Circular between Le Cheylard and Riotord

A beautiful half-day hike along a balcony path, which crosses ancient hamlets with panoramic views of the Eyrieux Valley. This route has been used for several years by the famous "Cheminote", a hike for the general public that connects Le Cheylard to Saint-Martin-de-Valamas.

A hike proposed by the collective "Nos chemins ne sont pas à vendre" (Our paths are not for sale).

Details

n°434068

Creation:
20 Dec 2016

Last update:
23 Aug 2021

Last review:
23 Jun 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 12.33 km
Average duration: 4h 25
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 326 m
Descent: - 327 m
Highest point: 699 m
Lowest point: 428 m

Country: France
Area: Massif central
District: Le Cheylard (07160)
Start/End: N 44.91309° / E 4.42806°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2936SB
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park is located at the former CFD railway station, route de Lamastre, in Le Cheylard.

(S/E) From the starting point, take Avenue de la Gare on the left and continue to the junction with the tarmac road to Saint-Jean Roure.

(1) Turn right, ignore the roads on the right and continue to a place called L'Hoste.

Markings: 5 cm yellow paint circles

(2) Take the path on the left above the campsite and the Cheylard lake to arrive near the bourgeois house of La Gardette via a magnificent paved slanting street and passages through boxwood, ignoring the newly created private track on the left.

(3) Leave the dirt track on the right and take the path opposite, to the right of the small stone tower. After two small hairpin bends, you will come back onto the dirt track. Follow it for about 15 metres to the left, then take the newly cleared path on the right for about 200 metres, cutting across an access track to the meadow of La Blache farm. Take the dirt track on the right again to reach a fork in the tracks where, opposite you, stands the Brion rock, a UNESCO-listed geological site.

(4). Take the track on the right for about 50 metres, then turn left onto the path opposite the private track with the prohibition signs and follow it to reach the small tarmac road to Maleval.

(5) Turn left onto this small tarmac road. Follow it to reach the pretty hamlet of Maleval.

(6) Take the track on the right that climbs in an S-shape and take the ascending track on the left, which then becomes a contour path.

(7) Cross the Liard stream before reaching the hamlet of Darne Bessac.

(8). Take the path downhill to the left, taking care to close the metal gates behind you. Halfway down the slope, you will find "our friend Jean's apple tree" at the edge of the path. Please take good care of it.

(9) Pass through the hamlet of Riotord with its bread oven still in use to reach the Dolce Via.

(10) Follow this path, winding your way along the Eyrieux river to reach Le Cheylard and the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 430 m - Former CFD railway station. Confluence of the Eyrieux and - Dorne (rivière)
1 : km 0.15 - alt. 434 m - Route de Saint-Jean Roure
2 : km 0.62 - alt. 494 m - L'Hoste
3 : km 1.27 - alt. 537 m - Near La Gardette
4 : km 1.76 - alt. 585 m - At the Y-junction, turn right.
5 : km 2.32 - alt. 626 m - Route de Maleval
6 : km 3.93 - alt. 622 m - Hamlet of Maleval
7 : km 5.52 - alt. 668 m - Crossing the Ruisseau du Liard
8 : km 6.02 - alt. 680 m - Hamlet of Darne Bessac
9 : km 6.99 - alt. 517 m - Hamlet of Riotord
10 : km 7.3 - alt. 506 m - Dolce Via
S/E : km 12.33 - alt. 430 m - Former CFD railway station. Confluence of the Dorne and - Eyrieux (rivière) à finaliser

Worth a visit

Continuing along the small tarmac road after Darne Bessac, you can visit the waterfalls and ruins of Rochebonne Castle. This visit can also be done by car from Saint-Martin-de-Valamas.

In Le Cheylard, visit the Arche des Métiers, a memorial to the industrial heritage of the area.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

User 26247176

23 Jun 2025 at 14:52 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, much of it in the forest, which is pleasant on hot days. No particular physical difficulties given the low elevation gain, but difficult to navigate due to the very few people on the trails. The locals I met in Maleval told me they never see anyone else there. The trail, especially after Darne Bessac, is almost impossible to find, completely overgrown with tall grass. So, a great hike, but a GPS or IGN map is essential.

Machine-translated

Dani_elle

04 Sep 2023 at 19:02 7200

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, shaded at first as it takes us through vast chestnut forests, then more exposed to the sun as we follow the Dolce Via. Swimming in the Eyrieux river at the end is really enjoyable.
It's a shame that it's not well signposted! I had difficulty finding my way before Darne Bessac and on the descent to Riotard.

Machine-translated

Philippe et Valérie

15 Feb 2022 at 22:25 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike
The yellow circular markings (noticed as green circles at the start) are easy to spot, at least as far as Darne Bessac.
Shortly before Darne Bessac, after the contour path widens into a track, there is a junction on the right that is not very visible (but marked). If you miss it and stay on the track, it's not a big deal because the path rejoins the track just before Darne Bessac.
It was at Darne Bessac that we had some difficulty finding the path that descends to Riotord (there are no longer any markings). Do not try to climb up into the hamlet, but stay below it, walking along a meadow. The entrance to the path, protected by a barrier, is at the edge of a small wood.
The descent to Riotord is quite steep but in good condition. It has indeed been burnt (so there are no more apple trees), but the vegetation has already recovered well.
The return via the Dolce Via is pleasant at the end of the hike when your legs are starting to feel a little tired. You should do the hike in the direction described, as it would be a shame to start with the "rolling" part of the Dolce Via.

Machine-translated

thewaroc

18 Sep 2021 at 17:08 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, with a large wooded section and quite varied vegetation. Approximately 4½ hours including a lunch break.
The start has been re-marked with clearly visible green markings, which then give way to the yellow markings indicated in the description. We had no difficulty finding our way.
We didn't see the famous apple tree, but perhaps it was destroyed in the fire...

Machine-translated

claudecess26

24 Jun 2020 at 18:32 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A somewhat chaotic start, no markings and no more "Saint Jean Roure" signs. We climbed too high up the road.
After that, no problems, very nice spot for a picnic on a rock.
The last part on the Dolce Via is beautiful but a bit too tarmacked.

Machine-translated

michel fougerouze

18 May 2020 at 15:18 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, but two sections without markings. We were lucky enough to meet two charming ladies who gave us directions for these sections.
Be sure to take the description and follow it.
Very beautiful views.
At the hamlet of Malval, you can go directly down to the greenway to shorten the route if you are tired.

Machine-translated

Georgette7

29 Jul 2019 at 11:38 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike in three parishes specific to Brittany
Incredible view

Machine-translated

Labelleverte25

24 Jun 2019 at 14:39 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Most of the walk is through woodland. Views of the river below and the mountains.
The end of the Dolce Via is certainly easy to walk (very flat and covered with small pebbles) but it is a bit long!
The S-shaped section before the Dolce Via is now completely exposed following a forest fire.
The "yellow circle" markings are easy to spot.
Lots of cherry trees along the route: Yum!
Map and description not used as GPS was available.

Machine-translated

geoguillot@orange.fr

15 Apr 2019 at 08:27 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant hike along the balconies, with sunshine!

Machine-translated

identifiantvisorando

28 May 2018 at 22:14 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Just a little extra info to note: '
(4) '...then turn onto the small path on the left under the chestnut trees...
There are lots of chestnut trees!!! and several small paths branching off to the left.
It should be specified that you need to go up to the entrance of the private property, and the path (single track) to take is opposite.

Otherwise, there are some lovely views. A pleasant, easy walk. I recommend it.

Machine-translated

ROBERTO26200

21 May 2018 at 14:17 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant hike, we got a bit lost at the famous apple tree, but that allowed us to extend the walk a little.

Machine-translated

logicielgps

02 Dec 2017 at 16:36 3600 • Edited: 02 Dec 2017 at 17:56 3600

As the town council did not grant permission to use traditional trail markers (PR), the collective marked the route using yellow paint circles from point 2 (L'Hoste) to point 10 (junction with the Dolce Via in Riotord).

Machine-translated

gazok54

10 Oct 2017 at 20:23 7200

Thank you, Lundijeudi
Please feel free to send us your suggestions for improving the description.

Machine-translated

lundijeudi

10 Oct 2017 at 20:21 7200

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike through chestnut trees ablaze with autumn colours.
The route is well explained except for a slight confusion between the villages of Malleval and Darne Bessac.
The end of the route on the Dolce Via is very pleasant.

Machine-translated