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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 trail has been cleared.
Car park located opposite the Town Hall of La Planche de Gourdon.
(S/E) Opposite the town hall, take the small road on the right that crosses the Oize and leads to Jarniac.
(1) At the first farm in this hamlet, reach the Jarniac signpost and follow the direction of Col de l'Escrinet.
Climb up to the left along a wide path. At the next two crossroads, climb up to the left. The path becomes increasingly overgrown (broom, nettles, etc.), and you will have to make your way through the scrub as best you can
(see Practical Information note), but it is not difficult to find your way.
A little further up, you will reach a small fork; follow the path on the left going uphill towards Col de l'Escrinet. You will 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 ascending to the left, heading north-east (sign: l'Auriol). A little further up, this path leads to grassy terraced fields, turns 90° left between rocks, and climbs up to a wide track.
Follow the track to the Auriol farm. Go around it on the left (very grassy path, not very visible). Join a wide track.
(3) At the crossroads, take this track on the left until the next junction.
(4) Turn right and follow the track.
(5) You will reach the hamlet of Gourdon. Walk along it. Continue straight ahead on the road. A few hundred metres further on, you will reach a slight bend in the road, forming a very wide dirt verge.
(6) The path up to Roc de Gourdon starts at this point, on the left. Quite clear at the start, it becomes a little confusing. Take the path furthest to the right, towards a hunting reserve post.
Continue climbing through thick, bushy and thorny vegetation. Pass close to the hut of an old relay station. A little higher up, on a small plateau, the path splits in two. Take the left fork and continue climbing between the trees; the path becomes clear. After a small bottleneck between the rocks, you will reach the Roc de Gourdon plateau, which you should walk around to enjoy the superb panorama.
(7) Roc de Gourdon. Take the same route back as you took on the way up.
(4) Follow the track on the right leading to the hamlet and Col de Sarrasset. Worth reading: the information panels about the Parc des Monts d'Ardèche and the geological area, just before you reach the crossroads.
(8) Cross the D122, then leave the small road to Sarrasset on your right and go straight up opposite on a wide track, which you should not leave. A little further up, at aPR® junction, continue straight up on the same path opposite.
The terrain flattens out before reaching a fork in a left-hand bend.
(9) Descend along the track on the left. Walk along the left side of the Champrévert farm, pass in front of the Champrévert lodge before reaching the RD122. 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 across a meadow where cows are grazing (cross calmly and quietly so as not to disturb them). The path is quite visible and descends into the Oize valley, heading south.
At a sharp left turn, it heads north-east, climbing slightly and, after a sharp right turn, becoming a wide track. Follow it to the right, heading south-south-west. Stay on this track, which is easy to follow as it is lined with posts. Further down, it passes through the undergrowth, crosses a stream and then joins the Rabachau farm and a small road.
(11) At this junction, look for the yellow and white markings, which are clearly visible. Descend to the right onto the small road until you reach 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, descend to the left along a pretty, well-marked path overlooking the Oize stream. Ignore the small paths that cross this main path.
(13) When you reach an old mill, leave it on your left and continue along the right bank of the stream without leaving the main path.
(14) When you reach the RD257, follow it to the left to go up to the junction with the D256, then turn right and cross the hamlet of La Planche de Gourdon to reach the car park (S/E).
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