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Access: Go to Sainte-Consorce (a commune west of Lyon) via Marcy-l'Étoile or Saint-Genis-les-Ollieres. Park in the carpool car park or the Salle d'Animation car park (below the town hall) near the school complex.
(S/E) From the car park, go up to the crossroads next to the town hall.
Turn left between the illuminated sign and the museum onto Avenue des Combattants.
Pass the statue of "Sainte-Consorce" and the new orientation table (wide panorama of the Alps to Lyon and Mont Pilat). Continue straight ahead along Chemin du Charmillon.
(1) At the "362" marker, go straight ahead onto Traverse du Charmillon (no entry). Follow Chemin de l'Hôpital for 20 metres to the left before turning right onto the dirt track that descends towards the Ratier stream.
(2) At the entrance to the Pocachard quarry, leave the path that follows the Ratier and go up the Chemin des Carrières, which leads to the hamlet of La Rapaudière. Turn right onto the Chemin de la Rapaudière, then leave the Chemin du Ratier on your right.
(3) At "Cote 353", turn right onto Chemin des Flachères. After the antenna and the high-voltage power line, continue straight ahead on Avenue Notre-Dame de Lorette until you reach the village of Pollionnay.
(4) In the centre of the village, turn right onto Grande Rue Jean Paul Dumontier until you reach the church.
Note the magnificent lime tree planted in 1794 before turning left up the hill to the bell tower. The steps lead to a road which you cross to take the Montée des Mandrières opposite. This leads to a road which you take on the right until you reach the climbing wall.
(5) Take the path on the right. When you reach a small road, cross it.
(6) At Le Rizoud, turn right onto the wide path that runs alongside the large gate.
At the "515" sign, follow the narrower, steeper path on the left and do the same at the next fork.
You will come out onto the Col de la Croix du Ban road, 100 metres from the pass (604 metres) on the right.
(7) At the pass, turn right onto Chemin des Limites for 10 metres (this is theGRP® but in the opposite direction) and take the path that descends to the right. After 200 metres, leave the path on the right, but then keep to the path on the right in the undergrowth.
At the edge of the forest, you will have a breathtaking view of Sainte-Consorce, the Monts d'Or, Lyon and the Alps.
(8) Enter the hamlet of Valency via Chemin des Fourches, then take Rue de la Saint-Jean on the left until you reach the crossroads.
Cross the D99 Pollionnay/Sainte-Consorce and turn right onto Chemin Mulet for 50 metres, then right onto the dirt track. Follow it down to Chemin des Colombières. Turn left.
(9) When you reach the "La Grand Croix" signpost 375, continue straight ahead. The Chemin du Vieux Bourg will take you back to the road to Pollionnay.
(10) Enter the village of Sainte-Consorce on the right. Rue Antoine Brun (no entry) leads to the town hall and the car park below (S/E).
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