From Saint-Romans to Beauvoir-en-Royans in walnut country

Park in the main square of the village of Saint-Romans, heading towards Pont-en-Royans, next to the village hall.

(S/E) Head left, downhill, to reach the junction with the D1532.

(1) At the traffic lights, turn right and take the tarmac path running parallel to the D1532, Passage des Dauphins. Pass behind an old walnut drying shed. Continue to the hairpin bend on the right.

(2) At the hairpin bend, leave the tarmac path and take the grassy path which continues straight on to the monument to those shot. After the monument, carry on straight ahead and you will reach the Route du 26 Juillet 1944, which you follow up to the right until you reach the D31b, Route de Beauvoir.

(3) Cross it and take the path opposite which winds its way up to the left, overlooking the road. Head up and you’ll soon come to a T-junction. There, if you turn left you’ll reach the castle ruins (well worth a visit), and to the right you’ll reach the beautiful Porte du Bourg (also well worth a visit). From this gate, continue straight on into the village. Take the time to admire the houses, wander through the narrow streets, visit the convent, and stop for a while in the Place de la Fontaine…. You’ll reach the edge of the village at the junction with Rue du Dauphin.

(4) Continue straight ahead along the “Ancienne route de Presles”, running alongside the Jardins Mellifères. The road climbs gently. At the^first bend to the left, take the path on your right which descends and then climbs again before heading into the forest. Keep heading south-east until you find a path on your left which climbs diagonally at a sharp angle. See Practical Information.

(5) The path takes a sharp right-hand bend and you reach a walnut grove. Walk along the right-hand side of it until you reach a small tarmac road, which you take to the right. It descends towards a stream and climbs back up to the right to reach La Girardière farm.

(6) Go round the farm on the right (it feels as though you’re entering the courtyard), then continue along the small tarmac road to the right towards the walnut groves. At the next farm (a sign on the left, not very visible), leave the road and go to the right, running alongside the building, onto the path that crosses a walnut grove until it emerges at a right-hand bend.

(7) Continue straight on until you reach a meadow offering a lovely view: to the right, the village of Beauvoir-en-Royans; opposite, the Saint-Marcellin plain with the Chambarans in the background; and to the left, the Vercors Drômois. Head down to the right along the fence via the path until you reach the “Cote 240” sign.

(8) Turn sharply left into a walnut grove (again), following the path that leads to the Route de Capitan. Take the road on the right at the “Les Veuillats” sign and continue to the church.

(9) Just before the road descends to the left, with your back to the church, turn right onto the “Montée du Granenc” (pedestrian only) and, at the very bottom, pass in front of the wash house. You will reach the main street of the village of Saint-Romans. Heading back up to the left, you will soon reach the car park where you started (S/E).

(5) Taking this path on the left, it almost feels as though you’re heading back the way you came, but uphill.
If you miss it and carry on straight ahead, you will have to turn back as a gate blocks the path leading to a pumping station. Retracing your steps, the path you need to take will be on your right.

The medieval village of Beauvoir-en-Royans, known as the “Venice of the Dauphins”, whose castle ruins are listed as historic monuments. Take the time to have a stroll…
Please note: if you are doing this walk during the walnut harvest (in autumn), do not pick the nuts, as they are the livelihood of the region’s walnut growers. However, you can buy the harvest or walnut products (walnut oil, caramelised or spiced walnuts, cakes or tarts…) directly from the producers.

Lake Marandan: swimming, restaurant, children’s play area, campsite.