Torchefelon walks

A forest where you feel at peace. According to legend, the Vallin forest in the commune of Saint-Victor-de-Cessieu was frequented by druids and Templars who came to enjoy its healing properties. Several places in the forest are said to be full of energy, and there is a special energy in this place that confuses compasses. It is a pretty forest of beech, oak and hazel trees. Part of the forest has been replanted with Douglas firs, cherry trees and red oaks.

Walk along small roads and paths with beautiful views of the Chartreuse and Mont Blanc.

A route that takes you through marshes and hillsides to discover the lakes to the east and north of Biol, passing through Torchefelon and skirting Succieu.

This is a short walk, best enjoyed on a clear day. It offers exceptional panoramic views stretching from the Monts de l'Ain to the peaks of the eastern Vercors, via the Dent du Chat, Mont Blanc, the Chartreuse, the Belledonne peaks, Taillefer and Dévoluy. There are no particular difficulties along the route.

A short walk alternating between good paths and small roads, except for 300 m on a departmental road. In fine weather, there are stunning views of the Jura, the Chartreuse, Belledonne... and even Mont Blanc.

Loop on the Vaux ridges (Chabons municipality) with beautiful views of the Chartreuse and Belledonne mountains and the Hien, Bourbre and Ain valleys in good weather. The circuit mainly follows very wide, pleasant paths, with one section along the edge of the forest. Accessible to all.

A short, easy walk in the countryside, offering beautiful views of the Massif de l’Épine and Mont Blanc on a clear day. Best undertaken in spring as the route involves a lot of open countryside and some woodland.

A lovely walk in the heart of northern Isère. It offers numerous panoramic views, from the summit of Mont Blanc to the Chartreuse Mountains.

Seventh stage of the Way of St James. This stage is mainly in open country with little elevation gain. You walk along the hills and copses of the eastern part of the Liers plain. Here and there, you’ll catch glimpses of the surrounding hills and peaks.

This hike will first take you to the heights of the hamlet of Le Molard with beautiful views of the mountains and the surroundings of Rochetoirin. You will then walk through the Tire Gerbe forest before reaching the Étang de Gole lake near Montcarra. There is a picnic area where you can stop for lunch before climbing up the other side to discover Montcarrad and its castle. You will finish by passing near the Reculefort farm, where you can buy refreshments.

This walk allows you to discover the castles of Pupetière and Virieu. You first walk along the Bourbre valley on the hillside, then through the forest, passing the Croix du Moine Mort, and finally return to the hill towards Virieu.

This is an easy walk that takes you past Dauphiné houses, the ponds of Saint-Didier-de-Bizonnes and the Brosses forest. In the second part of the walk, you will enjoy some beautiful views of the surrounding peaks (even the summit of Mont Blanc).

A lovely, slightly challenging route through fields and woods, taking in three chapels.

This short family walk offers beautiful panoramic views of the Aravis, Mont Blanc, the Dent du Chat, the Bauges, Belledonne, the Chartreuse and the Vercors.

The forest of the former Sylve Bénite Charterhouse offers a varied terrain for walkers in the Lac de Paladru area, with its undulating landscape and several vantage points. The suggested route climbs up the western slope (Virieu) before crossing over to the eastern slope and returning via the ridges. The low altitude means it can be walked in any season, including after a snowfall.

An unpretentious walk through the Éclose bocage and the Forêt du Roi.

A lovely, pleasant and varied walk. There are no difficulties to be feared, as the elevation gain is well distributed. Towards Quinsonnas, you will have beautiful views of the mountains. You will pass three interesting buildings: the Château de Quinsonnas, the Demeure de Fichaillon and the Church of Vermelle. The icing on the cake is the descent into the charming valley of the Verneicu stream.

A beautiful hike offering stunning views of the Bugey Mountains, the Épine Massif and the Chartreuse, with the Alps in the background.

A lovely loop if you fancy an easy, not too long, shady walk, starting from the Chapelle-de-la-Tour car park, with no special equipment required. You could potentially spot ponies, horses, cattle, etc. We went in May, so we recommend going in the morning for the shade and milder temperatures in summer.

A beautiful walk in the Nord Isère. Your walk, in a hilly environment, takes you through alternating bocage and undergrowth. There are no particular difficulties to be feared on this route (except for an unguarded level crossing to cross...).

An easy route accessible to families with children, offering varied landscapes: woods, meadows and villages. Views of the Alps.

A pleasant hike, mostly on paths and trails, with a good part in the woods. The route is hilly and shaded, with a variety of points of interest: horses at the equestrian centre, the Gouille pond and hut, the Agny valley, the charming little 12th-century church of Vermelle and the Chapel of La Petite Salette in Meyrié.

After completing the educational route through the peat bogs, we suggest a short walk in the surrounding countryside.

A lovely little walk in the Dauphiné countryside. Halfway through, you will climb a little way up into the forest to the Croix du Moine Mort (Dead Monk's Cross), before descending to the charming Notre-Dame de Milin Chapel.

You start by crossing the Gourand woods and then the Béroudières woods. At the end of the walk, you will pass a beautiful string of ponds. Along the route, you will have some beautiful views of the surrounding peaks.

A magnificent circular route that follows theGR®65, better known as the Way of St James, on the way there and the paths above Lake Paladru on the way back.

An easy walk around Lake Paladru, allowing you to discover some fascinating Carthusian buildings. The Grange Dimière is a listed building and, higher up, the former Carthusian monastery, which is now privately owned and not open to visitors.

A circular route mainly through woods and undergrowth, passing a number of historic and religious buildings: Sylve Bénite (a Carthusian monk), the Croix de Moine Mort and the Croix d’Homnézy. Views of Lake Paladru and Mont Blanc (on a clear day).

A walk starting from the village of Le Pin, now part of the commune of Villages du Lac de Paladru, passing through the hamlets of La Montagne and Brézin. Country lanes, forest tracks, woods and undergrowth. Views of the Chartreuse and the Vercors in the distance.

A countryside walk starting from Le Pin, a village within the “Villages de Lac de Paladru” municipality. Passing through Les Marais, Chubins and Charpenne. A easy route along wide farm tracks and a few small tarmac roads.

Hike around Montbernier, between forest and plateau. A lovely, gentle route around Montbernier. Beautiful views of the surrounding area as you walk across the plateaus. A shaded route that combines forest and field paths.

This is an easy, short hike offering superb views of the Vercors and Chartreuse mountains once you reach the plateau. The route takes us through wooded areas and agricultural plateaus, mixing shade and light. Best done in good weather to enjoy the coolness of the forest and the unobstructed view.

This walk alternates between countryside and forest, with a very reasonable elevation gain. It also offers some beautiful views of the surrounding peaks.

The only difficulty with this walk is its length. It will allow you to wander through the heart of the Dauphiné countryside. Here and there, it offers views of the surrounding peaks: Chartreuse, Vercors, Monts du Pilat, Monts du Lyonnais. The two V's are the localities of Vernondière and Vernay.

This is an easy walk through hedgerows and woods.The route takes you to the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Milin, the Croix du Moine Mort (Dead Monk's Cross) and the ruins of the Chartreuse de Sylve Bénite.

Starting from the hamlet of Le Verney, in the commune of Oyeu in Isère, this route, partly through woods, goes around Plan-du-Rey, which briefly overlooks Lake Paladru.

This walk, which presents no particular difficulties, follows the pedestrian routes that have been successfully developed to facilitate walking around the lake, thereby minimising the elevation gain. In particular, the route takes the Voie Verte and the Chemin du Marais before joining the GR®65, the Geneva Way of St James – Le Puy-en-Velay, on the heights of Paladru and Le Pin. It passes through many pleasant spots where you can stop for a break. Enjoy the various views of the lake and the surrounding mountains, and the tranquillity of the walk, with a very low proportion of shared paths. You can also walk it in the opposite direction for a different perspective.

A day's walk, quite lovely and varied. You start by going through the Grand Platon Forest, then going along the south-east bank of the lake with beautiful views over the lake. You change banks and go along the Feydelière and Véronnière marshes ('Marais' - protected sites). The return is via the north-west bank of the lake with beautiful views over Chartreuse and, if the weather is clear, Mont Blanc.

This route will allow you to discover Lake Paladru in all its glory. A long hike (nearly 22 km) but without any technical difficulty. Best suited to experienced walkers or for tackling over two days. Choose your starting point; the lake circuit can be started from four villages: Charavines, Bilieu, Le Pin or Paladru. This large “Blue Lake”, exceptional for the beauty of its surroundings and its crystal-clear waters, was shaped by the mighty Rhône Glacier during the Ice Age. Situated at an altitude of 500 metres, nestled amongst wooded and agricultural hills, it is the fifth-largest natural lake in France. Its shores were home to one of the first human communities in Isère, dating back to 2700 BC (the Neolithic village of Les Baigneurs). Several sites are designated as “protected natural areas”.

The circular takes you around Lake Paladru via the greenway from Charavines.