Amions offers several starting points for a trip focused on walking or cycling: the Cluny–Le Puy-en-Velay branch of the Way of St. James passes through the village, and a section of the La forêt de Bas circular trail is marked near Amions. The distance and duration of this circular walk are specified; by contrast, the Mad Jacques cycling route places Amions on its second day between Roanne and Montbrison. The Forêt de Bas adds a more detailed forest landscape to the routes.
Walking the Way of St. James and the circular trail
The Way of St. James is a walking route marked by the GR65 and numerous variants. Its Cluny–Le Puy-en-Velay branch passes through Amions. If you choose Amions with the Way of St. James in mind, you can associate the village with a named branch of the route. The La forêt de Bas circular trail offers another planning reference: it is a standalone circular walk with a stated difficulty level, distance, and duration.
The La forêt de Bas circular trail is an easy 9.5-kilometre walk lasting three hours. These details provide a clear timeframe and distance for the outing. When planning your day, you can use the three hours as a starting point and add breaks or other activities according to your own pace. The easy rating applies to the walk described and not automatically to other routes in the area.
The Forêt de Bas as a landscape and habitat
The Forêt de Bas covers about 500 hectares and is one of the few remaining large forest areas on the Forez plain. It consists mainly of pedunculate oaks, along with other oak stands and areas of Scots pine. This means the forest landscape can be described not only by its area but also by the tree species mentioned. It offers a distinct focus alongside choosing a particular route.
The Forêt de Bas provides a refuge for bats, including serotine bats and greater mouse-eared bats, as well as numerous bird species, including the red kite. The forest is therefore also a specific point of interest as a habitat. A section of the La forêt de Bas circular trail is marked near Amions and leads along a forest path into the Forêt de Bas. On this walk, the route and the forest landscape are directly connected.
Cycling route and transport history
As an alternative to the walking routes, the Mad Jacques cycling route passes through Amions on its second day between Roanne and Montbrison. It follows the Route des Vins Forez-Roannais en Loire Volcanique. The day number places Amions within the route; this differs from the specific three-hour duration of the La forêt de Bas circular trail. This gives you a choice between a walk with a stated duration and a cycling route that lists Amions as a stop on a particular day.
Another facet of the village’s history is the former Roanne–Boën Tacot railway line, which served Amions. It adds a history of earlier transport to today’s walking and cycling themes, without being described as a current transport service. Together, the routes and the forest landscape offer different reasons to consider Amions as a destination: a pilgrimage route, a clearly measured walk, a stage of the Mad Jacques, or the Forêt de Bas as a habitat.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Nizier-De-Fornas, Marcenod, Savigneux, Saint-Galmier, Saint-Médard-en-Forez, Noirétable, Firminy, Juré.
For the regional travel overview: Loire.
