Saint-Martin-en-Haut lives up to its name, which means St Martin on the heights. Aveize and the old hamlets of the area sit among meadows and orchards, and the whole region is unexpectedly rural, though it lies less than an hour from the city.
The ride here began at Lac du Bourget, far to the east, so it ends on a different note. These hills have no famous passes, but the roads are among the best in the region: they climb and dip in long, steady bends, crossing ridges that give wide views, and the surface is generally smooth. Traffic is light, except on summer Sundays when Lyonnais cyclists take over. In winter the heights can be cold and icy, and fog is frequent, so the best seasons are late spring and early autumn.
The Monts du Lyonnais are known for farming. Orchards of cherries, apricots and apples cover the slopes, and goat cheese and charcuterie are sold at village shops. The area was once a centre for weaving silk at home, and a number of old stone houses with large windows, built for looms, survive. Old chapels and calvaries stand on many hilltops.
The nearest large town is Mornant, eleven kilometres away, with a market and stations, though Saint-Martin itself has a small centre with a baker and a bar. Fuel should be taken in Mornant or Lyon before climbing into the hills. For rest, the village has a pleasant square and some benches, and several viewpoints along the road offer a place to sit.
As the finishing point of a Bourget loop, it is a calm and pastoral one, with a good view back over the Rhône valley as the light fades.