Col de Moucheyre walks

Hike with varied landscapes, the Bourges valley with its basalt flows, chestnut woods and blueberry fields, hamlets with old houses. Superb view from the summit.

This magnificent hike in Vivarais Cévenol follows trails and ridge paths offering beautiful views. The Bésorgues river, blocked by basalt flows, has shaped some remarkable sites. The ancient lava lake of Ranc Ranier and the prismatic neck of the Cheylard rock, from which you can enjoy a vast and exceptional 360° panorama, are geological curiosities not to be missed.

The Besorgues is one of many rivers, not to say "torrents" during Cévennes phenomena, which rises on the edge of the Ardèche plateau, then flows southwards down the steep slopes of the Ardèche Cévennes, ending its course in the Ardèche. Halfway along its course, north of Freyssenet (a small hamlet of Labastide/Besorgues), lies a little treasure, hidden away in the middle of unspoilt nature: secret swimming spots in a heavenly setting.

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!

Clinging to the slopes of the Bourges valley, on the gentlest of hillsides, the hamlets bear witness to a way of life that has vanished, traces of which remain in a landscape that is gradually closing in: beautiful buildings, meadows, fields and vineyards still tended, chestnut groves and blueberries. This is the heart of the Ardèche Hautes Cévennes.

The first stage of this two-day loop around the Rocher de Cheylard takes you from the edge of the Ray-Pic waterfall to Aizac, a small village in the Cévennes Ardéchoises, perched on a pass between Volane and Besorgues. Beech forests, broom-covered moors, chestnut trees, Roman roads, crystal-clear streams, passes with breathtaking views... you will walk from the Ardèche plateau to the lower Ardèche.

Two-day loop in the Cévennes Ardéchoises. The Besorgues and Bourges are two Cévennes rivers, or rather torrents, with crystal-clear waters.Between the two, a short walk from the famous Ray-Pic waterfall, the Rocher de Cheylard (1,412 m) offers a natural viewpoint over the surrounding landscape.On this two-day hike, you will discover these rugged landscapes, deep valleys, the edges of the Ardèche plateau, and small hamlets and villages nestled in the countryside.