Between Besorgues and Bourges: La Tour

Seen from the Col d'Aizac, the summit of La Tour is an almost perfect pyramid. The advantage is that, once at the top, you have 360° views without moving from the spot, simply by turning your head.
It overlooks the Besorgues and Bourges valleys, the Juvinas and Moucheyre passes... as well as its little sister, Sainte-Marguerite, just to the south.
A few sections off the beaten track, with no markings... for a bit of adventure!

Details

1035560
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,030 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,037 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,061 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 495 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from Col d'Aizac. Park in the village square.

(S/E) Take the small road heading south-west for 150m to the hiking signpost slightly below.

(1) Turn right onto theGRP® trail (marked in yellow and red). Follow the path downhill to reach the Besorgues valley.

(2) Do not cross the bridge! Leave theGRP® and follow the small road to the right for 100m. At the first house, turn right as if entering the property and then immediately left onto the yellow-marked path which climbs through the chestnut trees. Stay on the well-marked path; it soon crosses a small road before reaching a beautiful little bridge: the Pont de Gamarnès.

(3) Cross the bridge and follow the path heading left, towards Labastide/Besorgues. After passing a building, it crosses the Besorgues to reach a cluster of houses.

(4) Take the path up to the right; it becomes a small road, then a track suitable for vehicles, before crossing the D254. Cross this road, then go round the cemetery by turning right. After the cemetery and a sharp left-hand bend, take the first road on the left, which leads you to the D243.

(5) Follow this road to the left for 50m, then take the path (GRP® – yellow and red markings) to the right. Well signposted, it first follows a stream, then crosses the hamlet of Moucheyre and climbs steeply through the chestnut trees to the Col de Moucheyre.

(6) Lovely views over the Bourges Valley to the west. Temporary end of the markings: take the track down a very steep slope heading due south. After a first small summit, the slope levels off slightly. Follow the main path, through the broom, to the highest point of this small massif.

(7) La Tour (1062m). Breathtaking 360° views. From west to east: Mt Lozère, the Tanargue, Mt Bouquet, the Ventoux, the Vercors, the Alps; and to the north: Mt Gerbier and the Mézenc.
Head down due east to find a faint path through the heather and broom towards some large boulders. Once you reach them, curve the descent southwards to find a path sloping more gently down towards the south-west.

(8) Shortly afterwards, cross a valley and emerge onto a track suitable for vehicles at a concrete water collection point situated above a house. Follow the track downwards until you reach the D343 in the village of Juvinas. Follow it to the right.

(9) At the ‘town exit’ sign, head up to the right. Reach the Col de Juvinas and cross the D343 to begin a long climb opposite through the chestnut trees. Yellow markings.

(10) After leaving the chestnut woods and before entering the pine woods, at an open ridge, leave the track (and the markings) to head due east towards the centre of the valley. Follow what looks like a stream, which is often dry, to find a path through the vegetation.

(11) Keep heading due east to reach a track which you take to the left, heading north-west. Before entering the hamlet of Les Champeaux, take the track on the right, marked in yellow. Following the contour lines, reach the hamlet of La Roche.

(12) Head down to the left, then up to the left following the markings, winding your way northwards. You will eventually join theGRP® de la Haute Cévenne d'Ardèche at a track.

(13) Take this track to the right, cross the D243 again, then the Besorgues river to reach the bridge over the Besorgues valley.

(2) Head up towards the Col d'Aizac to reach the village square (S/E) via the reverse route of the outward journey.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 644 m - Gîte & Chambres d'Hôtes "LE VOLCAN D'AIZAC" ... juste au pied du Volcan d'Aizac !
  2. 1 : km 0.18 - alt. 635 m - Aizac - Mille Soles hiking signpost
  3. 2 : km 1 - alt. 503 m - Hiking signpost: Ruisseau de la Pauze
  4. 3 : km 2.29 - alt. 631 m - Garmanès Bridge
  5. 4 : km 3.85 - alt. 604 m - L'Abro signpost. Cross the - Bézorgues (rivière) - Affluent de la Volane
  6. 5 : km 4.89 - alt. 678 m - Junction with the D243
  7. 6 : km 5.97 - alt. 858 m - Col de Moucheyre
  8. 7 : km 7.44 - alt. 1,061 m - La Tour summit
  9. 8 : km 7.93 - alt. 974 m - Trail junction
  10. 9 : km 9.59 - alt. 680 m - Sign marking the exit from the built-up area
  11. 10 : km 10.97 - alt. 876 m - Leave the track, turning left
  12. 11 : km 11.46 - alt. 771 m - Trail
  13. 12 : km 13.66 - alt. 615 m - La Roche hamlet
  14. 13 : km 15.53 - alt. 538 m - GRP junction
  15. S/E : km 17.11 - alt. 644 m - Gîte & Chambres d'Hôtes "LE VOLCAN D'AIZAC" ... juste au pied du Volcan d'Aizac !

Notes

- Rocky paths: wear sturdy footwear.

- Apart from the Col d'Aizac (S/E), there are no refreshment points on the trail.

- (S/E) at the Col d'Aizac: Accommodation available at the Lodge and Bed and Breakfast: Le Volcan d'Aizac - 04 75 38 77 81 - breakfasts, picnics (see website section below).
- Restaurants, a bar and a small grocery shop in the village.

Worth a visit

- (S/E) Col d'Aizac: A pretty, quiet village surrounded by nature... At the foot of the Volcan d'Aizac!

Option to take a themed walk exploring the ancient activity of the Volcan d'Aizac. A short hike of 1 to 2 hours taking you to the summit, with information boards along the route.
You can contact the Le Volcan d'Aizac Lodge and Bed and Breakfast, who will be happy to provide information and lend you documents and guidebooks on this 80,000-year-old volcano, which is unfortunately now extinct!

- (S/E) Aizac: Visit to the vinegar factory

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
crouz2607
crouz2607
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
This route is definitely a hike rather than a stroll; it’s ideal for practising orienteering despite the signposting, as the paths aren’t very well-used and are therefore somewhat overgrown.
Please note: after the hamlet of Moucheyre, on the path climbing through the chestnut trees, pay close attention to the markings as fencing work has altered the area; do not follow the fence. After the first steep section, the path is slightly to the left.
Enjoy the hike, everyone

Machine-translated

trailleur07
trailleur07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a bit of a struggle to find the way through at the Col de la Tour

Machine-translated

thueyts
thueyts

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
Section off the marked trail VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND, blocked by vegetation
Part of the descent into the valley (towards St Marguerite, leaving the track on the left) the route crosses
private land, I suppose? The grass is tall in spring; it’s going to be mown by the owner!!!! Perhaps avoid trampling it

Best regards

Machine-translated

ardechom
ardechom

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, and thank you to the author for suggesting this route.

However, this beautiful hike requires a good sense of direction (for the unmarked ‘adventure’ section). In any case, it should not be attempted in fog: you have to navigate by sight.

The first section, up to the summit of La Tour, embodies everything we love about the Ardèche and what makes it so beautiful: ravines, stunning balcony paths, pretty paved slanting streets, steep climbs, rocky sections and the unmissable heathland dotted with broom and ferns, varying in density, and above all a magnificent panorama from the summit: Écrins, Dévoluy, Baronnies....

The second section, particularly the descent between points (7) and (8), leaves a slightly bitter taste to the adventure! Indeed, the vegetation has become very dense and very tall, partially blocking a path that did indeed exist (marked on IGN maps at 1:50,000) but which, according to locals, has long been abandoned. However, the passable route is easier closer to the ridge. It also requires some experience of this type of terrain, which is quite common in the Cévennes of the Ardèche.

Note that a new yellow and white-marked trail has opened from the track descending from Les Champeaux. It winds through the chestnut grove, joins the other trail marked on the map by the author of the hike, crosses the Champeaux stream and continues to the Moulin de Lacoste. This avoids the hamlet of La Roche and shortens the route slightly (which may be useful when the days are a bit shorter).

Machine-translated

Pégase07530
Pégase07530

Hello!
Thank you for your understanding!
As I said before, I think that if you found this ‘off-trail’ section completely closed, it’s because you must not have been in exactly the right spot...
Have a nice day; enjoy your hike!
Eric

Machine-translated

thonyc
thonyc
• Edited:

Hello

The word ‘DANGER’ used in my message implies that people could get stuck in this tangle of broom and brambles.
However, if you feel it is excessive, I will remove it. The main point is that hikers’ attention should be drawn to the difficulties they may encounter when crossing this ridge.
Kind regards

Machine-translated

Pégase07530
Pégase07530

For "thonyc"

Hello!

Thank you for completing this walk, which I posted online this year.
As for your comment, I find it inappropriate. Of course, as stated in the description, there are a few sections off the beaten track and without markings; there is some broom and a few brambles... but if you found it "completely closed off", it’s because you didn’t go to the right place; I’ve re-done the route and it isn’t “closed off”!
I therefore find the “WARNING: DANGER” in capital letters, no less, far too strong! … and would ask you to please remove it.
I agree that this isn’t a walk for children, but really, there’s no danger at all... apart from a few scrapes!
Thanks in advance.
Eric

Machine-translated

gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, thonyc, for this information and warning. Let’s leave it up to the author to decide whether or not to include a warning in their introduction.

Machine-translated

thonyc
thonyc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The climb to the ridge of the Serre de La Tête is difficult. The path is completely overgrown with broom and brambles.
DO NOT BRING children or people who have very little experience of the difficulties one may encounter whilst hiking.
Advice from a federally certified hiker

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

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