The Doux valley from Saint-Jeure-d'Andaure

A very pleasant hike, especially in the off-season, with significant differences in climate and vegetation between Saint-Jeure-d'Andaure (1,000 m) and the Doux valley (500 m). The views are typical of the Ardèche and change with almost every turn.

Details

2840821
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 690 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 692 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 997 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 490 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park next to the church.

Yellow and white markings

(S/E) Walk 50 metres up the road that crosses Saint-Jeure-d'Andaure and take the small road on the left that descends and serves a few houses. Shortly before the last house, leave the road on the left to take a beautiful path that passes under this house and joins the bottom of a small valley.

(1) Cross the stream and continue along this path, which climbs through a beech forest before leaving the forest (ignore the paths that cross it). After a few metres, you will reach a grassy plateau.

(2) From there, cross a fenced meadow and descend into the valley, passing in front of an isolated house before reaching the Bellevue farm and a small road.

(3) Walk down this road for a few metres and take the path on the left, which gradually moves away from the road and descends along the edge of the woods. The path enters the woods and rejoins the road in a hairpin bend. Follow this road for a few dozen metres to reach a signpost.

(4) Take this path on the left, then very quickly turn right to descend straight into the forest. Gradually swing towards the south side and reach the edge of a meadow at La Roche des Gaulois.

(5) Continue along the path, which continues downhill and joins a small road.

(6) Cross the road and immediately afterwards, following the signs, take a path on the left. The path turns right and begins to descend. This will take you to a place called Blanchard.

(7) Take the access road to this hamlet on the right; it crosses a stream and climbs up to the left. Reach a crossroads and continue straight downhill to reach the village of Labatie-d'Andaure. Continue straight ahead to reach the church.

(8) Turn left in front of the church and shortly afterwards follow a path that descends to the right at the bottom of the valley. Just after passing the cemetery, the path winds to the right to reach a large esplanade on the banks of the Doux.

Turn left on this esplanade and then cross the Doux river via the bridge on the right. Continue straight ahead and let the main road turn right to climb up towards a group of houses.

(9) Once you reach them, turn left to walk alongside these houses, then take the path on the right which winds and climbs quite steeply. After two bends, the path joins a small road.

(10) Take this road opposite, cross the hamlet of Issartial and reach the hamlet of La Rase at the bottom of the descent. Head left towards the bridge over the Doux.

(11) Do not cross the bridge, but take the road on the right leading to the hamlet of Fangier to reach a bend.

End of signposting

(12) Leave the road and take a wide track straight ahead (ignore the path on the left that descends towards the Doux). This climbs 200 m towards a promontory before descending again and passing a ruined house.
Leave this house on your right and continue straight ahead along the edge of the meadow to reach the Doux.

Take the sturdy wooden footbridge on the left and, immediately after crossing, turn onto the path on the left and climb up to join a road.

(13) Take this road on the right, cross the hamlet of Maison Neuve, turn left with the road, then reach a crossroads.

(14) Take the road on the left that climbs towards Galey. Climb fairly steeply, pass the isolated house of Croix de Jeangrand, and reach the access track to Paudécas at a bend. Continue on the road that climbs straight up the ridge and after about 500 m you will reach a three-way junction, located near a cistern.

(15) Leave the road and climb straight up the path opposite, which continues to climb more or less along the ridge. You will reach a goat farm where you will find the yellow and white markings, which you will follow to the finish.

Yellow and white markings

(16) Continue straight ahead on the path, cross a small road and reach a pylon. You will soon reach the village of Saint-Jeure-d'Andaure and its church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 994 m - Church car park
  2. 1 : km 1.31 - alt. 894 m - Stream crossing
  3. 2 : km 2.17 - alt. 945 m - Exit from the forest
  4. 3 : km 2.53 - alt. 944 m - Bellevue farm
  5. 4 : km 2.94 - alt. 877 m - Path at the signpost
  6. 5 : km 3.96 - alt. 735 m - Roche des Gaulois
  7. 6 : km 4.55 - alt. 645 m - Road junction
  8. 7 : km 5.26 - alt. 582 m - Place called Blanchard
  9. 8 : km 6.47 - alt. 535 m - Church. Towards - Doux (rivière)
  10. 9 : km 7.24 - alt. 513 m - Les Chabannes
  11. 10 : km 8.24 - alt. 596 m - Road junction
  12. 11 : km 9.77 - alt. 520 m - Bridge over the Doux
  13. 12 : km 10.14 - alt. 538 m - End of markings
  14. 13 : km 10.92 - alt. 548 m - Doux valley road
  15. 14 : km 12.28 - alt. 567 m - Fork
  16. 15 : km 14.49 - alt. 824 m - Three-way junction (cistern)
  17. 16 : km 15.33 - alt. 895 m - Goat farm
  18. S/E : km 16.53 - alt. 995 m - Church car park

Notes

It is possible to start from Labatie-d'Andaure - crossing point (8) - to finish the hike with the descent.
As always in Ardèche, the ascents and descents are rocky, so wear sturdy footwear!
Yellow and white markings from (S/E) to (12) then from (16) to (S/E)
Picnic tables on the banks of the Doux after (8)

Worth a visit

Roche des Gaulois (rock with cup marks...sacrificial according to the information panel) at (5)
Les truites d'Andaure fish farm when crossing the bridge over the Doux river at (11)
Goat farm La chèvre d'Andaure in (16)

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
MICHEL PETIT
MICHEL PETIT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike starting from LA BATIE point 8. Unfortunately, the entire climb was in the rain. However, it was very pleasant. On the other hand, there was a lot of tarmac, and the descent was not very interesting. The views after reaching the summit at ST JEURE are superb. A bed of broom at point 2 (I was looking for Heidi ).

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randoise
randoise

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely surroundings. I would prefer it if a few places to stop for refreshments were open (café, etc.).

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week,end,marche
week,end,marche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, very detailed description, perfect signage (up to point 12). Accurate duration indicated, including stops (snacks, photos, etc.).

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MPA
MPA

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

far too much tarmac, especially at the end of the hike

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cathyferrer
cathyferrer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely hike on Saturday before the heavy rain the following night.
We set off from Labatie to climb at the start of the hike and return at a more leisurely pace.
We crossed the bridge at point 11 to admire the 'Truites d'Andaure' leisure area, where you can relax, have a drink (or more!), fish and discover the breeding ponds teeming with trout, some of which are quite large.
After point 12, we too easily followed a path that veered too far to the right and had to turn back and cut across the terraces to reach the ruined house below and then the wooden footbridge.
We picked parasol mushrooms near the Rouilles goat farm and chanterelles while crossing the forest towards Le Fay.
This is the real, wild and authentic Ardèche. Thanks to the author.

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guillaume.baer
guillaume.baer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, with no issues in terms of signposting. One might regret the tarmac sections, but it's so beautiful...

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Pasu95
Pasu95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
The road sections did not bother me, as the views were always clear and pleasant.
Be careful at point 16, I took the path on the right. The two paths marked in white and yellow go in the same direction (parallel) about twenty metres apart. The pylon, which you will soon see, will confirm that you have made the right choice.
Similarly, at point 11, do not go through Fangier.
I really enjoyed this route, with just a slight regret about the snow on the higher ground.
It can be completed in less than 5 hours, excluding breaks.
Pascal

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laurent.carraro
laurent.carraro

Thank you for your comment.
Being familiar with the Ardèche paths that appear on the map but are not actually there, I did not attempt to avoid the road between 13 and 15.
From point 13, it may be possible to climb up to the hamlet of Fragnol and continue along the path shown on the map, which joins the small road between 14 and 15.
Worth a try!

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anchanz
anchanz

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very varied route. The descent to Labatie offers magnificent views and the path is very pleasant. The climb up the Doux valley offers beautiful scenery. It's a shame that there is so much road (admittedly with little traffic): practically from point 10 to point 15 (about 6 km with a short break between 12 and 13). 2-3 km could be avoided by taking the tracks that climb directly from the trail to the ridge (option not tested).

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ALLRANDOF
ALLRANDOF

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, varied route. Lovely views of the Vercors, the Trois Becs and more...
There are two picnic tables in Saint Jeure d'Andaure.
We started the route from Labatie d'Andaure and finished with the descent in the afternoon.

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gilbert.agnes@orange.fr
gilbert.agnes@orange.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant day with just one small downside: from point 14 to the finish, there was no shade and it was tarmac.

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JMR43520
JMR43520

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, perfectly described in the Visorando guide. The accuracy of the guide was particularly useful to us as we did the route starting from La Bâtie d'Andaure in the direction indicated in the guide, which has the advantage of climbing to ST JEURES d'ANDAURE in the first part of the hike and descending in the early afternoon from point 1 to point 9 on a largely shaded route.

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