The banks of the Isère and its walnut trees at Saint-Hilaire-du-Rosier

(S/E) Leave the square behind Saint-Hilaire church by heading south-east along the Chemin des Doyons (signposted). At the next fork, take Chemin de la Croisée on the left (signposted). This turns to the right. Immediately afterwards, take Chemin de la Croix des Goulets on the left (signposted). Further on, you will see a shelter with a quirky roof on your right. Take the path immediately to the right of this.

(1) After a bend to the left, you will see the sign: Les Arriberts – alt. 240 m. Turn right towards Saint-Hilaire, the station. Up to this point, the route is marked with yellow signposts. After several bends, you will reach a T-junction. Turn left. The path turns right and runs alongside the railway line.

(2) As soon as you come to a tunnel under the railway line, go through it (it’s up to 3.50 m high… you’ve got plenty of headroom). Immediately afterwards, turn right onto Chemin des Siberts (signposted). You’ll reach a fork; turn left, then very quickly turn right.

A little further on, you’ll see a small road on your left that heads downhill, looping back in the opposite direction to you. Take it. It makes a hairpin bend before running alongside a beautiful house. You’re surrounded by walnut trees. The path becomes grassy.

(3) You come to an old wash house. When I passed by, there was no water left... Continue along the path, which climbs back up to the small road you left earlier.

(4) At the sign: Palas – alt. 200 m, you continue along the small road to the left. You follow it for a very long time (it’s even a bit monotonous...). You pass the hamlet of Les Mouraux (sign), then the houses of Le Creux. You then reach the sign: Le Creux – alt. 195 m.

(5) Continue along this quiet little road towards Combe Basse until you reach the sign: Combe Basse – alt. 198 m.

(6) Take the path on the left (see the Practical Information section). A little further on, your path is blocked by a gate. There is a faint path on the right. Between the two, there is a third path leading down through the vegetation. Take this one (marked with yellow signposts).

It descends to the Isère and follows it westwards. At first, you can only just make out the river, but later you can see it more clearly. Your path narrows, then becomes rather rough due to rockfalls. But it’s relatively easy going. You’ll come out onto a track which you take to the left and reach the sign: the Observatory – alt. 200 m.

(7) You will continue along the stony path to the right, but first, take the time to visit this famous observatory. It is 100 m below (a concrete marker indicates it). You will have a beautiful view of the Isère and the Saint-Hilaire bridge.

Once back, carry on along the path. It leads onto a small road which you take to the left, then onto a narrow lane which you also take to the left. You’ll be walking alongside the Isère.

(8): At the confluence of the rivers, the lane turns right to reach a roundabout. Head straight ahead, slightly to the right, towards the station and Saint-Hilaire-Village. You will then leave the section marked in yellow.

(9) When you reach the station, turn right and continue to the level crossing, which you cross. Once you have crossed the tracks, take Rue des Marronniers straight ahead (the sign is upside down...). Then, after a house decorated with a palm tree, turn right onto Rue des Lauriers and follow it until you reach a Stop sign.

(10) At the stop sign, turn left. Pass a junction and continue straight ahead onto Route des Cares, where you’ll come to another stop sign.

(11) Carry on straight ahead along the D21A. Be careful, traffic moves fast. Keep to the right; this will save you from having to cross back over in 250 m. Opposite some buildings, take a small track on the right where the tarmac is crumbling. Further on, you’ll pass a charming little house with a solitary tree. Ignore a small road that branches off to the right. You’ll cross another small road.

(12) Further on, a path leads to some buildings (sign 555 from A to B). Continue along your path and, just as it starts to climb, take a vague stony track on the right. It passes in front of an isolated house. When you reach a walnut grove, it turns right. Carry on straight ahead through the walnut grove. You come out of it and continue, passing a crossroads. You are now on the Chemin de la Grande Allée. Once again, you come to a Stop sign.

(13) Turn left onto the D21 (it’s still a fast road...) and, halfway up the hill, turn right onto Chemin des Pensées. You’ll arrive in front of the church; go past it to return to your starting point (S/E).

The walk starts behind the church of Saint-Hilaire-du-Rosier, on the very large esplanade in front of the cemetery. Saint-Hilaire-du-Rosier is a commune in southern Isère, on the border with Drôme, south-west of Saint-Marcellin.

The route runs largely along small tarmac roads with little traffic.

(4) Alternative route: there is a path on your left. You can take a round trip to the banks of the Isère. It is relatively close.

Please note: before the landmark (6), there is a slightly rough section of path as you leave the Isère to head back up, before the landmark (7). It isn’t very long but requires you to be fairly steady on your feet. This section can be avoided by continuing along the small road at the landmark (6). You then rejoin the official route shortly after the marker (7).

From the marker (1) to the town centre near Saint-Hilaire station, the route is marked in yellow. Elsewhere, it is not marked.

Note: although you walk alongside the Isère for nearly half the walk, views of the river are available but relatively limited, as the banks are steep, wild and heavily wooded.
Otherwise, you’ll enjoy lovely views of the foothills of the Vercors, and you’ll be surrounded by walnut trees. You’ll pass a few beautiful houses dotted along the route.