Beffay: chapel, river and trails in Le Petit-Bornand (Glières-Val-de-Borne)

Beffay is a hamlet of Le Petit-Bornand-les-Glières, by the Borne river, downstream from the village. It is 2 km from the campsite as the crow flies, but on the other bank: by road you have to go round, a little under 5 km. On foot, the easiest way is to follow the hamlet trail, on which Beffay is a stop after Morat.

On the hamlet trail

The trail comes down from Morat to Beffay, at 730 m, about 1 hr 25 after leaving the village centre. The hamlet's signposts, "Beffay d'en bas" and "Beffay d'en haut", carry the colours specific to this loop. The trail then passes the chapel, crosses the Borne and climbs back towards Saxias and Le Villard.

The Sainte-Renée chapel

The small Beffay chapel, beside the trail, is known as the Sainte-Renée chapel. It dates from 1880; it is a private chapel and cannot be visited. You admire it from the path.

The river and the dam

Beffay has an EDF water intake on the Borne. Downstream of this kind of structure, the flow can rise suddenly, even in fine weather: EDF advises staying on the banks. Don't settle in the riverbed below the dam. One of the hamlet's signposts reads "Vers les Bains" (towards the baths), and the guide mentions sulphur springs along the route; we are still looking into their story.

For experienced walkers

Above Beffay, along the Sambuis forest road, a waymarked path climbs to the Pointe de Sur Cou, a 1,809 m summit topped by a cross. It is a demanding hike, and a snowshoe outing in winter. In the same area, the Sambuis canyon is for experienced canyoners only, preferably with a professional guide.

From the campsite

The nicest way is on foot along the hamlet trail, taking a break at Morat. If you drive, park considerately: it is a lived-in hamlet, not a hikers' car park.