Bancel – Galaure – Porte de Drômardèche

Start from the car park at the Saint-Martin-des-Rosiers stadium.

Mountain bike route no. 9.

(S/E) On leaving the car park, head uphill towards the village, then turn left at the stop sign. Follow the road for 1.2 km until you reach a small car park on the right.

(1) Take the path on the right (Route du Prat), slightly ahead, which begins to climb through the woodland. Follow the main path, take the hairpin bend, and continue to the junction with the Route de Ponteux.

(2) Turn left, then, before the end of the copse, turn right. Continue straight on until you reach a field, then turn right and join the Route de la Plaine.

(3) Carry on to the left, cross the Route des Crêtes and take the path opposite. After a few metres, turn left and follow the path alongside the fields. Pass through a copse, come out onto the Chemin de la Bâtie and turn right. Leave the Impasse de la Bâtie on your left and pass a house.

(4) Turn left onto the path leading down towards the village of Fay-le-Clos. Reach the village entrance and turn right onto the D161. Turn left immediately and continue along the Chemin des Achards.

(5) At the stream, take the path just before it which runs alongside the stream for 20 metres. Cross the stream and take the small path which climbs through the woodland. At the top of the hill, take the path on the left to return to a road. Turn right and continue to the cemetery.

(6) Turn immediately right and head uphill through the woodland. After the hairpin bend, cross the Avenon, turn immediately right into the woodland and continue alongside the stream.

(7) At the junction, turn left onto Chemin Poudoux. Carry on to a crossroads, turn right and, after the house, look for a path on the left.

(8) Carry on along this path through woodland and fields until you reach the D51.

(9) Cross the road and take the wide track opposite. A little further on, on the left, a lovely path begins.

(10) Go under the bridge and continue along the sandy, undulating path beside the Galaure.

(11) Cross the road, take the path opposite and, further on, continue along a new path through the woodland alongside the Galaure. At the end, turn left. You’ll reach the D51; take Rue des Chênes opposite.

(12) Take the footpath on the right through the woodland, cross the D53 and go round the back of the town hall. Then, walk through the village of Châteauneuf-de-Galaure, pass in front of Les Merlières, and continue along the Chemin du Coteau.

(13) At Combe Meurier, follow the small road to the left, start climbing, then take the path on the right to head back up to the higher ground.

(14) At the top, take the path on the left towards the crossroads with a cross. Turn right. Carry on to the woods and turn left onto a path which narrows and leads down towards a small stream in the undergrowth.

(15) Take the path on the right, follow the Bancel, cross it once, then a second time, before heading back up to the left. Leave the woods to join the Route des Charmilles.

(16) Turn right, then left onto the D187. Watch out for cars.

(17) Immediately after the next bend, turn onto the path through the woodland on the right. Continue until you reach a stream and a house.

(18) Turn left after the house, leaving the Châtaigneraie straight ahead, then turn right and right again towards the railway line. Cross the railway line to reach the Chemin de la Petite Châtaigneraie.

(19) Turn right, then left at the next junction. At the house, turn right. Carry on straight ahead, cross the D53 to reach the Route de l’Argentielle at the next junction.

(20) Turn left. At the four-way junction, turn left onto Chemin des Fayards. Keep right, then carry on straight ahead, passing Les Simards.

(21) After the field, turn left onto Chemin Mallegarde. Continue through the woodland to return to Route des Simards.

(22) Turn left and stay on the main track until you reach Château du Cros.

(23) At Château du Cros, take the path on the left and pass through the Bois des Cros.

(24) Turn right, then left, to climb back up to the ridges.

(25) At the top, turn right and head for the Col de Barbe Bleue.

(26) Continue straight ahead, pass La Renardière and carry on to the Tour d’Albon.

(27) At the Tour d’Albon, take the path on the left-hand side. Join the D301, turn left, then take the path on the right at the ‘Les Terreaux’ signpost.

(28) Follow the path. A little stony at first, the descent becomes sandy and great fun in the second half. Return to the starting point via this lovely path through the woodland (S/E).

We strongly recommend that you take the IGN map referred to on these pages with you. Mountain bikers must be self-sufficient; professional guides are available if required. Emergency number: 18 or 112.
For further information, contact the Porte DrômArdèche Tourist Office: 04 75 23 45 33 / www.dromardeche.fr