Val de Sioule
Val de Sioule
The Colettes forest, recognized as one of the most beautiful beech forests in Europe, is a privileged place of relaxation and refuge for many plant and animal species.
After a short descent towards the ponds of the Mas, a small road climbs towards the isolated farm of the same name. A grassy path leads to the forest where you gradually climb a 2 km long track to the road to Villard-les-Bois, a former hamlet of clog makers. A small road then plunges down to the beautiful curved viaduct of the Perrière masonry with local granite. The mountain biker then sets out on one of the region's emblematic paths: the path of the lovers. Overhanging the stream of the Plain, this path in balcony, under a beautiful beech grove, leads the hiker in a romantic setting to the Coutansouze washhouse (picnic tables). After a short steep slope, the climb continues on good forest tracks for 4 km to the forest house of Charezat. Here begins the kingdom of conifers on a site formerly exploited for its kaolin (small ponds bear witness to this mining past). At La Bosse (highest point of the Colettes forest at 720 m), the circuit, well rolling, allows you to return to the forest house of Charezat. A path then descends towards Croix-des-Bois and towards the isolated house of Combacholle. The stop is necessary not far under the imposing Saint-Louis oak, before descending into the Veauce valley. At 3.8 km, you have to cross the stream on an old stone bridge
- the Pont Neuf - built in the past for a road project that never saw the light of day. On the way up, the balcony path offers an atmosphere of a wild valley. The track widens and you have to play with the handlebars here to slalom between the holes (often filled with water) that handicap the smooth ride of the mountain bike. Towards a chain, the path branches off to the left for a good climb of 1.7 km. From one road to another, the path plunges into a new forest. The road crossed, the path becomes narrower and allows to end the course on a note
spicy in a succession of small ascents and descents.
Type
Free of charge.
All year round.
