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Parking: at the start of Chemin des Champs, south of Tournon-sur-Rhône. On the mountain side relative to the railway line (access from Tournon or from the roundabout north of Mauves: head towards Plats and take the first road on the right, under the road bridge / Do not cross the railway line on foot! The road is behind, on the mountain side) . There are a few parking spaces at the crossroads, otherwise park along the road, next to the vineyards.
(S/E) Follow Chemin des Champs (small tarmac road) for 800 m. Look for a bridge (stone edge) at the bottom of a small descent on the left and head towards it.
(1) Cross the small bridge and immediately afterwards, take the road (steep at first) on the left. The tarmac ends shortly afterwards. Go past the hairpin bend and arrive at the entrance to a house (no entry sign). Then follow a small path on the left, signposted "Charay". Yellow/whitePR® markings. Follow this beautiful, slightly steep path. At the crossroads halfway up the hill (sign), continue straight ahead. You will come to a second crossroads below Charay.
(2) Turn left towards Plats/Gourdy. The path then crosses pastures for the horses of the Charay estate. It passes between wire fences and is well marked. This brings you to the entrance to the Charay estate (end of a tarmac road, turning area).
(3) Follow the road for 20 metres to the left and turn right onto a path along the fence. Follow it for 20 metres, and at the end of the meadow, turn left. This tiny path is like a roller coaster. It allows you to avoid the road and the Ferme des Carmes. Locally, it is known as the "Sentier des Cochons" (pig path) (pigs are raised on the farm). At the end, you will find yourself back on the tarmac road after the farm.
(4) Continue along the road to the right, heading west, to climb up towards Gourdy (a beautiful restored house).
(5) Take the main road on the right. Further on, you will reach theGR®42A(red/white markings). Turn right to follow this road and theGR®42A. At the crossroads (bus shelter on the left), turn right. At the end, follow the road to kilometre 7. After a gate on the right (entrance to Monaud, private hunting estate), continue along the road.
(6) Continue along the road. At the bus shelter with rubbish bins (1st junction, you have a choice:
- follow the main road: Leave the start on the left and continue along the road to reach the end ofthe GR®42, 200 m before the Col de Nesson. This is less pleasant (tarmac).
or
- follow the newGR®42route via Boyon and Plot: (to reduce the distance on the road, but slightly longer). Then follow the road to the left towards Boyon (bus shelter with household waste containers). Then descend towards Plot (347 m) via a track. From there, turn right, and a small track will take you back to the road, 200 m before the Col de Nesson. Cross the road: theGR®42runs along the road above, up to the Col de Nesson.
Note: the IGN map (Geoportail website) now clearly shows this new route ofthe GR®42via Boyon and Plot.
Explanation: Since 2019: "You can no longer take the track on the right (= former route ofthe GR®42), which avoids the winding road, as it is private property belonging to the Conservatoire de la faune et flore des Costières du Rhône (Rhône River Coast Wildlife Conservation Society)! All access points are blocked by gates." This section of the trail is therefore now closed. You must follow the road or go via Boyon and Plot (=GR®42).
(7) Continue to the left and go to a hairpin bend. Please note: just before this bend, leave theGR® on the left.
(8) At the hairpin bend, take the dirt track on the right, which is a continuation of the tarmac road. Follow this track, which passes under a small house and joins a crossroads about 100 m further on.
(9) Look for a path that descends straight ahead into the woods, below and to the right of a meadow (if you arrive at the hamlet of Marco, turn back because you have missed this path!).
Descend this path (some steep and slippery sections / walking sticks strongly recommended / approx. 100 m of tricky descent). You will then arrive at the top of the vineyards, above the only house in this area (Lodge).
(10) Follow the winding track, which will take you back to the bottom of the valley without any problems. You will then find yourself back on the tarmac road at the start of the hike. Follow it to the left to return to the starting point (S/E).
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