Circular route in the Velay – Lignon, starting from Pont de Mars

The route starts at the car park near the Pont de Mars. Although it only has two spaces, this car park has been set up at the side of the Route du Pont de Mars for walkers. It is situated about 1 km from Mars Town Hall, heading towards Saint-Julien-Chapteuil.

Yellow markings

(S/E) Proceed with caution along the Route du Pont de Mars for 400 m. This road crosses the River Lignon and then runs alongside a farm on your right. Continue past the farm for about fifty metres.

(1) Take the grassy path on the right, heading uphill alongside the property’s fence. Keep to the left at the Fork in the road to follow the contour line roughly; ignore the path on the left, then take the footbridge to cross the Merdos, a small tributary of the Lignon. The grassy path is followed by a hard-surfaced track, passing the Les Fanges house, becoming the Chemin des Fanges and then the Chemin de Recharneau.

(2) At the hamlet of La Suchère, at the junction with the Chemin du Bois de Pin, turn left onto this small cross-road, then right when you reach the Route de la Suchère (D7). Pass the junction with the Chemin des Terres and the turn-off to the left towards Les Versas.

(3) At the fork in the road, leave the tarmac road by keeping to the right onto a forest track. Follow the most clearly marked track, ignoring any side paths, and pass the cemetery on your right, followed by a few houses.

(4) At the junction, turn right onto the footpath along the Chemin bitumé de Magnac. This path curves sharply to the left as it heads towards the hamlet of Magnac. Ignore the first turn-off to the right.

(5) Take the Chemin bitumé du Bois de Jean to the right at the hairpin bend. This is followed by a forest track.

(6) Keep to the right at the Fork in the road to follow the contour line. On leaving the forest, the path—which is barely visible—crosses a cultivated field for about a hundred metres. Head right onto the cross-country track, which is first stabilised and then tarmacked, known as the Chemin des Chatoux. Keep left at the junction onto the Chemin bitumé de Patron.

(7) Keep to the right at the Fork in the road, passing through the hamlet of Patron whilst ignoring the side tracks. Once past the hamlet, leave the Chemin de Patron and turn left at the hairpin bend onto the tarmac Chemin de Bois Valotte. Ignore the track branching off to the left.

(8) Leave the Chemin de Bois Valotte when it bends to the right and continue straight on along the forest track. Keep to the right at the edge of the forest.

(9) At the junction, turn left onto the tarmac road known as the Chemin du Bois de Pin, then left again after 50 m onto the gravel track, the Chemin de Sauron. Ignore any side tracks. The track becomes tarmac just before crossing the River Lignon.

(10) Leave the Chemin de Sauron when it takes a sharp right-hand bend and take a forest track on the right instead. At the Fork in the road immediately after, keep left as you climb, then follow the most clearly marked track towards the pylon.

(11) In the hamlet of Romières, turn right at the crossroads onto the tarmac Chemin de Romières, which is followed, after about fifty metres, by a grassy path leading downhill. Follow the most clearly marked path, ignoring any side tracks.

(12) At the junction with a cross-path, turn left to follow the contour line. Pass an initial turn-off on the left, as well as a compacted track also on the left.

(13) At the junction, turn right downhill, then take a hairpin bend to the left just before reaching La Valette, continuing downhill. Ignore any side paths. Cross the stream and continue downhill to the starting point (S/E)

Sturdy walking shoes are essential on the stony paths. Many paths have been tarmacked whilst retaining their original names. However, these narrow country lanes remain little-used.

The route can be split into two circular loops, one starting from the Pont de Mars, the other from Chambon-sur-Lignon (another possible parking spot). In this case, head to point (5) via the Chemin des Sautiers, which crosses the River Lignon.

The Ardèche plateau is bountiful. You’ll find blueberries there in August and, for connoisseurs, chanterelles in early summer, followed by porcini mushrooms in early autumn – sometimes earlier, depending on the weather.