Circular route from Saint-Barthélémy-le-Plain via the Grand Cros

A walk between the plateau and the Duzon that will allow you to discover the beautiful variety of landscapes in Saint-Barthélémy-le-Plain.

Details

18227578
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.06 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,237 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,257 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,667 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 633 ft

Description of the walk

Parking available near the town hall

(S/E) Head due south along Chemin de Sardaillac. After the last house, continue along the dirt track until you reach Chemin des Grimauds.

(1) At the cross, turn left for a few dozen metres then turn right onto the Chemin de Chalendon. At the greenhouses, keep to the right and continue along the dirt track heading south. After about a hundred metres, you’ll reach a junction.

(2) Ignore the path branching off to the right (the return route) and take the path on the left along the left bank of the Dielle, heading east, until you reach the old stone bridge, which will take you across to the right bank to join the Chemin de la Tuilière.

(3) Turn left onto the Chemin de la Tuilière for 100 m, then turn right onto the Chemin des Grandons. After the house, take the dirt track on the right for about 100 metres, then turn left with the track, heading east. Stay on this track, which winds downwards to the Chemin de Rouchon.

(4) Turn right, heading south-west, towards the hamlet of Rouchon. Before the house, take the narrow path that descends to the left, reaching the Ruisseau du Grand Cros after 200 m. Cross the stream and head back up, heading south-west, along the right bank until you reach Chemin de Balayon.

(5) Continue to the right for 800 m, ignoring the roads branching off to your left. At the end of the hairpin bend on the right, take the path climbing up to the left, heading west. Continue to the Route de Saint-Romain.

(6) Turn left onto the road, heading west. When you reach the hamlet of Laréal, turn right and head north until you reach the last buildings. Leave the road and continue along the dirt track heading north. After about 500 m, the track turns eastwards for a short climb, then northwards again. After 400 m, you’ll reach a fork.

(7) Turn right onto the path that descends to the Route de Buffière, ignoring the paths leading off to the right.

(8) Follow the road to the right for about 400 m to the hamlet of Parveyraud.

(9) At the right-hand bend, take the path on the left heading north-west. Cross the Dielle via a bridge and continue to the junction where the circular route ends.

(2) Continue straight ahead to climb back up to Chalendon, then follow the route taken on the way out to reach the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,444 ft - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.57 - alt. 1,401 ft - Croix / Chemin des Grimauds
  3. 2 : mi 0.78 - alt. 1,339 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  4. 3 : mi 1.29 - alt. 1,306 ft - Chemin de la Tuilière
  5. 4 : mi 2.24 - alt. 719 ft - Chemin de Rouchon, near the - Duzon (rivière)
  6. 5 : mi 3.38 - alt. 1,289 ft - Chemin de Balayon
  7. 6 : mi 4.33 - alt. 1,552 ft - Route de Saint Romain
  8. 7 : mi 5.4 - alt. 1,572 ft
  9. 8 : mi 5.64 - alt. 1,450 ft - Route de Buffière
  10. 9 : mi 5.89 - alt. 1,414 ft - Parveyraud
  11. S/E : mi 7.06 - alt. 1,447 ft - Town hall car park

Notes

Rating based on the FFR-IBPindex rating guide

  • Effort: 2/3 Easy/Moderate (IBP50)
  • Technical difficulty: 3 Moderate. In wet weather, the Grand Cros path can be slippery.
  • Risk: 3 (low).

Allow 3 hours of actual walking time to complete the route (author’s time).

There are no water points along the route.

Accommodation: https://saint-barthelemy-le-plain.fr/Git...

Worth a visit

The Grand Pont: dating from 1483, the Grand Pont was built over the Doux between Tournon-sur-Rhône and Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. The 51-metre arch was, at the time, the largest in the world. It took over a hundred years of work to build this bridge.

Pont du Duzon: an eight-arch viaduct, completed in 1870. An old bridge dating from 1656 can be seen below the viaduct.

The station and the Ardèche tourist train. The Mastrou. Railbike.

The Cité du Chocolat.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Tam
Tam

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hike done today – watch out for brambles!!! The path down to the stream and back up is full of brambles; it’s very narrow on the way back up, so take care if it’s raining. It’s difficult to follow the path at this point as it’s not very well marked. The rest of the route is lovely, with unobstructed views.

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pallandre chantal
pallandre chantal

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk around Saint-Barthélemy, with few roads and some lovely paths. You need to be careful between markers 3 and 4: make sure you stay on the faint path to the right, otherwise you’ll end up on private property!
Please note that the long climb after the stream is along a very narrow path which can be quite slippery after rain;
Thanks to the author

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sommet
sommet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A PLEASANT WALK

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kp
kp

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

lack of signposting along much of the route.

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marcheur07
marcheur07

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

HELLO
After a good start with signposting, after point 3 we had to follow the map closely as there were no more signposts. The descent towards DUZON is very pleasant through the orchards. Before the river, the path is crossed by another which you must take on the right. All this without any real landmarks. After Coursodon, we cut the walk short to catch up with Buffière and St Barthélemy.
Still a pleasant hike thanks to the views and the section leading to the river.

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philippe bleton
philippe bleton

Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
Have a lovely day.
Philippe

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Jean m 26
Jean m 26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, thanks to Philippe...
We completed the hike in 3 hours and 20 minutes.
A lovely descent down to the river, followed by quite a climb.
Beautiful scenery on the hillside, with a snow-covered view of the Vercors.

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fafarouge
fafarouge

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting walk
Just a quick note: at point 1, these aren’t greenhouses, but rather protective covers for fruit trees

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guilhermier.rené
guilhermier.rené
• Edited:

a route that has not yet been officially recognised

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