dossier
The Cevennes
Travel Information
First hotel:In Le Puy-en-Velay, about 5 minutes walk from the train station.
Travel: Scheduled flights to Paris are available frommost regional airports with onwardconnection to Lyon by air or TGV high speed train. There is now a direct TGVtrain service from Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport to Lyon.
Nearest Airport: Lyon. You should plan to take a morning flight. On arrivaltake the airport shuttle bus to Lyon Part Dieu station (not Perrache station)which takes 30 minutes. The best train toaim for is the TGV at 14:15 which will get you to St Etienne at 15:16, whereyou change for Le Puy departing at 16:05 arriving at 17:17. You willreceive up-to-date train times for your date of travel, or alternatively youcan visit Rail Europe's website at www.raileurope.comor call toll free 1-800-848-7245.
Alternative airport: Paris. There is a new TGV rail station at Charles deGaulle (Roissy) airport, so there is no longer any necessity to travel intoParis. The most suitable train departs at11:26 and arrives in Lyon at 13:33. You change trains for St Etienne-Chateaucreux departing at 14:11 and arriving at 15:13. Change again for Le Puydeparting 16:04 arriving at 17:25.
End of Tour:The tour ends after breakfast on day 8 in Florac or after breakfast on day 10in St Jean du Gard. Florac is remote and it is necessary to get local transportto the nearest train stations at Genolhac or Mende. The first bus is at 09:00(not on Sundays and Bank Holidays) otherwise taxi for approx $50 perperson. From St Jean local bus (notSundays) to Ales (45 minutes), and train via Nimes to Montpellier for flightback to Paris. Check times beforetraveling.
Season:June to late September
Level of Difficulty
Fitness:Moderate – Challenging with a few long days. For reasonably fit and experiencedwalkers. The grade 'C' reflects the length of some the days and the roughnessof the terrain. The longest day can be shortened, but no clients have indicatedthat the grade should be lower.
Day Stages: upto 35km/22miles per day over hilly terrain.
Waymarking:Most of the route is now a GR (official long-distance trail) and has beenrecently waymarked with red and white signs; on days 2, 3 and 4 our routedeviates in part from the GR and it is necessary to follow the routedescriptions provided together with the maps.
Accommodation & Meals
Half-board (evening meal, bed andbreakfast) throughout in country hotels of 1, 2 and 3 star standard with ensuite facilities where possible, but these cannot be guaranteed. On the longer 9-night trip, the last nightin St Jean du Gard is on a bed and breakfast basis only. Bring a swimmingCostume? At Arlempdes (night 2) swimming in the river is possible. On nights 7(Florac) and 9 (St. Jean de Gard) our usual hotels have pools. Obviously we cannotguarantee that they will be open when you happen to pass through.
Note: thatthe hotels we use vary in quality, sometimes there is little else at a locationwe can use or other hotels will not give us one night bookings.
Night 1 LePuy: rather than spend the first night at Le Monastier which has only limitedaccommodation and in any case makes the journey on day 1 quite long and tiringwe have chosen the Hotel Bristol, a very pleasant and comfortable two starhotel, only a few minutes walk from the train station in the historic city ofLe Puy, capital of the Haute Loire department and readily accessible by trainfrom Lyon or Paris.
Night 2 Arlempdes:after a road transfer to Le Monastier to start the trek we walk on to Arlempdeswhere we stay at a welcoming 1 star hotel in this tiny village overlooking theupper Loire valley. The hotel is a traditional logis with a homely stove andwood-beamed restaurant.
Night 3 Pradelles:in the midst of the mediaeval splendour of the town, we stay at acentrally-situated 2 star hotel offering ensuite accommodation and of course afully fledged regional menu boasting 'Specialities Auvergnates.'
Night 4 LaBastide: A welcoming, one star hotel with a good restaurant, rooms have en suiteshower, but sometimes no en suite toilet/sink.
Night 5 LeBleymard: A two star modern hotel, traditionally appointed, with ensuitefacilities and a fine pine beam and stone restaurant surrounding a largehearth.
Night 6 LePont de Montvert: A 2 star modern hotel, which sits on the river bank of theTarn, ensuite, with balconies and a restaurant again specializing in theregional fare.
Night 7 Florac:a rather grand 3 star hotel in the centre of this pretty market town,headquarters of the Cevennes national park.
Night 8 St.Germain de Calberte: A modern resort style hotel and complex set amidstwonderful countryside, with limited ensuite facilities within the hotel, Againwith good regional food and a swimming pool.
Night 9 SaintJean du Gard: Built in 1882, our excellent two star hotel here offers finefacilities in an idyllic setting. There rooms are en suite including telephonesand there is a swimming pool!
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ITINERARY |
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Day 1: Travelers fly to Lyon or Paris and transfer to Le Puy where our hotel is 5 minutes walk from the station. Day 2: Taxi transfer (included) from Le Puy to Le Monastier where the Stevenson trail starts. We walk on via the village of St. Martin de Fugeres to Goudet where we cross the River Loire. It is an hour or so's walk upstream to Arlempdes. 9 miles/14 km. Day 3: Arlempdes to Pradelles. There are two alternative itineraries for today. The longer alternative follows the GR70 Stevenson's Trail all the way for 34km/21miles. We walk through Montagnac, Ussel, Le Bouchet St Nicholas, Landos and Arquejol to Pradelles. The shorter alternative 22km/14 miles goes more directly via La Sauvetat to rejoin the GR70 at Landos and follow it to Pradelles. Day 4: Pradelles to La Bastide Puylaurent. Once again there are longer (GR70; 35km/22miles) and shorter (22km/14miles) alternatives. We walk to Langogne and cross the River Allier. A series of paths past mills and wayside cavalries brings us to the ruined village of Fuzilhac. Of this region Stevenson wrote "Moor, heather marsh, tracts of rock and pines, woods of birch, green and stony cattle tracks wandered in and out...." Little has changed. Pass through the village of Cheylard and the Chabadoures ravine on to La Bastide Puylaurent. The shorter alternative leaves the GR70 at Langogne and rejoins it just before Luc. A bus passes Luc daily at 17.40, arrive La Bastide 17.50, which allows you to omit the last 7km/4mi. Day 5: [Note if you want to add another rest day to the tour we suggest La Bastide, from which it is an easy day walk to the abbey of Notre Dame des Neiges, where Stevenson spent several nights]. La Bastide Puylaurent to Le Bleymard. 15 miles / 24 km. We head south away from the river through woods and past dolmens to reach Chasserades. A walk over the Montagne du Goulet ridge brings us to Le Bleymard. Day 6: 22 km/14 miles. We head south along an old drovers road, over the Col de Finiels, past the Chalet du Mont Lozere. The col with its fine viewpoint over the Cevennes, makes a delightful lunch stop. There is an opportunity in clear weather to reach the Sommet de Finiels (5574 feet), the highest point in the Lozere range. We descend to Le Pont de Montvert. There are alternative routes from Sommet de Finiels to Le Pont de Montvertl Day 7: 14 miles/22 km. From Le Pont de Montvert we head south along the Martinet valley and ascend the ridge of the Montagne du Bouges. From here we continue along the crest of the two valleys of the Tarn and Mimente. At the end of the ridge we descend into Florac. You can discover the region's history and geology at the imaginative exhibition house in the old chateau. The quaint boulevards of the old town offer a tempting array of cafes. (End of tour for 8 day trip). Day 8: 8 day tour ends in Florac. 10 day tour continues. 15 miles / 24 km. We continue up the valley of the Mimente to reach the Col de Jalcreste. From here an old shepherd's trail leads through the forest, chestnut groves and deserted farms to St Germain de Calberte. Day 9: 14 miles/22 km. From St Germain the route leads through the sleepy village of St Etienne. We pass a picturesque manor house before our final walk through forest to St Jean de Gard. Day 10: 10 day tour ends after breakfast at St Jean du Gard. Bus to Ales (not Sundays), the train to Nimes. |