Walking in the Brianconnais

Walk in the Briançonnais and discover one of the French Alps' most rewarding yet lesser-known mountain regions, where five spectacular valleys radiate out from the historic fortress town of Briançon through landscapes of snow-capped peaks, wildflower meadows, sparkling alpine lakes, and ancient hill forts. With a milder climate than the northern Alps and a wealth of quiet paths, the Briançonnais is a region ripe for discovery.

Suitable for walkers of all abilities, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook describes 40 circular walks around Briançon, covering the valleys of Clarée, Cerveyrette, Ayes, Durance, and Guisane, as well as the magnificent alpine landscapes around Vallouise and Montgenèvre. Routes range from 4 to 21km and take between 1.5 and 7 hours to complete, with walks graded from easy to very hard.

• Choose from 40 circular walks in the Briançonnais, exploring five stunning valleys and the high mountain terrain around Vallouise and Montgenèvre, with routes taking in alpine lakes, historic hill forts, flower-filled pastures, and some of the finest ridge walking in the southern French Alps.
• Plan your Briançonnais walking holiday for the ideal season, with guidance on local conditions showing why mid-June to the end of September offers the best walking weather, when high cols and peaks are clear of snow and the valleys are at their most beautiful.
• Benefit from clear grading and detailed route descriptions for every walk in the Briançonnais, with routes rated from easy to very hard, 1:50,000 maps included for each route, and practical information covering distance, walking time, and terrain to help you choose routes suited to your ability.
• Find practical holiday planning advice for the Briançonnais, with notes on the best bases including Briançon, Névache, Le Monêtier-les-Bains, and Vallouise, plus comprehensive information on accommodation, food and drink, getting there, and getting around the region.
• Deepen your experience of the Briançonnais with sections on the region's geology, history, wildlife, plants and flowers, and the fascinating network of historic hill forts that punctuate the high ground around Briançon.

Plan your French Alps walking adventure with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. Immerse yourself in the wild valleys, high peaks, and alpine landscapes of the Briançonnais, one of the southern French Alps' most beautiful and accessible walking destinations.

Seasons

From May to October. Some high peaks and cols will be snow-covered until late June and the main walking season therefore runs from the middle/end of June to the end of September.

Centres

Briançon, La Grave, Le Monetier-les-Bains, Montgenèvre, Névache, Vallouise

Difficulty

All abilities are catered for. Walks from 1½ to 7hrs graded easy, medium, hard or very hard.

Must See

5 stunning valleys around Briançon - Clarée, Cerveyrette, Ayes, Durance and Guisane; magnificent Alpine landscapes around Vallouise and Montgenèvre; beautiful peaks, lakes and valleys; historic hill forts.

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Valleys of the Briançonnais and Montgenèvre

History

Wildlife

Pastous

Plants and flowers

Getting there

Getting around

Weather

When to go

Where to base yourself

Accommodation

Safety

Food and drink

Via ferrata

What to take

Maps

Using this guide

Clarée Valley

Walk 1 Col de Dormillouse

Walk 2 Fort de l’Olive and Fort de Lenlon

Walk 3 Col des Thures

Walk 4 Lac Noir

Walk 5 Refuge de Buffère by the Côte Rouge

Walk 6 Pic du Lac Blanc, Lac Laramon and Lac du Serpent

Walk 7 Col des Muandes

Walk 8 Tour of the Massif des Cerces

Montgenèvre

Walk 9 Le Chenaillet

Walk 10 Fort du Gondran

Walk 11 Mont Chaberton

Cerveyrette Valley

Walk 12 Alp du Pied

Walk 13 Fort de la Lausette and the Peygus

Walk 14 Col de Bousson

Walk 15 Lac des Cordes

Ayes Valley

Walk 16 Lac du Plan Vallon

Walk 17 Col des Ayes

Walk 18 Fort de la Croix de Bretagne and la Grande Maye

Walk 19 Lac de l’Orceyrette

Durance Valley

Walk 20 Lac Palluel and Lac Faravel

Walk 21 Lac de Fangeas

Walk 22 Dormillouse High Circuit

Walk 23 Crête de la Rortie

Walk 24 La Grande Cabane

Walk 25 La Blanche

Walk 26 Chapelle St Hippolyte

Walk 27 Croix de la Salcette

Walk 28 Cime de la Condamine

Walk 29 La Croix d’Aquila

Guisane Valley

Walk 30 Briançon and Fort des Salettes

Walk 31 La Croix de Toulouse

Walk 32 Circuit of le Grand Area

Walk 33 La Grande Peyrolle by the Crête de Peyrolle

Walk 34 Grand Lac de l’Oule

Walk 35 La Cime des Conchiers

Walk 36 Lac de Combeynot

Walk 37 Les Arêtes de la Bruyère

Walk 38 L’Aiguillette du Lauzet Circuit

Walk 39 Lacs du Glacier d’Arsine

Walk 40 Plateau d’Emparis

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Hill forts

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Bibliography and further reading