Near the Loire Gorges at Beauzac

Parking at the hamlet of Les Vivas near Beauzac, in the car park near the restaurant ‘La Vielle Ferme’.

(S/E) Head south-east along Rue de la Charreyre to join the D42.

(1) At the junction, cross carefully and take Route des Cotes straight ahead until the first right-hand turn-off.

Follow the red-and-white markings for^{the GR®} de Pays des Gorges de la Loire (^GR®) until you reach (10).

(2) At Côte 603, the^GR® turns sharply (90°) to the right, descending into the forest above the Gorges de la Loire. Walk 100 metres past the houses on Côte Méanne.

(3) Turn left onto the path that climbs and stay on this path on the right until Côte 612, where it turns 90° to the right. Continue to the entrance to the hamlet known as Côte Chaude.

(4) Turn right onto the tarmac road for 50 metres, then, at the bend, go straight on along the path that descends to the 550-metre contour line.

(5) Turn left to join the road below. Cross this departmental road with care and take the small path opposite, which descends steeply towards the hamlet of Le Riou and leads onto a tarmac road.

(6) After the pond and the house on the left, leave the road and take the path on the left which climbs into the woods. At a junction, continue climbing by turning left, then at the path junction turn right to reach the hamlet of Le Plat.

(7) After passing the mobile phone mast on your right, take in the view of the Loire Gorges, the Pont Salomon viaduct and the Monts du Velay. Then carry on straight ahead and, at the Chanteduc road, continue straight on until you reach the large farm at Chanteduc.

(8) Near the large farm, leave the tarmac road and turn left, then carry on straight ahead all the way to La Groslière (rubbish bins). Take the tarmac road on the right.
Please note: in La Groslière, veer slightly to the right, then immediately take the path on the left. You’ll reach a crossroads.

(9) Follow the tarmac road which passes above the Peyragrosse farm. Continue along the left-hand-most road for 100 m. When the road turns at a right angle, take the path on the left and you’ll reach an industrial estate.

(10) Leave the^GR® and take the path on the left which runs alongside the industrial estate for 100 m.
Leave the tarmac road and follow the path to the left, marked with yellow signposts, to the hamlet of Chevalier.

(11) Turn right twice, walk past the sports grounds and come out onto a road near a wayside cross.

(12) Turn left, then right, and head straight on towards Les Ollières; you’ll reach a ‘Stop’ sign near ‘Valprivas espaces verts’.

(13) Turn right onto Rue Pinatons, then left onto Rue du Verdoyer to join the D42.

(14) Cross the road with care and continue straight ahead to join the Route des Vivats; keep going straight on until you reach the hamlet of Les Vivas (signposted for the car park) (S/E).

Nearby, 12 km away by car, is the Himalayan footbridge in the Gorges du Lignon.
Car park at Maubourg Castle near Saint-Maurice de Lignon. The walk to the start is 3.7 km with an elevation gain of 184 m. Return via the same route, with a slightly steep climb.