Walks and hikes Hiking circuits

A hike through small villages in Bugey, meadows and woods. Expect a good climb to the summit of Les Rochettes, but you will be rewarded by the exceptional panorama over the Rhône valley.

If this trail can be demanding, it takes you through wild nature and bucolic landscapes. And the view from the heights of Souclin is a reward worthy of the effort.

At the car park opposite the fire department, walk along the stadium keeping it on your left. On the left at the corner with Avenue Charles de Gaulles. Then take the first right, facing the skatepark (chemin des roches). (1) After approximately 300m, a path goes down to the right (at an electricity pylon) marked by a cycle path sign.

Continue straight until crossing the D60b (route de Chartreuse). Take the continuation of the greenway opposite. Continue straight, crossing the Grande Rue (D122) continue on the greenway opposite. Continue in a straight line until you cross the road to the port, at the entrance to the village of St-Sorlin-en-Bugey.

(2) Variant via the village of St-Sorlin-en-Bugey (visit time not taken into account in this itinerary): turn left onto port road. Take the climb to the church, up to the church. Go back down via the Place de la Halle (view going up), take the big descent towards the Areymont washhouse. Continue along Chemin de la Durandière (continuation of the route without visiting the village).(3)

Take the opposite direction, always between the houses and the fields. We find the cycle path which passes away from the village of St-Sorlin-en-Bugey (view of the bell tower) and emerges at the Château de la Durandière. Walk along the main road for a few meters and take immediately right after the castle (at the village exit sign) onto Chemin de la Durandière (3). Straight ahead until the intersection with Viarhôna (4).

Turn right and straight ahead along the Rhône until you arrive at the Viarhôna car park, close to the national road. Cross the road towards the path opposite with the wooden barriers (be careful!). Passage between stream and fields until the bridge then the path forms a bend which leads back to the left. Turn right at the intersection with Rue du Moulin des Buis. After a few meters, at a dead end sign, take the path closed by stones and continue, keeping the stream on your left (5). Then follow the pedestrian markings (red and white) which turn right into the Lagnieu landscaped park (south entrance) (6). Cross the park by the path of your choice (along the stream, or by taking the paths towards the tennis courts) (7)

Hike on well-shaded forest paths. Going up to the Bramafan orientation table, you will discover a wide panorama over the plain of the Ain and the Rhône. Beautiful historic residences are on the way, enough to combine nature and heritage.

Departure rue de Bramafan, in Lagnieu, at the corner with rue de Bulliez.



At the level of the castle of Bulliez (very beautiful private residence), the sign indicates the Bramafan 1h15 on foot (exact time for average walking speed. The path climbs continuously up to the Bramafan or almost.)

Follow the street to the end.

We pass the Pavilion: the beautiful private residence to which we must take the stony path to the left of the gate to continue the walk.

Straight up to the fork in the woods.



At the fork of the Pavilion (totem mark), turn left towards Bramafan (follow the small sign - X Leave direction St Sorlin on the right)

Follow the yellow markings to the "Pressandre" totem



At "Pressandre" turn right as indicated.

From there the markup is red and white (GR®59) direction Bramafan 1km and St Sorlin Bessey 3.5km



At the "Embarcade" totem two choices:

1/ turn right according to the indication "Croix de Bramafan" (10 min)

Raidillon a little slippery depending on the season (optional option, access to the panorama and orientation table)

Then go back down to the pier totem and continue



2/Follow the markings without going up to the panorama

At the pier totem follow the white and red markings, always in the direction of Bessey



Once you have arrived at the Bessey farm (very beautiful private Renaissance farm), the markings turn yellow and red (FF de pays GR® de pays Beaujolais Bugey par la Dombes), descend to the right by the small path.



Once you get to the road, be careful when crossing it to take the opposite road.



At the next totem turn right towards St Sorlin 1km.



You arrive above the church along the ruins of the Château de Cuchet (XNUMXth century), follow the markings and cross the village by climbing up the church (you go along the cemetery, on the right facing the gate, public WCs open from spring to fall).



We pass along the church then in front of the house of the fresco of St Christopher (XNUMXth century)



At the bakery/town hall, turn right to the Collonges washhouse (explanatory plaque for this beautiful historic monument).



At the washhouse, turn right on rue de Pallières - follow the signs to the route de la Chartreuse D60b



Turn left along the road for 600m (be careful passing vehicles but wide lane)



Turn right onto the greenway (cycle path on the right)

Follow her to the end



Then turn left onto Chemin des Roches (follow the bike signage on the ground for 200m) to Grande rue de Bulliez, to the right, to the starting point (600m).

A natural curiosity of Ain, in the heart of Bugey, the Buizin vats are more or less deep pots. On the trail, a series of waterfalls makes this hike in the undergrowth pleasant. To be done in mid-season to take advantage of the water basins.

A hike almost entirely in the undergrowth, ideal for the spring and autumn periods. A perfect trail to enjoy the coolness of the forest, wild flowers along the way and especially a walk along the water. Beautiful light, pretty landscapes pierced through the foliage and above all perfect tranquillity. Only the birds and the breeze will accompany you to the tanks and their waterfall...

A rather easy walk, although some steep slopes and river crossings. Ideal to enjoy it with friends without very young children and hikers in good physical shape.

On the way back, a gourmet break is a must in the village of Vaux-en-Bugey to taste the wines made on site.

The great tour of the village which will take you from the banks of the Rhône to a viewpoint on the river, to the Rocher de la Cra, passing by the charming chapel of St-Léger. The daring will go through the meanders of the Rhône, the old bed of the river.

From Point-Vert, follow the Rhône upstream, heading south. Cross the La Pernaz river. We then arrive at the confluence of the Rhône with another river, La Brivaz. Take before this confluence, on the left, a small paved road which goes towards the hamlet of Les Granges. Follow it for about 250 meters then turn left on a stony path towards Serrières. When you reach the "rue du Verger", turn right to the D19, then left. Cross the village of Serrières towards the North until the junction with the D32 which leads to Bénonces. In the bend of the D32, take on the left the stony path of the Cra until the EDF pylon (viewpoint on the blue valley and the Green Point).

Turn around and come back the same way for about 700 meters. Take a path on the right in the undergrowth bordered by walls with small stairs witnessing old vines. Follow this path until the D19. Follow it north for 200 meters then turn left on a flat path towards the Rhône.

Pass at the foot of the ruins of the Chapelle St-Léger located on a promontory (this chapel was formerly on the opposite bank of the Rhône) then reach Point-Vert by the dike on the edge of the Rhône.

On the way back, it is possible to cross by the meanders of the Rhône, educational trails dedicated to the fauna and flora of this former bed of the river. NB: no markings in connection with the Serrière tour hike, only explanatory panels along the way.

A hike for regulars starting from the banks of the Rhône to climb to the cliffs overlooking Villebois, with stops at the Virgin of Chateland for the panoramic view and the rocks of the Cra (cliffs, caution).

From the Green Point, go up the Rhône towards the south for about 500 m. Take a sandy path to the left. Go under high voltage lines. At the crossroads with a paved road, turn left and go up towards the village by rue du Dauphiné and rue du Center to the town hall.

Cross the RD19 and take the rue du Canal to the church (1964th-32th century, restored in XNUMX), walk along the building by the road which goes up to the RDXNUMX, cross it and take a path which goes up to right of the water tank.
Go past old quarries and continue to climb. Take a path in the undergrowth on the left which goes to the Virgin of Chateland (panoramic view).

After about 200 m, turn right, follow the path that climbs and winds up to the plateau on the Cra rocks.
In this sector, pay attention to the rock faults: do not leave the path.

By a pasture (close the fence), you reach a wide path, turn left to point C where you leave on the right the marked path of the rock of Cuny. The markup turns green. After about a hundred meters of a fairly steep descent, take a very steep path to the left (steps carved into the earth), descend through the woods, pass near a spring, then follow the stony path to the hamlet of la Carria where we find the blue markup.
Take a path on the left which descends to the paved road, follow left for 200 m, then take the path on the right to the Rhône (Pompière farm). Go up the river to the Green Point.