Chemin de Stevenson (Robert Louis Stevenson Trail)

A 13-stage journey along the famous route described by Robert Louis Stevenson in his 1878 travel notes. This tour follows the complete route from le Puy-en-Velay to Alès.

Photos

Step by step walk

This route needs several days, find the details below:

1. S
   

   Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas - Pradelles

   20.74 km 305 m 377 m

   This route is the third stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This is undoubtedly the easiest stage of the tour. The route follows the GR®70 (follow the well-known GR® markings). Please note the route may have been slightly modified from what is shown on the map, in particular to avoid a few short stretches of busy road.

   See walk sheet
2. 2
   

   Monastier-sur-Gazeille - Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas

   23.57 km 772 m 483 m

   Second stage of a complete journey along the Chemin de Stevenson between Le-Puy-en-Velay and Alès. It's at Monastier-sur-Gazeille, and thus with this second stage, that Stevenson's real route begins. From this point on, the route follows the GR®70 (Red and White markings). Please note: the markings have been slightly modified from those shown in violet on the IGN map (in particular to avoid a few short stretches of road).

   See walk sheet
3. 3
   

   Le Puy-en-Velay - Monastier-sur-Gazeille

   18.77 km 585 m 286 m

   This route is the first stage of a complete journey along the Chemin de Stevenson between Le-Puy-en-Velay and Alès. Please note that the signposting to follow the Chemin de Stevenson has been modified since 2016. On this first stage, following road repairs on the Le Puy bypass, this description follows this modified itinerary.

   See walk sheet
4. 4
   

   Pradelles - Cheylard-l'Évêque

   22.33 km 397 m 426 m

   This is the 4th stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage marks the transition from the Pays des Puys du Velay, with its open, hilly landscapes, to the Gévaudan, with its more enclosed landscapes and deep woodlands. The route follows the GR®70 (Red and White waymarkers).

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5. 5
   

   Cheylard-l'Évêque - Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Abbey

   20.87 km 606 m 637 m

   Fifth stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage includes significant changes to the GR®70 signposting. Alternatives exist, notably to go directly to La Bastide-Puylaurent without passing through Notre-Dame-des-Neiges.

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6. 6
   

   Notre-Dame-des-Neiges abbey - Chasseradès

   15.49 km 388 m 311 m

   Sixth stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage may include significant changes to the GR®70 signposting.

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7. 7
   

   Chasseradès - Le Bleymard

   18.08 km 541 m 631 m

   Seventh stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage may include significant changes to the GR®70 signposting, and represents the end of the section corresponding to the crossing of the Gévaudan.

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8. 8
   

   Le Bleymard - Pont-de-Montvert

   17.04 km 555 m 769 m

   Eighth stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage may involve significant changes from the GR®70 signposting, and corresponds to the North-South crossing of the Mont Lozère massif.

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9. 9
   

   Pont-de-Montvert - Florac

   21.49 km 385 m 708 m

   Ninth stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage features significant changes to the GR®70 signposting, taking an alternative route to the GR®70 for much of the way. This means that the stage is substantially shorter than the official route. This stage marks the entry of the Chemin de Stevenson into the Cévennes region.

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10. 10
    

    Florac - Cassagnas

    19.89 km 554 m 296 m

    Tenth stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage may involve significant changes to the GR®70 signposting. This stage essentially follows the Mimente valley before it flows into the Tarnon at Florac.

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11. 11
    

    Cassagnas - Saint-Étienne-Vallée-Française (Lébou)

    19.01 km 367 m 919 m

    Eleventh stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage includes significant changes to the GR®70 signposting. This stage lies in the heart of the Cévennes National Park.

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12. 12
    

    Saint-Etienne-Vallée-Française (Lébou) - Mialet (Audibert)

    20.80 km 772 m 654 m

    Twelfth stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage may include significant changes to the GR®70 signposting. It passes through several valleys among the Gardon rivers.

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13. E
    

    Mialet (Audibert) - Alès

    17.47 km 560 m 818 m

    Thirteenth and final stage of a complete journey on the Chemin de Stevenson between Le Puy-en-Velay and Alès. This stage may involve significant changes to the GR®70 signposting, as Stevenson actually stopped at Saint-Jean-du-Gard on his journey. This last stage therefore allows you to return to a town where there are more means of communication to the starting point of the journey, while discovering the last foothills of the Cévennes.

    See walk sheet