Old Valley of Saints Trail and Pic de l'Avoiron tower

This walk between Boudes and Saint-Hérent allows you to discover the landscapes around the Pic de l'Avoiron and get closer to the Vallée des Saints.

If you approach the old entrance to the Vallée des Saints, you will find that it is now closed.

Details

1312290
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.63 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 198 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 196 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 640 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 457 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the entrance to Boudes.
Markings: No markings to follow

(S/E) From the car park, turn left onto Rue du Coufin towards the centre. Take thethird street on the left, turn right onto Rue des Forts, then left and cross the bridge over the Couzilloux.

(1) After the bridge, turn right onto Rue de l'Avoiron and do not take the path that leads to Cheminées des Fées. Continue along Rue de l'Avoiron, which turns left, and pass in front of the cemetery.

(2) 100 metres after the cemetery, at the crossroads, follow the path opposite on the far left.

(3) At the sign prohibiting access to the Vallée des Saints, continue along the path and enter the field for 10 metres, then turn right onto the path that goes uphill.

(4) At the intersection, turn left and continue straight ahead to pass at the foot of Pic de l'Avoiron, which is on your right.

(5) At Charmaix Bas, pass to the left of the farm and then at the calvary, take the road on the right.

(6) At the junction with the road leading to the hamlet of Videau, turn right towards Saint-Hérent. Turn right at the T-junction to reach the hamlet.

(7) Immediately after leaving Saint-Hérent, on the right-hand side of the road, take the path that runs alongside the road and descends rapidly towards the Croix farm.

(8) Turn right and go down the path that leads to the Courbière stream, cross the ford or take the footbridge and continue towards the village of Pouilloux.

(9) Continue straight ahead until you reach the crossroads at the cemetery in Boudes.

(2) Turn left and retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 458 m - Car park at the entrance to Boudes
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 462 m - After the bridge
  3. 2 : km 0.89 - alt. 486 m - Intersection after the cemetery
  4. 3 : km 1.61 - alt. 533 m - Vallée des Saints sign
  5. 4 : km 1.94 - alt. 563 m - Crossroads Chemins
  6. 5 : km 2.97 - alt. 632 m - Chamaix Bas
  7. 6 : km 3.76 - alt. 618 m - Crossroads towards Hameau de Videau
  8. 7 : km 4.66 - alt. 597 m - Saint-Hérent
  9. 8 : km 5.09 - alt. 560 m - Ferme de la Croix
  10. 9 : km 6.74 - alt. 504 m - Village of Pouilloux
  11. S/E : km 8.62 - alt. 458 m - Car park at the entrance to Boudes

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Magbad
Magbad

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with stunning views of the vineyards, Pic D'Avoiron, and beautiful traditional houses in Boudes.
No other hikers, even in high season: they are all on the Vallée des Saints hike... the car park is full.
A good 20-30 minute climb as soon as you leave the village, on a slightly rough but passable path.
Take a short detour to the church of St Hérent.
There are no markings on much of the route, so keep a close eye on the app.

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gilbonson
gilbonson

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for these maps, which have enabled us to discover this beautiful agricultural region.

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pierre5205
pierre5205

Today, I did this hike again, and I will clarify the uncertainties in the description and remove one of the sections on the small road.
So, more details and more nature!

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cvantalon
cvantalon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

In fact, this yellow-marked route should be called the "Tour de l'Avoiron" because, since the closure of point number 3, you cannot see the Valley of Saints at all.
Despite a mistake after point 3, we got back on the route but left the route after Charmaix Bas (point 5) by turning left instead of right in order to reach the junction with the blue-marked trail called "Vallée des Saints, Sentier des Cheminées des Fées" (Valley of Saints, Fairy Chimneys Trail), which allowed us to cross the Valley of Saints and return via Bard.
total 7.850 km

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pierre5205
pierre5205

I am not in the area at the moment!

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GETHE
GETHE

Thank you again for your feedback on this matter.
Hope to see you soon
GETHE

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madydou
madydou ★

Let us hope that the author of this route, upon reading your feedback, will review the route.
To be continued, then.

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GETHE
GETHE

Hello,
We turned left at point 4 and found ourselves facing a barbed wire fence
We turned around and took the path on the right at point 4, and a little further on we found a salmon-coloured marker???
So I don't know what we did at point 4. We'll have to go back there (lol).

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madydou
madydou ★

Hello GETHE,
After checking the route, you must turn left at point 4.

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GETHE
GETHE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is a route that allows you to discover the landscape and beautiful buildings (St-Hérent). There are few salmon markings and there is an error in the route at point 4. You need to turn right and then use your mobile phone to find your way...

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Rev'O
Rev'O

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Some passages are a bit slippery, especially in wet autumn weather, and are worth mentioning (risk of slipping).

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mayekeul
mayekeul

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

There is a little too much tarmac on the last part of the route. However, the walk is pleasant and does not present any major difficulties.

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Tchoup
Tchoup

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Once you arrive in Boudes, there is a car park dedicated to the Valley of Saints, which is the starting point for the hike. The signposting has been redone. Follow the blue markings (and the arrows for the Valley of Saints) and you will complete the entire route without any difficulty.
The sign at the start says 8 km, but in the end, we only did 6.
A pleasant hike with beautiful scenery in the Colorado-like landscape.

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chguilleminot
chguilleminot

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The title of this hike, "Vallées des Saints" (Valley of Saints), is misleading because it bypasses the Colorado site.
I noticed the anomaly and decided to go via the fairy chimneys on the way there and return via this route, even though it was pleasant.

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chantof
chantof

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There is a lack of signposting, and even with the description, I found myself on the road for much of the end of the walk.

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