Labastide-sur-Bésorgues walks

Superb hike on the Cime de Rouyon and the Rocher de Faux-Fay. Splendid panorama on the sides of the Bésorgues valley where paths, paved slanting streets, terraces and pastures draw the Ardèche mountain landscape: exceptional and wild landscape, magnificent basalt rocks, streams, torrents, impetuous waterfalls.

This magnificent hike in Vivarais Cévenol follows trails and ridge paths offering beautiful views. The Bésorgues river, blocked by basalt flows, has shaped some remarkable sites. The ancient lava lake of Ranc Ranier and the prismatic neck of the Cheylard rock, from which you can enjoy a vast and exceptional 360° panorama, are geological curiosities not to be missed.

At a height of 808m, the Aizac Volcano is of the Strombolian type: eruption, explosion, lava flows. It towers over the village from its height of 80,000 years. The basalt flow resulting from its activity has a remarkable prismatic structure, which can be seen in particular near Antraigues-sur-Volane. This is an easy, themed walk that is suitable for families and will interest children: information panels are placed along the route to educate young and old alike.

The Besorgues is one of many rivers, not to say "torrents" during Cévennes phenomena, which rises on the edge of the Ardèche plateau, then flows southwards down the steep slopes of the Ardèche Cévennes, ending its course in the Ardèche. Halfway along its course, north of Freyssenet (a small hamlet of Labastide/Besorgues), lies a little treasure, hidden away in the middle of unspoilt nature: secret swimming spots in a heavenly setting.

Second stage of this two-day loop around the Rocher de Cheylard, which takes you back to your starting point from the previous day via a different route: the Ray-Pic waterfall.After passing the summit of the Rouyon massif, descend towards the Besorgues river and climb up the other side towards the Ardèche plateau, where broom gives way to wild blueberries.

A beautiful walk through the chestnut groves on both the Volane and Besorgues sides. On the upper part, around the Cime de Rouyon, there is an unobstructed view of the Ardèche plateau to the north and west, and to the east and south, the Coiron, the Alps, the Cévennes and the Tanargue.

From chestnut trees to the moorland that precedes the Ardèche plateau, along beautiful paths with wide views, this is a relatively short but varied circular route with a slight elevation gain and a somewhat challenging start to the descent.

Walk along the banks and heights of the Bourges River, which is well exposed to the south and offers beautiful panoramic views.

From Le Ranc to Aubignas, Aubignas to Le Libonès, and Le Libonès to Les Terrisses, there were once footpaths that were essential for life and trade between these hamlets. This hike offers the chance to rediscover these traces. You may have to search around a bit, either because the paths have been abandoned or because work has altered their course. The path between Cros du Libonès and Les Terrisses, long abandoned, is once again passable with a modified route.

A very beautiful hike in volcanic Ardèche: magnificent scenery, rocky peaks, scree, clapas. The lava flow at Antraigues, from the young Aizac volcano (approximately 80,000 years old), invaded the Mas, Bise and Volane valleys due to the steepness of the terrain, leaving numerous traces of this eruptive period. The promontory on which the village is built, with its variety of colours and shapes, is surprising.

You will discover a magnificent view of the Hautes Cévennes Ardéchoises and the land of young volcanoes. The Château de Craux is located in the commune of Genestelle, at an altitude of around 650 m. It is built on the crater of the volcano (neck). It stands in the middle of vast meadows, surrounded by a superb chestnut grove, and overlooks the Volane and Sandron valleys. 6/10/2023 Moderator's message: at point (4) hike modified because the educational trail around the neck plateau has been closed.

Starting from the Pont de Veyrières silk mill eco-museum, climb towards Chirols and then the Sainte-Marguerite Chapel, a summit bristling with various antennas and the highest point of the route, offering a magnificent view of the Coiron and the Ardèche Cévennes. Return via the Revescu ridges, with views over the plateau, and descend via the hamlet of Aubignas to the starting point.

"Champ" is a deformation of "Cham": a rocky, bare plateau. From this plateau, the Monts d'Ardèche appear as if shaped by geological forces, at the centre of a gigantic amphitheatre formed by the Cévennes, the volcanoes of Auvergne, the Vercors and the Alps. Monumental landmarks in the history of the Earth. A grandiose scene where the presence of man seems very discreet, yet his mark is clearly there, engraved in the landscape. Wild valleys with crystal-clear waters.

Superb trails and landscapes. Between Burzet and Les Sausses, on the left bank, the old Lachamp-Raphaël road is one of the most beautiful paved slanting streets in the Ardèche. On the right bank, on the way back, the old peatland road also has a wide, well-preserved paved slanting street under the chestnut trees and leads to the Roman road.

Hike with varied landscapes, the Bourges valley with its basalt flows, chestnut woods and blueberry fields, hamlets with old houses. Superb view from the summit.