossroads with a signpost indicating the hiking trail.

(3) Turn left and continue slightly uphill until you reach a tarmac road (Rue des Vignasses) and the first houses of the hamlet of Le Velay. At the end of the street, turn left onto Route de Limony. Then turn right onto the first road, Rue du Vieux Lacour, and cross the hamlet to take a dirt track on the left.

(4) Cross a crossroads and continue straight ahead. Continue on the main path, turning right, then keep heading west, ignoring the paths on either side, until you reach the hamlet of Peyssonneau.

(5) At the first houses, turn right and cross the hamlet straight ahead to take the Chemin des Vignes. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths on the right and left, to reach a tarmac road at a pond.

(6) Follow the road, then quickly leave it for a dirt track opposite in the first bend. Ignore a path that branches off to the right and stay on the left-hand path to join a wider track. Keep to the left and you will reach the Pierre bridge over the Limony.

(7) Go up the other side via the winding road, leaving the access to Moulin de Pommier on your right. Continue straight ahead on Route de Cheyme, staying on this road until you reach the Picardel crossroads.

(8) Leave the Cheyme road and turn right towards the hamlet of Picardel (Picardel road). When you reach the hamlet, take the first road on the left (rue de la Font Bois). The tarmac road ends in a dirt track. Continue straight ahead on this track (chemin du Liponnet).

(9) When you reach a crossroads, continue straight ahead on Chemin du Liponnet. At the hamlet of Liponnet, join a tarmac road and turn right. Follow this road to a crossroads, where you should continue straight ahead on Route de Grandon.

(10) When you reach an intersection, leave the tarmac road and take a dirt track on the left and follow it. About 50 metres further on, you will come to a fork. Keep to the left and continue down the dirt track.

(11) At the bottom of the descent, join a path on the left and continue straight ahead towards the hamlet of Négret.

(12) Ignore the small bridge on the left and continue straight ahead. Cross the hamlet of Négret and continue straight ahead to reach the village of Limony via Rue du Maillet.

(13) Turn right onto Rue de l'Ancienne École, then immediately left onto the N86, which you should cross carefully to continue straight ahead.

(14) At the church, turn right onto Rue d'Embas and continue to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 138 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 139 m - Fording
  3. 2 : km 1.81 - alt. 141 m - Level crossing - Rhône (le)
  4. 3 : km 3.11 - alt. 299 m - Hike signpost
  5. 4 : km 4.32 - alt. 333 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 5.99 - alt. 352 m - Peysonneau
  7. 6 : km 7.03 - alt. 367 m - Tarmac road - Mare
  8. 7 : km 7.78 - alt. 317 m - Pont de la Pierre
  9. 8 : km 9.24 - alt. 352 m - Picardel crossroads
  10. 9 : km 9.76 - alt. 336 m - Intersection of paths
  11. 10 : km 10.82 - alt. 318 m - Fork in the dirt track
  12. 11 : km 11.94 - alt. 181 m - Path intersection
  13. 12 : km 12.64 - alt. 156 m - Small bridge over the Limony
  14. 13 : km 13.6 - alt. 143 m - Rue de l'Ancienne École
  15. 14 : km 13.7 - alt. 141 m - Église saint-Jean-Baptiste (Limony)
  16. S/E : km 13.8 - alt. 138 m - Car park

Worth a visit

Hike updated on 12/04/2022. Following feedback left in comments by hikers, the route of this hike has been modified to avoid passing through a section of private property that was causing problems.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
User 11671657

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, well signposted with beautiful views, overlooking the Rhône valley with the Alps and Mont Blanc, crossing vineyards and apple orchards.

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roblilou
roblilou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike with a view of the Rhône Valley

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AlainVa
AlainVa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and varied route. You pass through the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône, the countryside and woods. From the hills, you can see the Rhône Valley and the villages and towns surrounding it. A very pleasant ride.
The car park is very good.

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arderchois
arderchois

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy hike

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ALLRANDOF
ALLRANDOF

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and pleasant hike, mostly through vineyards. Unfortunately, the weather was foggy, so we couldn't enjoy the view.
We finished the hike from Picardel to Limony and Charnas.
Thank you for this hike.

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maxelio42
maxelio42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I went hiking today.
The private property sign is still there (near point 9 and the descent into the valley), partially broken, and there are still boulders in two places.
At the second rock barrier, a sign from the landowner states that he is fed up with people breaking his signs and that he has filed a complaint with the police.

I didn't meet anyone on this path, but I imagine that this person would not be thrilled to encounter hikers there ....

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gege42520
gege42520
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Description and GPS tracking with impressive accuracy! Well done.
The route is enhanced by the splendid natural surroundings.
In good weather: views of Pilât, Vercors and the Alps. You can even see the Trois Becs.

Thank you.

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dougere
dougere

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An easy walk completed in 3 hours and 45 minutes.
A bit monotonous.

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Vallon Evelyne
Vallon Evelyne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike without any major difficulties. Lovely views of the Alps when the weather is clear.

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bernard carriquet
bernard carriquet

Hello
The rocks do not prevent pedestrians from passing, but they do make it impossible for vehicles to pass.
There is a small sign indicating private property, but it does not stipulate that passage is prohibited.
We recently passed through with a group of walkers without any problems, apart from a few branches still on the ground following the snowfall.
Kind regards

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dougere
dougere

Hello,
Have you solved the problem?
Are the rocks there to stop vehicles or because it's private property?
I would like to do this route.
Thank you for your help.

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cathyferrer
cathyferrer
• Edited:

The repoussoir shapes are between points 8 and 10.

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henri57
henri57 ★
• Edited:

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback.

I discovered Private Property signs and large blocks of stone blocking the way.

Could you tell us exactly where, between which waypoints?

See you soon.

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cathyferrer
cathyferrer
• Edited:

I did part of the route in September.
I am surprised that this route passes by Le Verdier stream and ends at Cheymé Castle because when I was there, I saw signs saying "Private Property" and large blocks of stone blocking the way.
Can we brave these prohibitions? Unofficial or official... I don't know.
For my next visit, I've made a note to go via Pangon.

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