Plateau above Serves-sur-Rhône

The starting point is at the Puy de Serves viewpoint. To get there, take the Route du Belvédère, which begins at the junction by the town hall in Serves-sur-Rhône; pass the cemetery and head up a narrow road running along a ledge above the Rhône. Once you reach the plateau, at the junction, a sign points to the viewpoint on the right. The site offers a large, pleasant car park with a magnificent view.

(S/E) Drive back up the access road to the junction you passed by car.

(1) Continue straight ahead along the road. Ignore the signposted path branching off to the right and follow the road through the apricot orchards until you approach the hamlet of La Mistrale.

(2) Take the first road on the left and continue across the plateau. “On the right, a view of the Vercors mountains”. Pass the first road on the right, then the one on the left, and continue due north until you reach the next junction.

(3) Turn left to head down to La Rochette. The plateau is still dotted with apricot trees in bloom in March.

(4) When the road bends left and ends in front of a house’s gate, ignore it and leave this road for the grassy path that winds down through the last apricot trees and into the woods. Continue down the main path until you reach a vineyard, then the railway line.

(5) Follow the railway line and cross the stream. Ignore the bridge under the railway line on the right and carry on straight ahead until you come to a path on the left about a hundred metres further on.

(6) The path climbs to the left through a lovely forest. This is the slightly challenging part of the walk. Climb alongside the Ruisseau de Combs until you reach a junction with a path coming from the right. Turn right and continue climbing until you reach the Route du Belvédère at a hairpin bend.

(7) Follow this road to the left. It continues to climb and reaches the junction from the outward journey.

(1) Turn right and head back to the car park (S/E).

(S/E) To return by car, you can avoid the narrow road by heading back to La Mistrale and then to Les Planards, where you’ll rejoin the D630.

Alternative route:
(7) You can take the road on the right. A path cuts across a bend. Return to the tarmac road until you reach the edge of the woods. Above the Château de Serves, a small path starts on the left. This steep path leads to the starting viewpoint.