Price
ON SALE
Share this trip with a friend
From
From IntroductoryTo Challenging
Facing the Alps across the broad valley of the Rhone lies a walker’s paradise of hills where the Ardeche, Loire and Haute Loire regions meet. This is a watershed for some of France’s great rivers, a land of steeply terraced slopes, half-hidden valleys and tumbling streams, largely absent from the guidebooks. Massive ruined farmhouses seem to have grown from the landscape and the bleat of goats and call of a wild bird are often the only sounds you will hear.
From the first walk at Le Crestet take an ancient drove road, partly through orchards, to the market town of Lamastre, set amongst hills covered with ancient chestnut trees of enormous girth. Turn north now and climb to the old spa-town of Lalouvesc, perched at 1100m above the Rhone valley, with views East as far as the snow-covered Alps on a clear day. Skirting the Haut-Vivarais, looking down on tiny red-roofed hamlets clinging to steep grassy slopes, continue to the hill-village of St. Bonnet le Froid; then south through fields yellow with wild daffodils in late spring and orchids in early summer, skirting the Lac de Devesset (good for a possible dip on a warm day) to St Agreve. Set against the backdrop of Mt. Mezenc & Mt. Gerbier de Jonc, the source of the mighty Loire River, this small market town is a centre for cross-country skiing in winter. Its narrow main street is crammed with old-fashioned shops, selling Le Puy lentils and Rhone wine from the barrel. This 8-day circular walk then goes south past the mighty, ruined Chateau de Rochebonne overlooking the River Eyrieux. Continue to the narrow valley town of St. Martin de Valamas and then back to St. Agreve. On the way back to Lamastre, the circuit goes west along an ancient mule-road, the “Voie des Marchands”, with breathtaking views of the meticulously terraced slopes of the Haut Vivarais to the north.
Read 6 reviews
More info about grading system
14kg of CO2-e PP per day
(96kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)
Expand all | Collapse all
Day 1
Arrive Lamastre
Arrive at your hotel in Lamastre, a quiet market town in the heart of the Ardeche region. The area is accessible by rail and bus from Lyon and Paris. Accommodation: Lamastre - You spend 2 nights at the long-established family-run Hotel des Negociants (**Logis) in a quiet shady corner near the center of the small market town of Lamastre. Situated opposite the old railway station, stay in comfortable rooms with ensuite facilities. Excellent dinner is served in the conservatory-style dining room above the small swimming pool.
Meals: D
Day 2
Le Crestet to Lamastre 14 km/8.6 miles, 4h
Your days starts with a short taxi journey (included) to Le Crestet. You then climb out of the village on a waymarked trail through orchards into wooded hills. The shady path follows an ancient drove road, where flocks would be transferred to the summer pastures in days gone by. Ascent 531m/Descent 600m
Meals: B,D
Day 3
Lamastre to Lalouvesc 23 km/14 miles, 7h
Views back over Lamastre as you climb out of the valley on a well-graded path. At around lunch time you arrive at the pretty village of Nozieres. Further woodland and field walking brings you to the Col de Buisson from where there is a steep ascent up onto a long open whaleback ridge before a final forest walk into Lalouvesc. There are glimpses into steep little valleys and views across towards the Alps on a clear day. Ascent 1138m/Descent 426m Accommodation: Lalouvesc is perched at an altitude of 1100m and enjoys splendid views across the Rhone Valley to the distant Alps. Our simple walker’s hotel (*) Hotel des Voyageurs has ensuite facilities. It is located in the main street of this old spa town. The Patron, M.Guironnet, is a welcoming host and you will eat well in the 1950’s décor of the large dining room.
Day 4
Lalouvesc to St Bonnet le Froid 18 km/11 miles, 4.5h
Steep terraced slopes fall away to the South as you descend into a wooded valley, and the views are particularly good from the church at St. Pierre du Doux, an excellent spot for a picnic, you then have a climb through forest to the pretty village of St. Bonnet where the normal hotel is a couple of kilometers out. Ascent 723m/Descent 676m Accommodation: St Bonnet-le Froid - You enter the department of Haute-Loire tonight, you spend the night in an old country farmhouse the Auberge des Myrtilles that has been restored and sits in the heart of nature. The restaurant offers traditional cuisine based on local products.
Day 5
St Bonnet-le-Froid to St Agreve 22 km/13.5 miles, 6h
A lightly undulating day in woodland and high open country past Lac de Devesset to St Agreve (pop 2723) at 1050m under Mt. Chiniac There are some great views when it is clear. You can extend the walk slightly by visiting the holy spring. Ascent 314m/Descent 371m Accommodation: St.Agreve - We spend 2 nights at the Hotel Le Bois Sauvage. It is set in one acre of wooded park,between the upper Doux Valley, the Eyrieux Valley and the Haut-Lignon Plateau.
Day 6
St Agrève to St Martin de Valamas taxi back to St Agrève 12 km/7.4 miles, 5h
This is a stunning walk to the village of St Martin de Valamas taking in the amazing views from the ruins of the Chateau de Rochebonne which are not to be missed. Taxi back to St Agrève (included). Ascent 284m/Descent 769m
Day 7
St. Agrève to Lamastre 23 km/14 miles, 6h
Leaving the high plain of St. Agreve by small paths you join an ancient mule-road, whose paved causeway can still be seen. The old village of Desaignes is worth exploring, then the trail follows the high ground overlooking the valley of Doux before dropping to the river to regain Lamastre. Ascent 422m/Descent 1083m Accommodation: Lamastre and the Hotel des Negociants.
Day 8
Arrangements end after breakfast
Depart Lamastre after breakfast
Meals: B
What's included
What's not included
The tour is graded moderate (Grade 3); the terrain is not difficult but there are some ascents and descents. Fitness: The walking should present no difficulty to anyone in good general health who is accustomed to hiking.
Per Person, Twin Share
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
|
We offer different levels of accommodation and comfort so that even the most budget conscious can treat themselves to active holidays on Europe's most celebrated tracks and trails. Our trips are great value for money because you only pay for what you want.
Our wide range of self-guided itineraries embody the UTracks philosophy of exploring Europe your way. We handle the logistics so all that's left for you to do is enjoy exploring Europe at your own pace. Most depart daily with a minimum of two people, meaning maximum flexibility.
With close to 400 trips in almost 50 countries, including the largest range of bike & boat holidays in Europe, we're confident that we can organise an Alps walk, Camino de Santiago or Via Francigena experience, Food Lovers' trip or a tour in a lesser-known pocket of Europe that you will love.
6Days
Introductory to Moderate
8Days
Moderate
4Days