Chevrières–Marcenod circular loop

Park at Place des Anciens Combattants, just after Place de l’Église.

(S/E) Head towards the church and cross Rue Marie Fléchet. Continue straight ahead along Rue de la Mairie, then turn left opposite the town hall. Continue left onto Montée des Pavés, heading towards Les Roules. Leave the village and continue straight downhill, cross the Ruisseau des Gouttes and head for the left-hand bend after the Moulin du Pas.

(1) Take the stony path that climbs to the right. Quickly ignore a fork to the left and carry on straight ahead. After passing through a section of woodland, reach a three-way junction just below the next one.

(2) Take the path down to the right, then cross the stream (Grosse Pierre) and carry on, keeping to the left at all times.

(3) Just after a 90° bend to the right, be careful! Take the grassy path on the left. Facing the farm, turn left, pass underneath it and carry on straight ahead at the bottom of the valley until you reach a fork at the far end of the first meadow.

(4) Turn left, cross the stream and carry on, keeping to the right until you reach the hamlet of La Brosse.

(5) First turn right then left, ignore Le Ban and take the Montée du Chemin Rouge on the right.

(6) At Les Flaches Nord (where there is a wayside cross), carry on straight ahead along the road and continue along a track when the road turns 90° to the left. Return to the tarmac and walk a few metres to the left.

(7) Take the grassy track on the left, towards Montagneux. At the hamlet, first turn left then right and carry on towards Les Eures.

(8) Ignore the turn-off to Les Eures and carry on straight ahead. A few metres further on, veer to the right, quickly ignore a turn-off to the right and cross a gully. Pass a turn-off to the right and reach a fork in the path near a field.

(9) Turn left, head down to the bottom of the valley, then climb back up, turning right, until you reach a hamlet. Continue along its access path and, when you reach the road (marked by a wayside cross), head a few metres to the right.

(10) Turn left just after the alpaca farm. Pass through the hamlet known as La Croisette and continue to the bottom of the valley.

(11) Cross the stream and turn right at the house on your left. Follow this path until you reach the tarmac road at Ris de Bœuf. Continue to the left and head for a multi-way junction in the centre of Chevrières.

(12) Carry on to the left along the Route de Fontanès (D6) and leave the village.

(13) Turn left towards Les Granges Neuves and head for this hamlet.

(14) At the end of the tarmac road, veer left and follow this track to Granges Vieilles. Turn right, cross the hamlet and take the road on the right. Cross the Combe Lagier and head for Le Chambon.

(15) In the centre of the hamlet, take the^first street on the right, then continue straight on along the ridge until you reach the D3.

(16) Cross the D3 and continue straight ahead along the small path that climbs. Then take the^second path on the right and reach a fork in the woods.

(17) Continue to the right, then quickly ignore a turn-off to the right. Reach the bottom of the valley, then head back up the opposite side, following the path straight ahead. You’ll reach the junction of the circular route you took on the way out.

(2) Continue to the right and follow the path back along the same route to the village of Marcenod (S/E).

(12) Centre de Chevrières, where you can enjoy a drink at the “Nul Bar Ailleurs” or have a bite to eat (to order)

Between points (5) and (7), admire the view of Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise, Chazelles and, in the background, the Pierre-sur-Haute mountains. The borders of the Loire and Puy-de-Dôme departments.