From the Monts du Matin to the Valence plain

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A cycle route, mostly along minor roads, starting from Rochefort-Samson, which takes you, over a distance of 45 km, through the communes of the Monts du Matin and the Valence plain. The foothills of the Vercors will accompany you, with a constant view of the Mont Musan. Finally, this ride will take you past or through 12 villages along the route.

Details

n°41577276
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  • Touring/Gravel
    Activity: Touring/Gravel
  • ↔
    Distance: 27.65 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,411 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,385 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,506 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 653 ft
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Photos

Musan

Description of the route

Start from Place du Riousset in Rochefort-Samson.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the village centre via Rue des Fontaines and join the D125 (Route de Chabeuil), turning left onto it, until you reach the next junction.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin des Blaches, heading towards Les Blaches, La Chapelle and Les Artailles, until you reach a four-way junction at the top (with a fire hydrant on your right).

(2) Ignore Les Blaches and Les Artailles, and head due south along the ridge (Chemin de Barbières). At the next junction, carry on straight ahead (Côte de Bellevue), skirt the cemetery and reach the Grande Rue in the centre of Barbières.

(3) Turn left, walk past the church and carry on until you reach the cliffs and a junction. Turn right to cross a small bridge and head along the Route des Chovets until you reach a multi-way junction.

(4) Turn left onto theD119A, towards Saint-Vincent-la-Commanderie, and carry on straight ahead. Ride through the village, keeping towards Peyrus, then continue on the D102, towards Chabeuil, until you reach the next junction.

(5) Head straight ahead towards Peyrus centre and, at the church, turn sharp right onto the D262 towards Châteaudouble. Drive through the village, passing the town hall and the church, until you reach a three-way junction with a wayside cross.

(6) Take the D262 towards Combovin and follow it to a four-way junction, just after crossing a small bridge

(7) Turn right onto the D154 towards Barcelonne, then 350 m further on, leave the Chabeuil road and take the D401 uphill to the left, towards Barcelonne. Continue to the junction with the D188.

(8) Ignore the sign for Chabeuil and turn left towards Barcelonne. Drive straight through the village and continue until you reach a road on the right.

(9) Follow this road towards Montvendre and head for the village centre.

(10) Turn right, passing the school and then the church. At the bend, head north-west along Chemin des Sables and follow the sign for the Tour de la Petite Raye cycle route no. 3.

(11) At the junction in the hamlet of Claveton, first turn left then right to stay on the same path. Continue straight on at the next junction, passing the sand quarries – hence the road’s name – and arrive opposite the Chabeuil cultural centre.

(12) Turn left onto Chemin du Pré des Dames and follow the green space until you reach the swimming pool and the church.

(13) Turn left onto Rue des Remparts, heading towards the town centre.

(14) In front of the fortified gate, cross the bridge over the Véore, then turn immediately right towards the market area and the post office. Then join the cycle path; to the left of this is Avenue Georges Abel. Carry on straight ahead, continuing along Avenue Marcel Courthial, and leave the town.

(15) Cross the Route du Vercors (D68), then continue straight ahead onto Chemin de la Jeanette. At Bourbourées, continue straight ahead along Chemin de la Limacole until you reach the junction with the D119.

(16) Carry on straight ahead towards Charpey, passing the Valence-Saint-Didier golf course, then enter the village of Saint-Didier and reach a four-way junction just after No. 65.

(17) Carry on straight ahead along Route du Tram, cross the bridge towards Bésayes, then, at the three-way junction that follows, keep left and pass to the left of the car repair garage.

(18) At the Stop sign, turn left onto the D102, towards Bésayes. At the entrance to the village, turn right onto Chemin de Saint-Flour. Road cyclists take note: this section of road is unpaved as far as the junction by the care home.

(19) Continue straight on towards Marches, and stay on this road until you reach a four-way junction within sight of the village.

(20) Turn right onto Route de Fiancey, then, 750 m further on, turn due north onto Route de la Barberolle. At the next junction, carry on straight ahead and continue to the next Fork in the road.

(21) Turn right, cross a road (D149) and take the road opposite, Route de Samsonnes, until you reach a three-way junction.

(22) Turn right, towards Les Pivats, facing the mountain. In the hamlet, stay on Route de Samsonnes, keeping to the right. 500 m further on, after a steep but short climb, turn left towards Fleurs (carpentry firm). Continue until you reach a steep descent and, after crossing a stream, climb back up to the Favons district. Carry on until you reach a Stop sign at the end of Chemin des Favons.

(23) Turn right (D124) then, at the give-way sign, turn right again onto the D125 towards Rochefort-Samson and head for the Place du Riousset (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,220 ft - Place du Riousset, car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.38 - alt. 1,296 ft - Chemin des Blaches
  3. 2 : mi 0.66 - alt. 1,381 ft - Junction (Chemin de Barbières)
  4. 3 : mi 1.57 - alt. 1,421 ft - Barbière, Grande Rue - Barberolle (Rivière)
  5. 4 : mi 2.77 - alt. 1,257 ft - D119 A - Barberolle (Rivière)
  6. 5 : mi 5.84 - alt. 1,243 ft - Junction - Lierne (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Véore
  7. 6 : mi 7.47 - alt. 1,188 ft - D262 - Le château de Chateaudouble.
  8. 7 : mi 9.24 - alt. 1,158 ft - D154 - Véore (rivière) - Affluent du Rhône
  9. 8 : mi 11.42 - alt. 938 ft - D188
  10. 9 : mi 12.08 - alt. 945 ft - Turn right
  11. 10 : mi 13.63 - alt. 663 ft - Montvendre
  12. 11 : mi 14.89 - alt. 669 ft - Claveton hamlet
  13. 12 : mi 15.56 - alt. 676 ft - Chemin du Pré des Dames
  14. 13 : mi 15.72 - alt. 689 ft - Rue des Remparts
  15. 14 : mi 15.9 - alt. 696 ft - Monumental Gate
  16. 15 : mi 16.89 - alt. 735 ft - Chemin de la Jeanette
  17. 16 : mi 18.78 - alt. 778 ft - Junction with the D119
  18. 17 : mi 19.99 - alt. 810 ft - Route du Tram
  19. 18 : mi 21.15 - alt. 866 ft - D102 - Barberolle (Rivière)
  20. 19 : mi 21.92 - alt. 879 ft - Junction by the care home
  21. 20 : mi 22.96 - alt. 965 ft - Route de Fiancey
  22. 21 : mi 23.66 - alt. 1,004 ft - Route de Samsonnes
  23. 22 : mi 23.96 - alt. 1,020 ft - Three-way junction
  24. 23 : mi 26.2 - alt. 1,142 ft - Stop sign, end of the Chemin des Favons
  25. S/E : mi 27.65 - alt. 1,220 ft - Place du Riousset, car park

Notes

The walk starts in Rochefort-Samson, but there’s nothing to stop you starting it from another village.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
gabinou07
gabinou07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An excellent route for exploring these charming villages at the foot of the Vercors. The roads are quiet, but do keep an eye on the wind direction, as it can be strong depending on the weather and the time of day. There are places to eat in several of the villages along the route if required.

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