Walking in the Brianconnais. Andrew McCluggage

      Andrew McCluggage was born in Northern Ireland, where he lives with his wife and two children. A hill-walking and mountain biking fanatic, he spends a large part of his time in the Briançonnais. After two decades as a corporate lawyer, he decided to do something more interesting and wrote this book.

      © Andrew McCluggage 2018

      First edition 2018

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 888 0

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.

       Route mapping by Lovell Johns www.lovelljohns.com

      Contains OpenStreetMap.org data © OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA. NASA relief data courtesy of ESRI

       The routes of the GR®, PR® and GRP® paths in this guide have been reproduced with the permission of the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre holder of the exclusive rights of the routes. The names GR®, PR® and GRP® are registered trademarks. © FFRP 2018 for all GR®, PR® and GRP® paths appearing in this work.

      Acknowledgements

      Primarily thanks must go to my wife, Olive, with whom I have shared hundreds of days in the mountains. If it was not for her support and hard work looking after our children, this book would never have been written. Thanks also to the people in the Vallouise Valley who have warmly welcomed us into their fold, and in particular to Pierrette Saint-Lebe, our French guardian angel, for her generosity, friendship and advice. The Bankes family also deserve a mention for their generosity and for introducing us to the Briançonnais in the first place. Finally thanks to our two beautiful children, who put a smile on our faces even on the worst of days.

      Front cover: A magical vista near les Arêtes de la Bruyère (Walk 37)

      CONTENTS

       Map key

       Overview map

       Mountain safety

       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