Entre Bocages et Forêts

From Saint-Igny-de-Roche, leave the church on your left and go up into the village, passing the school on the left, the village hall and the town hall on the right. Then turn right in the direction of Le Montet. On the left you can see the town of Chauffailles, the capital of the canton.

The walk is quiet and pleasant through the bocage. at "Au Montet" turn left in the direction of point N°2 "Les Lards" and go up slowly in the woods and you will discover surprising landscapes on the woods of Belmont-de-la-Loire. You are at the "Mont des Lards", the highest point at 567 m.

Continue to the place called "les Suires" where the landscape is magnificent between fields of culture and fir woods, the view radiates to the Monts du Forez. At point N°3 " Point IGN N°514 m " turn right and continue your hike through secret valleys to finally arrive on a large plateau reserved for breeding, bordered by fir woods, facing the village of Coublanc.

Go down to the left after crossing a farm. There you can see the quarries still in activity. At the stop sign you are on the D81, point N°4 " Etang de Cadolon " turn right along the pond, the stream l'Aaron flows into this pond and loses an "a" in it because when it comes out it becomes a river and is called l'Aron. Pass in front of the castle, the mansion of the "Société cotonnière de Cadolon" and the old weaving mills. Created in the 19th century, the Cadolon cotton mill employed around 1856, 250 to 300 workers including children.

Enter the hamlet of Cadolon, point N°5, at the traffic light cross, turn right and continue; the path makes you discover a very different landscape of hedgerows and pastures. On the right you will see a sculpture representing the holy family mounted and blessed on August 15, 1875. At the next intersection, turn right. At the end of the road turn right onto the small road and enter the Vert Pré wood, point N°6. Cross the river Aron. A break will be necessary at the recently restored Vernes washhouse.

Turn left in the direction of the place called "les Tronchères", point N°7 continue until "la Garenne" turn right to return to the village of Saint Igny de Roche. There, pass the manor of the Van De Walle family built after 1900 in a neo-gothic style.