Over ridges and crosses in the Pilat Mountains

Park near the church in Chuyer.

Please note: this route is not signposted.

(S/E) Head south on Rue du Charron, then Rue du Col. Shortly afterwards, turn left onto Chemin de la Fabrique. Continue on this road, which turns right at a cross. Further on, ignore a road on the right and continue straight on towards "Les Ferranches". The small road turns into a path at this house. Continue along this path, which is a continuation of the road. The path turns left before reaching a crossroads.

(1) Take the second road on the right. Continue along this road until it begins to curve northwards. At this point, you will see a house with a wind turbine on the right. Leave the road and turn left onto a path. At the fork, turn right onto a track. Take it on the right and continue, ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left, until you reach a crossroads with the D7 (Route de Pavezin).

(2) Continue straight ahead and cross the goat farm. The road turns into a path that climbs through the woods. Ignore a path on the right. At the next three-way junction, continue on the path on the right. Further on, ignore a path that branches off to the left and turn right, heading north. The route veers west before crossing a track. Continue straight ahead. Ignore a path on the left and continue west. The path turns right, heading north and climbing. At the top, continue north to the intersection, near the "Château de Bélize" signpost.

(3) Turn left and exit the forest onto the Crêt de Quatregrains to find yourself on a high-altitude lawn. You may encounter cows here. Leave the path on your right that descends towards the Auberge de la Grange Rouet and continue to a signpost.

(4) Continue straight ahead on the path (Sentier Jean-Jacques Rousseau) which descends below Crêt de Montivert to join the D62 road.

(5) Cross over and continue straight ahead on a path. Pass a house before climbing up a small road and taking a sharp right turn. Pass behind the restaurant and turn right to reach the Croix de Montvieux crossroads.

(6) Take the path opposite, which heads north-west. At the next fork, turn right and at the intersection just after, continue to the left. Continue along this path heading north. Ignore a path branching off to the left.

(7) At the fork, turn left, then further on, ignore a path on the right. You will arrive at Croix du Mazet.

(8) Cross the D7 road and, opposite, continue north, ignoring the path on the right and then two paths on the left. Continue along this path, still heading north, towards the Côte de Ban.

(9) At a four-way intersection, continue straight ahead until you reach the Croix du Cerisier.

(10) At this crossroads, turn right onto the path that descends towards the hamlet of Seydoux. You will come out onto a small road.

(11) Turn left, then immediately right and right again, then left at the three-way junction. Continue on the road to the right at the next two intersections. Continue along this small road, which crosses a stream, the Grand Valluy, further on. Immediately after, turn left onto a path. At the three-way junction, turn right, then right again at the next intersection. Continue south, ignoring two paths on the left, to rejoin the road you left earlier.

(12) Take the road on the left for a few metres and continue on a path that branches off to the right at a cross. Continue on this path, heading south then south-east, until you reach a road.

(13) Turn left. Further on, as the road begins to curve to the right, continue straight ahead on the path that descends towards the village of Sainte-Croix. When you reach a road, turn left and continue for a few metres.

(14) Turn right onto the Sentier Béatrice de Roussillon, which veers to the right and then climbs southwards. At the three-way junction, continue to the right and at the next intersection, at the edge of the woods, continue straight ahead, leaving one path on the left and two paths on the right. You will come out onto the Route du Petit Valluy.

(15) Follow it to the left for a few metres, then turn right onto the path to continue south. Pass close to a reservoir, ignoring all the paths that branch off to the right, to reach Route de la Terrasse.

(16) Continue straight ahead on the path that veers slightly to the left. Further on, at the three-way junction, turn right and, shortly afterwards, ignore two paths on the left and then one on the right. Continue to Grange Rouet.

(17) Leave the restaurant on your right and turn left onto the small road. Follow this road down through the beech forest to the Col de Pavezin crossroads.

(18) Continue straight ahead on the D30 road and then descend to the right onto a path. Continue south-east to rejoin the D30 further down. Take it on the right for a few metres, then turn left onto a path. Continue straight ahead until you reach a beautiful property called "La Régny".

(19) Continue along the path which veers eastwards to reach Place de la Mairie in Chuyer. Head right to find the church shortly afterwards (S/E).

Good walking shoes are essential. The hike is quite long, so bring water and a snack. In summer, you will find cafés open at some crossroads and in Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

There are beautiful beech trees on the slopes of the Crêts de Quatregrains and Baronnette. In addition, on the Crêt de Quatregrains, there are beautiful moors and lawns.

In Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez, you can visit an old Carthusian monastery (14). Founded in 1281, the Carthusian monks were expelled in 1792. All that remains is a beautiful fortified façade and two courtyards with beautiful stone houses. The church was remodelled in the 13th century.