Walking in the Haute Savoie: North. Janette Norton

Gaby/la Croisette to a gap in the fence 2. Go through onto a grassy path, which goes left and back along the top of the Salève parallel to the D41A road. There are detours to the right that are worth taking to get good views of the dramatic Grande Gorge, which dissects the north face of the mountain, and the lake and town of Geneva on the plain below. You are now on the long-distance Balcon du Léman for a short stretch.

      After a few minutes you meet the road again briefly before bearing off to the right at a signpost ‘Sur la Grande Gorge – alt. 1250m’. Follow signs to la Croisette and, still keeping near the road, go round the top of the Grande Gorge and continue straight to reach a stone balustrade and a signpost at Sur le Charrot, with more views over Geneva and the Jet d’Eau (1hr 20min).

      Continue in the direction of Alpes des Crêtes/Panorama sur les Alpes/Croisette par les alpages. The grassy track goes across pastures through a fence and up, following a further fence on the left. Continue straight on at the signpost, making for a TV aerial and a windsock on the horizon ahead left. In springtime, watch for the many skylarks hovering in the air, recognisable by their melodious cry, streaked brown plumage, long wings and white-edged tails. Keep straight through the fence at a green gate, past a fenced-off area for paragliders over on the right. As you draw parallel to the windsock, which is up on a hump to the left, the path forks right and descends to the road through a green gate at a hairpin bend. Continue straight down and a few minutes later you regain the D41A at 1. Turn right and retrace your steps to la Croisette (2hr).

      Mont Blanc from the top of the Salève

WALK 3