Wednesday 30th March 2011 Marchampt, France

This was a 10 mile (to be confirmed) walk done in about 3 hours 20 minutes with Geoff while we were staying at the house in Marchampt. We started from the house on Rue du Moulin and started walking the road up to the Col de la Croix de Rosier (D72), past the end of the garden and up, up, up... Marchampt is at 370 metres and the highest point we'd make is 678 metres.

Marchampt

We walked along vine covered fields but noticed that some had become neglected or even had the vines ripped out. Apparently a mixture of EEC subsidies (to encourage less wine growing) and the lack of young folks going into the fields has meant that the number of hectares under vines has decreased somewhat over the last 10 years. However, there were plenty on our route up and we quickly went through the hamlets of Carreyve, Les Michollets and Le Rajon going gradually uphill all of the way. 

We were heading to a point on the road at about 5 kilometres from Marchampt where a track into the woods opens out. This has been a very popular walk with visitors but we always drive and park rather than walk. Geoff and I persevered and climbed uphill leaving the vines and  and with woods either side of the road. We had at least one false alarm when we spotted tell tale bollards indicating the familiar bend in the road and the track we were looking for. 


Eventually we found the track, left the D72 and went into the woods towards the viewpoint at the top of a hill that we knew very well. We came out of the woods, admiring the view towards Lyon and went on the the peak with great views over the Beaujolais and the valley below where we had come up. Geoff took the traditional photos and we then proceeded uphill a little on a GR (Grande Randonnee) walking and VTT (Velo Tout Terain) cycling track before taking a left turn towards the Cret de l'Oiseau. 

Chateau de Varenne

We kept left and then started downhill through trees and bushes towards the road at Cherieux. 


The path was well defined and was now downhill all the way, making knees ache, especially on the loose stone path. We then made a few 'virages' to arrive at a great view of the Chateau de Varenne which of course had to be photographed.

Brett in 'full flow'

We quickly reached the road and made a left for the farmhouse and hamlet at La Salle before turning right and along another familiar track through vines, River Samsons on the right, to the house where Brett had spent a torrid time cooking dinner!




Sorry no maps, Quo (my digital mapping app) does not have access to IGN French OS maps yet - maybe this summer! 

More Marchampt photos...