The Mont Aigu circular walk starting from Laboule

From Joyeuse, head up the Beaume valley towards Valgorge and then Laboule. Walk through the village, follow the signs to the visitors’ car park and park there.

(S/E) From the car park, set off along the road towards Laboule. Once you’ve entered the village, continue to the first junction.

(1) Take a road on the right which quickly turns into a footpath that soon joins a road at a place called Les Cebeyres.

(2) Turn right onto this road and, at the first marked bend on the right, take the path on the left and follow it to a cross. Then turn left onto a path that leads you to the hamlet of Valos, where you’ll rejoin a road.

(3) Turn right and, after a few dozen metres, take a small path leading downhill to the left. Cross a footbridge over the River Salindres, then follow the path to a junction of three roads.

(4) Take the road opposite and, at the entrance to a cul-de-sac hamlet, follow a small path on the left. Pass above the hamlet and, at the first junction, turn left. The path winds through the forest and the climb is steady. Gradually, heath and broom take over. Continue this long climb to the Col du Merle.

(5) At this point, take the wide track on the left (^GR® de Pays Tour du Tanargue), which climbs gently and leaves the forest at the Suc du Capitaine, where a superb view opens up before you. Continue along this track to the Col de Sucheyre, where you’ll find signposts for the climb up to Mont Aigu.

(6) Take the narrow path on the right.
It’s a steep climb straight away! After a few metres, turn left. The slope gets even steeper. Cross a section of large boulders, then a path leads to the summit of Mont Aigu.

(7) From the summit, there’s a superb view of the Alps, the Monts d’Ardèche and the Cévennes...
Turn back until you reach the track.
(Note that from the summit, a path leads to the Col des Langoustines, our next stop).

(6) Continue along the track to the right and follow it to the Col des Langoustines.

(8) At the pass, as you round a bend to the right, turn onto the path leading off to the left.

(9) At the 1269 mark, leave the^GRP® and continue to the left, staying on this wide path which, via a long, steady and easy descent, will take you to the hamlet of Les Cebeyres.

(2) Then turn right back onto the path you took on the way there, following it in the opposite direction until you reach the first junction with a road.

(1) Turn left and continue to the car park (S/E).