In the land of stones, from Font Méjanne to Lengarnayre

This walk begins in the era of the dolmens and continues along a route between the piles and walls of cleared stones, allowing you to admire the colossal work of the Ardèche ancestors in clearing a few square metres of usable land. The paths are easy but sometimes a bit stony; not all the stones are in the piles... Best done in winter when the oak trees have no leaves.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.30 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 394 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 387 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 692 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 440 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Start from the car park at the Fontgraze Dolmens viewpoint on the D248. Take the D248 northwards for 500 m.

(1) Ignore a path coming in from the left, cross the bridge over the Ruisseau de Fontgraze and take the path on the left immediately afterwards.

(2) At the Bois Chabanet signpost, ignore a path on the left and continue straight ahead.

(3) At the four-way junction, turn left then immediately right. Please note: the path via Raoux, marked on the IGN map, is now private.

(4) At the bottom of a descent, turn left and then, a few metres further on, at the Croix de Raoux signpost, continue straight ahead.

(5) Take the tarmac road on the right for a few dozen metres, then take the first path on the left.

(6) Just before the D104, turn left onto a dirt track running alongside the vineyard. Continue straight on along the small road through Mouroulet. You will find the white-and-yellow markings there.

(7) After the last house, turn left onto a grassy track which becomes a footpath. Continue right along the small road to the hamlet of Les Martins.

(8) Turn right onto a road that goes downhill, continue until you reach a right-hand bend.

(9) Leave the road and take a path on the left.

(10) At the Cham de Rode signpost, turn sharply left. Continue along the track for about 1 km.

(11) At a four-way junction, leave the marked path and turn right.

(12) At the Y-junction, turn right, cross a small clearing and take the path opposite. You will rejoin the white-and-yellow markings.

(13) At the Le Blachas signpost, turn left towards Font Méjanne and follow the path to the D248.

(1) Take the road on the right to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 509 ft - Fontgraze Dolmens Viewpoint
  2. 1 : mi 0.29 - alt. 525 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.95 - alt. 630 ft - Bois Chabannet signpost
  4. 3 : mi 1.15 - alt. 659 ft - Unmarked path
  5. 4 : mi 1.54 - alt. 627 ft - Croix de Raoux signpost
  6. 5 : mi 1.97 - alt. 663 ft - Route
  7. 6 : mi 2.16 - alt. 666 ft - On the left, a path running alongside the road
  8. 7 : mi 2.44 - alt. 636 ft - Path on the left
  9. 8 : mi 2.86 - alt. 571 ft - The Martins
  10. 9 : mi 3.07 - alt. 495 ft - Path on the left
  11. 10 : mi 3.62 - alt. 440 ft - Cham de Rode signpost
  12. 11 : mi 4.26 - alt. 548 ft - Crossroads
  13. 12 : mi 4.62 - alt. 633 ft - Start of the trail
  14. 13 : mi 5.23 - alt. 525 ft - Le Blachas signpost
  15. S/E : mi 6.3 - alt. 509 ft - Fontgraze Dolmens Viewpoint

Notes

Much of the route is marked with white and yellow markings, but on some sections the markings are not maintained and there are a few changes compared to the IGN map. Instead, check the route on OpenStreetMap Hiking and follow the directions.

You can see more photos of the hike and some nearby trails on Panoramax.

Worth a visit

At the start or finish, the dolmen viewpoint with its information boards.

You can see piles of cleared stones all along the route, particularly between (9) and (10) and after (13).

Between (12) and (13), the path is bordered by a wall on the left. Behind this wall, you can see rows of parallel walls. These are not fences but likely a more orderly way of piling up stones to clear a few square metres of grass between the rows. These alignments are clearly visible on the satellite view.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.