Cormet d'Arêches - Beaufort

From the village of Aime the actual starting altitude is 690m not 740m. There is no ""through road"" so that means very little traffic. The scenery along the Tarantaise valley and across the valley to La Plagne is spectacular. The route is lined with vineyards lower down and then walnut trees higher up. Just above Granier you pass the single small ski lift belonging to the town, then after a small steep section there is a short descent then the hard work begins as it gets steep taking you up through the trees and eventually out into the open at Laval. Cars can be parked here too and that can be useful if you want to use this place as a starting point for other high altitude adventures. Form Laval you need to be on a mountain bike because the road changes from tarmac to stone chips. It stays like that right up to the top. At the top it is flat and if the weather is right it is a good place for a picnic. Slightly before the top there is a manned refuge when food or refreshments can be bought.

My personal climb rating: