Col de Rotisson - Serre de Barrite

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A route for experienced hikers near the Rhône Valley.

Details

n°5026340
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 19.57 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 642 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 644 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 781 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 355 m
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Description of the walk

Park at Col de Rotisson, near the fire water reservoir, ensuring that access is left clear.

(S/E) Follow the road (D532) carefully towards the houses of Rotisson.

(1) Leave the tarmac road and take a path on the right.

(2) Cross the Turzon and continue south.

(3) When you reach this crossroads, follow the wide path on the right that goes around Tromparent and leads to a four-way crossroads.

(4) Take the tarmac road on the left and follow it for about 3 km, passing through Clavel and Aubinas.

(5) At Feyssier (ruins), take the wide forest track uphill on the right that goes around Serre de Meran. Ignore a turn-off on the left and then another on the right.

(6) Turn right, then keep left at the fork immediately after. Continue to the Col de Méran, with the Girbaud temple on your right, opposite.

(7) Cross the large crossroads and continue straight ahead. Further on, keep left at the fork.

(8) Begin a difficult descent with steep steps, so take care. Before descending, admire the Château de Pierregourde.
At the bottom of the descent, turn right onto a wide dirt track that follows theGR®42and join the Col de Gilhac.

(9) Cross the field to join the path that runs parallel to the road and joins it further on at an open space.

(10) Cross the road and continue straight ahead to stay on theGR®42. Keep going straight ahead and at the Combeau track junction, go straight ahead.

(11) Leave theGR®42for a moment to follow a shortcut through the forest on the right, then rejoin the GR®. Continue to the right.

(12) Leave the GR® and turn right; if you miss this turn, don't worry, just take the next track on the right.

(13) At a place called Moulin à Vent, cross the road to join the track slightly to the right, which leads to a four-way junction further on.

(14) Stay on the tarmac road on the left for 200 metres.

(15) Take the track on the left to follow the Serre de Chastelou.

(16) At the Fauries crossroads, ignore the side roads and go straight ahead. Then bear left towards Gatou.

(17) Leave the tarmac road at Gatou by turning right. Turn left before the houses.

(18) Turn right.

(19) Turn sharply right and join the Ruisseau des Vans.

(20) Turn left to cross it and continue straight on to the water reserve car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 429 m - Parking near the fire water reservoir. - Col de Rotisson (428m)
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 421 m - Leave the D532 at the end of the houses.
  3. 2 : km 0.7 - alt. 355 m - Crossing the - Turzon (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 1.21 - alt. 443 m - Crossroads, right
  5. 4 : km 1.77 - alt. 440 m - Crossroads, left (road)
  6. 5 : km 4.57 - alt. 458 m - Feyssier, track on the right
  7. 6 : km 5.83 - alt. 590 m - Crossroads, right
  8. 7 : km 6.36 - alt. 547 m - Col de Meran (546m)
  9. 8 : km 7.11 - alt. 620 m - This is a dangerous descent, so take care.
  10. 9 : km 8.08 - alt. 520 m - Col de Gilhac (520m)
  11. 10 : km 8.67 - alt. 545 m - Cross the road.
  12. 11 : km 11.16 - alt. 698 m - Shortcut to the right
  13. 12 : km 12.94 - alt. 753 m - Leave the GR® trail on the right.
  14. 13 : km 13.78 - alt. 627 m - Windmill
  15. 14 : km 14.43 - alt. 600 m - Crossroads, left road
  16. 15 : km 14.73 - alt. 609 m - Track on the left
  17. 16 : km 15.91 - alt. 568 m - Les Fauries, straight ahead
  18. 17 : km 17.22 - alt. 489 m - Gatou
  19. 18 : km 17.97 - alt. 459 m - Fork to the right
  20. 19 : km 18.47 - alt. 416 m - Right-hand hairpin bend
  21. 20 : km 19.03 - alt. 390 m - Ruisseau des Vans
  22. S/E : km 19.57 - alt. 429 m - Parking near the fire water reservoir.

Notes

(2) Please note that if the flow is too strong, you can return to (S/E). Head west on the D232, leave it to take the first small road on the left and rejoin the route at (4).

(6) If you turn left, you will have a better view, particularly of Pierregourde Castle, but the descent is steeper; the path on the right is easier.

Worth a visit

Pierregourde Castle.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Denis_Nozieres
Denis_Nozieres

Thank you for your message 👍

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MICHEL PETIT
MICHEL PETIT
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, easier than its neighbour which passes by the ruins of Pierregourde Castle. The paths are easy to walk on, with no difficulties encountered. The shaded sections are very pleasant at this time of year.

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Denis_Nozieres
Denis_Nozieres

Thank you for your encouragement!

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monile
monile

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had a great time hiking... The views are magnificent.
It's true that there was a bit of tarmac road, but there was no traffic, so it was really peaceful.
We met a few walkers and quad bikes.
Be careful on the descent after point 8 because the ground is a bit slippery, but the broom helps to prevent you from slipping.
Thank you very much for this beautiful route.

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ClaudeD26
ClaudeD26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Mostly wide paths, allowing two or three people to walk side by side, beautiful views, although the fog spoiled the end of our hike this season. Elevation gain of 700m rather than 580m, but very accessible to everyone, with just two short sections that are a little technical. Best done in spring when it's not freezing! And in summer, most of the route is shaded by trees, so it's also feasible in hot weather. Don't hesitate to give it a go!
Not a soul in sight on the entire route... which is understandable at this time of year with the freezing weather and strong north wind.

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marcheurs07
marcheurs07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Hello, we enjoyed our hike in the sunshine. We went in the opposite direction. It's a shame that the Vercors and Ardèche mountains were a bit foggy. I'm going to redo a few sections to see if I can avoid the 3 kilometres of tarmac. Otherwise, we didn't see anyone else on the route apart from 3 or 4 motorbikes.

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Divero
Divero

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
Hike done in ideal weather, no difficulties except for the descent to Pierre Gourde Castle. Breathtaking panoramas, completed in 8 hours with a 45-minute snack break, a visit to Pierre Gourde and endless photos...
PS: for a Saturday, there weren't many people around. We came across five motorbikes and a lady walking her dog...
And speaking of dogs, we had no problems crossing the hamlets.

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DEMENGEON Chantal
DEMENGEON Chantal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We decided to do the hike in reverse, crossing the forest and returning via a very open section with breathtaking scenery. The weather was very clear and we could see for miles. We didn't know this part of the Ardèche and really enjoyed the day.
Thank you.

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fr.simon
fr.simon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike at the start of the season. In good weather, the landscapes are magnificent.

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1gaspard
1gaspard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A varied route with sweeping views of the Rhône Valley and the Ardèche mountains, depending on the location. The hike starts on tarmac for 2 or 3 kilometres, which makes you worry about what's to come... but don't worry! Most of the route follows paths or tracks. I think it's nice (the Château de Pierre Gourde, which you can see from behind as you arrive, is worth a detour and I recommend getting closer to it – the return trip isn't very long).

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