Sainte-Olive walks

A pleasant walk typical of the Dombes. Mainly on tarmac but with very little traffic; you are on secondary roads. Along the route there is a high concentration of ponds, which are full of water in 2020. The view of the ponds is unobstructed and you will encounter many different birds. The walk is punctuated by a variety of landscapes: ponds, fields, copses and even a view of the Beaujolais region.

An easy and enjoyable walk to discover the ponds of the Dombes and its birdlife.

An easy walk leading to the Vernange Sensitive Natural Area with its observatory. Don't forget your binoculars.

This walk combines nature and heritage. In the centre of the village of Rancé, discover the oldest and most important witness to the history of the commune, the Romanesque church, which has been renovated several times. You will discover the wash house, a testament to the 19th-century hygiene movement, as well as the Pierre Brune, a block of granite, the local "big rock".

A hike from Saint Marcel to the Étang du Grand Birieux Nature Reserve and its observatory. Please note that the hike is mainly on tarmac with a 100m section on the D2 road.

Through fields and woods, discover manor houses, equestrian centres and, amongst other sights, the Étang des Vavres with its ducks, swans and extensive reed beds. The Étang des Vavres is under cultivation in 2023.

Take a stroll through the valleys and plateau from this splendid little town.

Discover the medieval town of Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne and its surroundings: passing through the medieval streets and the castle, you will discover the natural area of Prés Gaudet before exploring the Relevant valley, ending with a stroll through the arboretum.

From the restored market hall to the recently refurbished lake, via a remarkable church, this route combines the old and the new.

A hike that combines nature and heritage, with beautiful panoramic views, ponds and the Plantay Tower.

This hike will take you to the Grange du Diable (on the Rhône side) and past the Château de Fléchères.

This hike takes you through the woods around the village of Montceaux. Along the way, discover the ponds, the ruins of an oil mill and the private castle of La Bâtie.

I had wanted to walk through this flat countryside with its multitude of ponds for a long time. I suggest this route, which starts at Notre-Dame des Dombes Abbey. It will take you past some beautiful ponds and local farms. Depending on the season, you will be accompanied by the songs of a multitude of birds. Frogs will jump out of the water as you pass by and curious cows will come to meet you.

A flat route, suitable for all, often used for Sunday walks. Due to the passages over the railway line, pushchairs are not recommended. For geocaching enthusiasts, I have marked the caches located along the route.

Set off on a nature and culture walk between the Saône and the châteaux.

An easy family walk that starts at Mionnay Station, crosses the Bois des Pommes and leads to Étang Dimanche.

From the Minimes site to the Croix du Paradis in Guéreins, walk along the heights of the Val de Saône with views of the Monts du Beaujolais before returning along the towpath by the river.

This bucolic hike will take you from hamlet to hamlet around the village of Saint-Étienne-sur-Chalaronne.

A lovely route through fields on the Val de Saône plateau on the outskirts of the village of Montanay. Good country lanes, limited elevation gain, but with one or two fairly steep and earthy sections (passing through valleys) that can be slippery in wet weather.

A short route suitable for lockdown with moderate elevation. The first part is through the woods of Montanay and the second

Most of the walk is in the forest. The paths are pleasant, with quite a few small stones on the ground. In rainy weather or after heavy rain, the path may be muddy or even impassable in places (not sure, to be checked). The end of the walk is not in the shade, so it can get hot in the sun. Moderator's warning: a section of the route is now closed. Please wait for a detour to be put in place.

Easy circular partly along the Saône, crossing the small marina of Genay and running alongside a small stream.

This walk, after giving you a beautiful view of the Château de Curis, will take you close to three mountains: Mont Narcel, Mont Verdun and Mont Py before returning to Saint-Germain. You will discover several wash houses and small chapels along the way.

This hike will take you to the Croix Rampeau (viewpoint over the Alps and the Saône plain), the Tour Risler (Poleymieux-au-Mont-d'Or), the ruins of a hermitage, the remains of a tannery and several old wash houses. Depending on the season, you will see daffodils, orchids, wild asparagus (edible), martagon lilies or fields of colchicum.

This hike in the Monts d'Or mountains, starting from Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, will allow you to enjoy the panoramic view of Mont Thou and Mont Verdun and discover the drystone shelters that are part of the region's heritage. It follows the inner route of the Monts d'Or with a variant to shorten the circuit.

This short, easy loop starting from Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d'Or will take you to the ruins of a retting pit and a hermitage. In September, you can see colchicum flowers and, if you feel like it, extend the circuit to the Croix Rampaux: a viewpoint over the Saône plain and the Alps.

This hike follows paths already covered in other hikes, but is nonetheless interesting. Best done in dry weather, as there are a few steep sections.

A pleasant hike with a few steep climbs, good for your heart rate, best done in dry weather as some sections are muddy and slippery in wet weather.

This hike is best done in dry weather, with trees providing shade from the sun.

This circular starting from Chasselay will take you to the Batterie des Carrières (a fortification dating from 1874) through vineyards and forests. You will see the perfectly restored Poleymieux lime kiln, surrounded by numerous panels describing how it worked. On the way back, depending on the season, you may see various orchids and martagon lilies.

This circular route will take you to the statue of the Madonna, installed in 2009 to replace another Madonna that was stolen. Along the way, you will see the Saint-Antoine hermitage, the tomb of the hermit Benoît Rousset, and a drying shed. You may encounter horses and mountain bikes. Be careful in rainy weather as the paths can be slippery and muddy.

This is an easy route, best undertaken with good walking shoes. However, be careful in wet weather as the clay soil can be slippery and muddy in places. Along the route, there are information panels explaining the formation of the Monts d'Or massif.

This circular route will take you along part of the geological trail, past the lime kiln and the quarries, as well as numerous drystone shelters, which served as shelters for farmers and, in some cases, as dwellings after the last war while their occupants waited to find permanent accommodation. Please note that in wet weather, some sections may be muddy and slippery.

This hike is best done in dry weather. In wet weather, the trails will be very muddy, with a few sections that will raise your heart rate but nothing insurmountable. The hike begins on a quiet paved road for about 700 metres. Please respect the area and do not leave any rubbish behind.

This hike follows part of the Madone hike, with a variation at the start and finish. Please note that there are some very steep sections, so walking poles are strongly recommended to avoid slipping in wet weather.