An Autumn Walk near Nyon - "Une Bonne Balade"

Over the past few weeks I have been sent lots of great suggestions for topics to add to this site. These have varied from information on child care, to walks in the area, to a list of Nyon estate agents who speak English, and many more other ideas. So I shall add all these in the coming weeks, thankyou for the suggestions and do keep them coming. As the Monday holiday was such a beautiful day, I decided it was a perfect opportunity to start on one of those ideas by going on one of the many walks near Nyon, and then writing it up for the site. The Jura looks particularly spectacular in Autumn, and the leaves on the trees have only just started to change colour, so this local walk is going to be particularly good in the next few weeks. It's an easy walk. It involves taking the "Red Train" from Nyon to La Givrine, walking for around 8 km to Les Fruitières de Nyon, and then to St Cergue from where you can take the train back to Nyon. The walk takes in forest paths, track, field, farms and a great view of the "Arc Lemanique" from the three-quarters-mark viewpoint. If you time it right, you can also buy fresh cheese from the farm shop en route and perhaps get to see the cows being herded in for milking (see photo at the top). The bext map for this walk is the Carte D'excursion 260T which covers "St Cergue/Vallée du Joux/La Dôle and La Côte. You can buy these maps in most major bookshops. The walk has good signs all the way - look out for the yellow sign posts or markings on the rocks or trees. Otherwise try and follow this explanation...

Take the little red train from Nyon to La Givrine. Here's the link to the train timetable. This is a great little train if you have never been on it before. It climbs up though some pretty villages and ends up over the border in La Cure in France. The train is used by commuters to Nyon during the week, and then walkers, families and mountain bikers at the weekends and holidays.

La Givrine is 16 stops from Nyon and it's a "request" stop, which means you have to press this button on the train (see photo below) to let the driver know you want to descend.

Once you are in La Givrine, head off immediately up hill away from the tracks, and to the left of this notice board.

After 100 metres there is a sign pointing to the right directing you to St Cergue. Carry on along this forest road for about 2.5 km. This forest road will take you past lots of trees and piles of Spruce and Birch logs waiting to be transported. Good to see that the wood in these forests is FSC certified wood. (see photo)

After about 2.5 km you will come to a tarmac road. Turn left. You will see this sign: Les Fruitieres is the name of the farm you are aiming for.

At the top of the rise, turn right to the farm that is on the top of the hill. A great view beckons. Go past some drystone walls

Past the cows

and up to the farm where you can buy cheese as long as the farmer is not having a siesta (13:30-16:00)

Fresh Tomme cheese

Here you will come out on a spectacular view. The day this was taken, there was quite a bit a cloud hanging over the Alps, but on a completely clear day, the vista is stunning.

Now head off to the left of the farm, past the pigs in their pen, past farm machinery and through a metal turnstile, down a farmtrack (rather overgrown with grass) in the direction of Lausanne in the distance. After a kilometre you will leave the pasture, go through a forest and back into a pasture.

Past the faded sign which indicates the height and age of two of the three trees standing in the background. One is three hundred years old, the other a young thing at just two hundred!

Follow the road, turning left downhill before eventually coming to this sign below.

Here you need to turn right towards St Cergue. You will start to see chalets on the road.

Above. Back at St Cergue Station. If you don't want to go back to Nyon straight away, there are places you can eat in St Cergue, and 400 metres up from the station is a restaurant called Basse Ruche where you can have a fondue (instead of the final turn left down the hill into St Cergue, turn right to go back up the hill). I've never been here so can't report back. If you go, let me know what's its like. Une bonne balade = A good walk Please note. These directions are as accurate as I can make them, but things do change, woodpiles, cows and sometimes even signs get moved! Best to get a map to be 100% sure you are on the right track.