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Yellow and whitePR®® markings are practically non-existent (only a few directional posts) except on the very last section where the path has been cleared.
Car park opposite La Planche de Gourdon Town Hall.
(S/E) Opposite the town hall, head down the small road on the right which crosses the Oize and leads to Jarniac.
(1) At the first farm in this hamlet, reach the Jarniac signpost and follow the signs for Col de l'Escrinet. Head up to the left along a wide path. At the next two junctions, turn left. The path becomes increasingly overgrown (broom, nettles, etc.), and you’ll have to make your way through the undergrowth as best you can. (see Practical Information note), but you should have no trouble finding your way. A little further up, reach a small fork and follow the path on the left up towards the Col de l'Escrinet. Reach the small road leading to the hamlet of Gourdon and the Geneste mast.
(2) Continue straight ahead towards Col de l'Escrinet. Pass in front of the house in the hamlet of La Geneste, and immediately afterwards take the path climbing to the left, heading north-east (sign: l'Auriol). A little further up, this path emerges near grassy terraced fields, turns 90° to the left between rocks, and climbs up to a wide track. Follow the track to the Auriol farm. Go round it on the left (very grassy path, not very visible). Join a wide track.
(3) At the junction, take this track to the left until the next fork.
(4) Turn right and follow the track.
(5) Reach the hamlet of Gourdon. Walk along its edge. Continue straight ahead on the road. A few hundred metres further on, you’ll reach a slight bend in the road, forming a very wide earth verge.
(6) The path up to Roc de Gourdon starts here, on the left. Fairly well-marked at the start, it becomes a bit unclear. Take the path furthest to the right instead, heading towards a gamekeeper’s post. Continue the climb through thick, bushy and prickly vegetation. Pass close to a hut that was once a coaching inn. A little further up, on a small flat area, the path splits in two. Take the left-hand path and continue climbing through the trees; the route becomes clear. After a narrow passage between the rocks, you reach the Roc de Gourdon plateau, which you should walk around to enjoy the superb panoramic views.
(7) Roc de Gourdon. Return via the same route as on the way up.
(4) Follow the track to the right leading to the hamlet and Col de Sarrasset. Note: read the information boards for the Monts d’Ardèche Park and the Geological Area, just before reaching the junction.
(8) Cross the D122, then leave the small Sarrasset road on your right and head straight up the wide track directly opposite, which you must not leave. A little further up, at a junction with the PR® trail, continue climbing along the same path straight ahead. The terrain flattens out before reaching a fork in a left-hand bend.
(9) Head down the track on the left. Walk past the Champrévert farm on your left, passing the Champrévert lodge before reaching the D122 road. Follow it to the left for about a hundred metres.
(10) Turn right (there is a yellow and white marker on the right on the cattle gate) to take a path crossing a meadow where cows are grazing (cross calmly and quietly so as not to disturb them). The path is fairly visible and descends into the Oize valley, heading south. At a sharp bend to the left, it turns north-east, climbs slightly and, after a sharp bend to the right, becomes a wide track. Follow it to the right, heading south-south-west. Do not leave this track, which is easy to follow as it is lined with posts. Further down, it passes through woodland, crosses a stream and then joins the Rabachau farm and a small road.
(11) At this junction, follow the clearly marked yellow and white signposts. Head down to the right along the small road until the next crossroads, at a hairpin bend. Turn right and continue along the road. Cross the Oize and continue towards the hamlet of Courbière.
(12) Just before the hamlet, head down to the left along a lovely, well-maintained and clearly marked path overlooking the Oize stream. Ignore the small tracks crossing this main path.
(13) When you reach an old mill, leave it on your left and continue, keeping to the right bank of the stream without leaving the main path.
(14) Reach the RD257, follow it to the left up to the junction with the D256, then turn right, cross the hamlet of La Planche de Gourdon to reach the car park (S/E).
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