From the Chaumasse Water Tower to Mézilhac via the Knoll of Ourseyre

Starting car park at the edge of the dirt track leading to the Water Tower: see § Practical information.

(S) Head south to visit the Water Tower.

(1) Turn back.

(S) Take the dirt track heading north. Cross the D122 and continue straight ahead on the^GRP®® Tour de la Montagne Ardéchoise until you reach a signpost visible from a distance.

(2) Leave the^GRP®® and turn left at a right angle to take a path climbing into the woods. The first few metres of this path are barely visible but immediately afterwards it is well marked; it is, in fact, a former section of^{the GR®®.} Continue climbing until you reach the ridge with a beautiful view of the Alps.

(3) Start with a short detour to the left to take in the view to the north over the Mézenc, the Gerbier de Jonc and the other peaks of the plateau. Then retrace your steps and continue straight on along a path that is quite steep at the start. Follow this path to the Col du Pranlet.

(4) Continue straight on towards the east towards a dirt track. Here you will find the orange-red markings of^{the GRP®®.} Please note: at a left-hand bend, you must leave the dirt track and take a grassy path on the right.

(5) After walking alongside a fence, do not be tempted to turn right towards the access road to the Grange de l’Hôtesse farm. Continue on the signposted route which joins the D122, avoiding a long stretch of tarmac.

(6) Continue along the road towards Lachamp-Raphaël. On leaving the village, ignore the first road on the right (D215) and take the next one, also on the right (D354), for about a hundred metres.

(7) At a timber yard on the right, leave the road and turn left onto a path between two rows of trees, signposted ‘Sommet du Montivernoux’. At the first junction, turn left. Pass a track on the right leading into a field and arrive at a new three-way junction.

(8) Take the path on the right heading towards the summit.

(9) After admiring the 360° view, turn back.

(8) Resume the route to the right and continue to a pass where numerous paths cross.

(10) Do not follow the^GRP®® to the left, which descends to the edge of the woods. If there is no herd, take the path a few metres further on to the left, which runs horizontally across the meadow. At the first junction, take the path on the left which descends and joins the^GRP®® at the end of the tarmac road leading to the Badel farm.

(11) From here, the route follows the^GRP®® all the way. Follow the small road to the D122. Cross over to take a dirt track opposite, which you follow all the way until you rejoin the D122.

(12) Take the road on the left, go straight across at the Col de Mézilhac junction, then turn left onto the small road until you reach the village church square (E).

Coming from Mézilhac, the starting car park is on the dirt track to the left of the D122 at the final bend before the Bourlatier farm. As the bend has no visibility, it is prohibited to turn left; it is better to continue for a few hundred metres and turn round in the farm’s car park.
For the return journey, you can easily leave a vehicle in Mézilhac, in front of or behind the church.
The route follows the orange-red markings of^{the GRP®} Tour de la Montagne Ardéchoise, except for the sections between (2) and (4) and between (7) and (11).
In several places, the route crosses or runs alongside pastures where there may be livestock. Please remember to close the gates properly.

The Water Tower is a feature that forms part of the art trail created by the Monts d’Ardèche Regional Nature Park on the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
The Ferme de Bourlatier is a beautifully restored 17th-century building that hosts numerous events throughout the year. It is well worth a visit.