The Saleyron Woods in Labastide-de-Virac

de fr

A beautiful, easy walk that takes you through the shade of the trees in the Ardèche scrubland (very pleasant in the sometimes intense heat) before offering a beautiful view of the Ardèche and the Pont d'Arc.

Details

n°695878
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.41 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 202 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 206 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 394 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 231 m
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Photos

Medieval park Château des Roure
Château des Roure in Labastide de Virac
View of the Pont d'Arc
View of the Pont d'Arc

Description of the walk

Departure from the town hall of Labastide-de-Virac, a few kilometres from Vallon-Pont d'Arc, south of the Ardèche river.
This hike is fully marked in yellow and white and follows part ofthe GR®4 trailat the beginning. Directional signs are located at intersections.

(S/E) Opposite the town hall, take the tarmac road down to the right. Follow theGR®4for a good while.
Cross a cultivated area with mulberry trees on your left, then fields. Continue to the left. The tarmac gives way to a dirt track. There are a few more courgette fields before you reach the forest.

(1) At the "Les Condamines" junction, turn left towards Labastide-de-Virac via Le Gras and leave theGR®4.

(2) At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead towards Labastide-de-Virac via Le Gras. The wide path climbs gradually through the woods.

(3) Pass an old shelter with a cistern fed by rainwater from the roof.
The narrower, stony path then skirts the summit of the Bois de Saleyron on the left, following the yellow and white markings overlooking the meanders of the Ardèche.

(4) Don't miss the view of the Pont d'Arc (signposted viewpoint). Continue along the path, which descends gently for 2 km.

(5) At the "Sous le Saleyron" intersection, keep right towards Labastide-de-Virac via Le Gras.
Turn right again at the next crossroads, then left towards the magnificent Château des Roures, which overlooks the village of Labastide-de-Virac.

(6) All you have to do now is cross the village to the left to find the town hall (S/E), unless you decide to visit the castle first, with its traditional silkworm farm, and enjoy the splendid view from the top of the keep.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 253 m - Labastide-de-Virac Town Hall
  2. 1 : km 1.19 - alt. 280 m - Les Condamines
  3. 2 : km 1.43 - alt. 290 m - Labastide-de-Virac via Le Gras, straight ahead
  4. 3 : km 2.48 - alt. 374 m - Shelter and cistern
  5. 4 : km 3.64 - alt. 365 m - View of the Pont d'Arc
  6. 5 : km 5.28 - alt. 334 m - Intersection "Sous le Saleyron"
  7. 6 : km 7.19 - alt. 240 m - Château des Roures
  8. S/E : km 7.41 - alt. 253 m - Labastide de Virac Town Hall

Notes

there are two car parks: Rue du Malpas to the south-east of the village and the "sous la vieille" district to the south-west.

Worth a visit

Visit to the Château des Roures
Visit to the village

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 30 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
martinou07
martinou07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant, easy hike with good signage. Mostly shaded. Beautiful view of the Pont d'Arc.

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User 10501693

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It is very important to follow the route as described, as it is preferable to have a stony path uphill rather than downhill. Often shaded, which is important these days!

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Florence42
Florence42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk to do before visiting the Chauvet Cave. The woodland is very pleasant. The route is easy and well signposted. The village is also very pretty. Thank you for the itinerary.

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Laurent.GIRAUD
Laurent.GIRAUD
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nice little hike. Most of it is through fairly dense forest, with very few views apart from the panorama just before point 4 (couldn't see the one at point 4, too much vegetation...).
No problem finding your way with the app or a GPX viewer, but the signposting isn't always great.
We took the opportunity to visit the pretty village of Labastide-de-Virac and its castle (entrance fee).
Great little restaurant, "Au vieux porche"!

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ozogiminy
ozogiminy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Don't expect a spectacular view of the Arc Bridge. To see it, you have to climb onto a pile of stones where it's difficult to keep your balance, and even then you can only see a little bit because the vegetation blocks the view. Although it's fairly shaded, the walk can be unpleasant in hot weather.

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Daniel Jaussent
Daniel Jaussent

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy route with magnificent views of the Pont d'Arc. Best avoided during the summer months.

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mic07
mic07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy route, well described (used GPS: no need to read the information).
Viewpoint over Pont d'Arc clearly marked with a small stake on the ground + waypoint on the map. Beautiful panoramic views of Labastide de V. castle.
Thanks to the author of this walk.

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Amaria
Amaria

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk for the whole family, a shaded hike with a beautiful view halfway along the route.

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dougere
dougere

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a shame that the rocky climb isn't rewarded with a nice view of the arch bridge. A small promontory should be built to allow visitors to see over the trees. If it weren't for the sign indicating the viewpoint, we would still be looking for the bridge. The return path is very pleasant between the dry stone walls.

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Dédé et Sophie
Dédé et Sophie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, pleasant, well-shaded walk

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BUGA
BUGA

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

NICE HIKE/WALK BUT NOTHING SPECIAL
A LITTLE MONOTONOUS AS THERE IS NO VIEW OF THE GORGES
THE VIEW OF THE ARC BRIDGE IS SUPERB BUT IT'S BETTER TO HAVE A GOOD VIEW OR A PAIR OF BINOCULARS

CONCLUSION / NICE WALK.

P.S. BE CAREFUL AT THE START / MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TOWARDS THE BOIS DE SALEYRON / THE SIGN IS BARELY VISIBLE. OTHERWISE, NO PROBLEMS.
ENJOY YOUR WALK

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stero
stero

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Just a small error to point out: the starting point is not "opposite" the church, but to the left of the church.

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LeDAN30
LeDAN30

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Nice little walk with a beautiful view of the Pont d'Arc on the south bank of the Ardèche, despite the trees

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SYLDEH
SYLDEH

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Nice hike, but the view of the arch is hidden by trees....

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vagabon
vagabon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A peaceful and easy route with a beautiful view halfway along.
We extended the walk a little at the end by going through the woods to come back with a beautiful view of the village and its castle via a small paved road.

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