Ascent of the Col du Fayet from Félines

This hike will take you to the Col du Fayet via the paths, starting from the small village of Félines.

Details

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Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.84 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 322 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 316 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 629 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 370 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The village of Félines is located a little way off the road between Sérrières and Annonay in the Ardèche.
Go to the centre of the village and park in the church square.

(S/E) From the church entrance, take the street opposite the church, leaving the building behind you.
At the first intersection, turn left, then right at the next intersection.
after 20 metres, turn right again onto Rue des Berthois.
At the next intersection, turn left onto Rue des Milhots.
Ignore the street on the left.

(1) Take a small passageway on the right uphill.
At the top of this small passage, you will find yourself back on the paved road, which is still Rue des Milhots.
Take this street on the left. Stay on this road, continuing straight ahead as the street curves to the left.
Walk about 100 metres along this street until you reach a fork.

(2) At this point, leave the tarmac road and take the dirt track opposite, heading straight ahead in a southerly direction. Ignore the other track on the right.
Follow this path in a south-westerly direction until you reach a road.

(3) Cross the road and follow the path opposite.
Continue along this path until you reach Route du Combalat, then turn right.

(4) There is a hiking signpost at this point. Continue straight ahead on the road.
At the first intersection, turn right between the houses.
After about 100 metres, continue right onto Chemin de Terre Longue.
Continue along this path and turn left at the first path.

(5) The path leads to another path where you should turn left.
Then, 40 metres further on, turn right uphill.
Continue along this path, keeping straight ahead and ignoring all the paths branching off to the right and left.
The path will lead to a dirt car park, then to a tarmac road
Take this tarmac road on the right, which climbs slightly

(6) At Col du Fayet, with your back to the water reservoir, take a dirt track on the right-hand side of the road, heading towards Vinzieux.
Continue along this path, ignoring a path on the right that goes almost in the opposite direction.

(7) Turn right onto a path that continues downhill. Be careful not to miss it and don't hesitate to take it despite the yellow and white cross markings.
Follow this path until you reach a tarmac road (D109).

(8) Follow the road to the left for about 200 metres, then take a dirt track that branches off to the left.

(9) Continue slightly downhill on this path until you reach the hamlet of Les Reynauds.
Cross the hamlet, continuing straight ahead

(10) Pass a cross on your left.
At the first intersection on the left, take Rue du Château de Mein.
Continue along this path until you reach the entrance to the castle

(11) Pass the entrance to the castle and continue along the path until you reach a road.
Turn right for about 20 metres, then turn left onto a dirt track.
Continue along this path until you reach a fork.

(12) Continue along the path on the right.
Continue straight ahead, ignoring the turnings on the right and left, until you reach the first houses of the village of Félines via Route de la Maze.
Continue straight ahead along Rue des Écoles.
At the end of this street, take the street on the left and then the first right to reach the church square (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 403 m - Church car park
  2. 1 : km 0.23 - alt. 403 m - Short passage on the right
  3. 2 : km 0.47 - alt. 404 m - End of road for dirt track
  4. 3 : km 1.48 - alt. 479 m - Crossing the road
  5. 4 : km 1.8 - alt. 477 m - Hiking signpost
  6. 5 : km 2.76 - alt. 545 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 5.33 - alt. 611 m - Col du Fayet (611m)
  8. 7 : km 6.6 - alt. 510 m - Don't miss the fork in the road
  9. 8 : km 8.05 - alt. 524 m - Route
  10. 9 : km 8.29 - alt. 513 m - Start of the path on the left
  11. 10 : km 9.17 - alt. 439 m - Cross
  12. 11 : km 9.74 - alt. 413 m - Château le Mein
  13. 12 : km 10.47 - alt. 377 m - Fork in the road
  14. S/E : km 11.84 - alt. 403 m - church car park

Notes

Author's note
On 25/02/2020, I made a small change to the description to take into account the opinion of visorandoneurs. At point (7), I specify that you must leave the straight path to turn right, despite the presence of a yellow and white marked cross.

On 21/02/2023, I retraced the route of this hike. No changes since its creation date are to be noted.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Alain MOULIN
Alain MOULIN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A well-marked route, perfectly identified by our friend and contributor Visorando. There's something for everyone: flat sections, climbs and descents. Really nice!

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roblilou
roblilou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route without any real difficulties.
The directions are clear and you can enjoy beautiful views of the Rhône Valley

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MEUNIER Chantal
MEUNIER Chantal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Peace and quiet, birdsong. Beautiful landscapes and views of the Rhône Valley. Picnic at the Col du Fayet, in the middle of a field of flowers under a blazing sun, which had attracted cycle tourists and motorcyclists; the only time we encountered other people.
alert point no. 7 is well described; the four towers of Mein Castle are clearly visible from a distance and we had the pleasure of chatting with its very friendly owner.
A hike to be repeated in autumn for the colours. Thanks to the person who wrote the description

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vissenty
vissenty

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike

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Rolisere
Rolisere

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, with few sections on tarmac, which is always more enjoyable. Beautiful panoramic views of the Rhône Valley. Highly recommended.

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dulaurier
dulaurier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike was very enjoyable.
We arrived last October and are exploring the region whenever the weather permits.

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bernard carriquet
bernard carriquet

Hello
As far as I can remember, there are no fords on this route. If there had been one, I think I would have mentioned it in the description
I hope this information is useful to you
Best regards

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armelle42
armelle42

hello, I plan to do this hike soon and would like to know if there is a stream to ford or not. Thank you for your reply

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Marlychois
Marlychois

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be careful at point No. 7, we almost missed it on our way to the "Le Fayet" building

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Beatrice montmeas
Beatrice montmeas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Recommended even for families as there is very little road travel

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gilbert.agnes@orange.fr
gilbert.agnes@orange.fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful parish-specific to Brittany route with lovely little paths through the woods, and as a bonus, cherries waiting for us in the forest.

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reneerobert
reneerobert

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant hike, with easily navigable paths. Thank you for the hike. Rori

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seb26140
seb26140

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

a very pleasant hike without much difficulty, beautiful scenery and the discovery of the castle
to add to the information provided by Maxelio42, I would like to point out that at point 10, the first intersection on the left is right next to the cross (even though the information on the route is clear)

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cathyferrer
cathyferrer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely hike that I did backwards
Lots of beautiful views
Thanks to the author

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maxelio42
maxelio42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk, enjoyed under beautiful February sunshine , thank you Bernard!

Two small details for the start of the route in the village of Felines:
(1) The short uphill section is called Chemin du Sel. It is a steep climb between the houses (with stone walls on either side).
(2) To get to this point, the street to take on the right is called Rue du Lavoir.

And also:
(4) The Chemin de Terre Longue starts at the passage between the houses (street sign), and not after, as the description suggests.

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