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Park in the centre of Ampuis in the car park on the church square next to the D386 (formerly the N86).
(S/E) To start the hike, stand near the front of the church, facing the vineyards. Cross the D386 (pedestrian crossing) at the western end of the square and take the Route de Boucharey (D615) opposite, towards Les Haies.
(1) After 200 metres, at the junction with Rue de la Brocarde, continue straight ahead along the cul-de-sac (Rue du Moulin). The small tarmac road climbs gently, following the Reynard stream on the right.
After 250 m, when the road crosses the stream, continue straight ahead: the stream is now on the left of the road. When you reach an old stone mill, the road goes around it and turns into a stony, rocky path that climbs steeply through the vineyards of the southern Côte Brune. As you climb, turn around to enjoy beautiful views of the terraced vineyards, the village of Ampuis with the Guigal castle and the Rhône valley.
When you reach a right-angle bend, the path turns into a small paved road that continues to climb through the vineyards.
(2) At the junction with a larger road (Route de Bramaret), take a hairpin bend to the right. Follow the road as it continues to climb slightly to enter the hamlet of Tartara.
(3) At the crossroads in the centre of this hamlet, at the recycling bins, take the wide path on the right. Keep to the right of the road (be careful not to follow the section that turns left towards the farm), pass to the right of a copse of rushes and follow the wide grassy road between two enclosed pastures. 200 metres further on, at a crossroads, stay on the main road, which turns gently to the left and descends.
At the bottom, keep to the path (slightly to the right) which climbs up towards a small grey uninhabited house. The path climbs steeply and passes the small grey house and a small pond on the left. At the top, the path turns right and follows the edge of the forest on the right.
(4) After 200 metres, take the small path on the right at a large tree with a white and yellow cross painted on it, which marks the end of the path. The path descends into the woods. At the bottom, cross a tiny stream (Ruisseau de Fongeant) and climb up opposite. Continue to the road and turn right for 100 m.
At the crossroads, turn left onto Route du Recru (D45). 100m after the crossroads, turn into the first wide track on the right. Follow this track for a good kilometre, ignoring the tracks on the right and left. When you reach the road, turn right.
(5) After 150 metres, take the first street on the right (Rue du Champin), just before the road sign indicating a 28% gradient. Continue along this street, which crosses the hamlet of Le Champin and comes out at the bottom onto Route du Recru (D45). Follow it to the left and, less than 50 metres further on, turn right onto Chemin de Ritolas towards "Ritolas, la Brosse".
(6) At the top of the Ritolas hill, turn left onto Rue de la Côte Brune. The road descends gently and you will find yourself back among the vineyards with unobstructed views.
Continue along the Côte Brune road for about 1 km until you see the Rhône valley and its market gardens again. The road begins to descend steeply.
(7) When the road takes its first right turn, take a small, poorly paved road on the left that descends into the vineyards. After 30 metres, turn slightly right to follow this poorly paved road and, at the end of the paved section, continue slightly to the right on the very steep path. Be careful, as the path is slippery due to stones and the slope. The path winds downhill on stony terraces, known as "chayets", supported by low stone walls called "cheys".
At the bottom, you will come to a small paved road. Follow it. At the first crossroads, go straight ahead. After 50 metres, at the second crossroads, turn right onto Rue du Centre and follow it until you reach Boulevard des Allées (D386), which you should take to the right.
Then cross the main road to return to the car park where you started, at the church square (S/E).
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