Le Serre des Ayres

A short walk offering views of the Ouvèze Valley, Privas and, on a clear day, the Alps.

Details

278769
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 284 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 283 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 470 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 197 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure: Coux station car park, located just above the campsite car park, along the D104.

(S/E) Take the D104 road towards Privas until you reach the bridge on the left that crosses the Ouvèze.

(1) Cross the bridge towards Coux, then turn left at the end of the bridge. Follow the road uphill, pass the school and arrive at the cemetery on the left.

(2) Take the small path that runs along the left side of the cemetery and continue to the crossroads with a cross (viewpoint over the Ouvèze valley).

(3) Continue along the path on the right which climbs towards Alissas on the mountainside. Pass the Tousches stream, then at the edge of the forest, continue along the path which climbs to the summit at point 430. (viewpoint over the Ouvèze valley and, on a clear day, over the Alps).

(4) Take the path on the right that follows the ridge westwards (note that there are no markings). Pass Serre des Ayres and then Serre Nier and continue along the path that descends (viewpoint over Privas) to a crossroads.

(5) Take the path on the right and follow it to the end, ignoring the paths branching off to the right and left.

(6) Head north-northwest along the tarmac road "Chemin de la Palud" (residential) until you reach the crossroads with "Chemin des Grads".

(7) Turn right and continue along this paved road to Coux (watch out for cars).

(2) Continue along the same route you took on the way there to return to the starting point of the hike (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 197 m - Car park at Coux station
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 200 m - Bridge over the Ouvèze
  3. 2 : km 0.53 - alt. 220 m - On the left, walk along the cemetery.
  4. 3 : km 1.03 - alt. 265 m - Cross, viewpoint over the Ouvèze
  5. 4 : km 2.61 - alt. 430 m - Path on the right on the ridges
  6. 5 : km 4.24 - alt. 433 m - Path on the right
  7. 6 : km 5.09 - alt. 281 m - Chemin de la Palud
  8. 7 : km 5.42 - alt. 273 m - Turn right onto Chemin des Grads.
  9. S/E : km 6.94 - alt. 197 m - Car park at Coux station

Notes

Good walking shoes recommended.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 15001041

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note that some paths have been altered due to clearing work. Lovely walk

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User 3234247

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nothing to add

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Olivier4871!
Olivier4871!

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, very good route tracking by Visorando.

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Ephyra
Ephyra

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with beautiful scenery. It is not difficult, but the trail is rocky in places and requires sturdy footwear.
One drawback: the road at the end, which wouldn't be so bad if it weren't so busy!

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DETHLEFFS 69
DETHLEFFS 69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, a bit dangerous in wet weather because the rocks are very slippery.

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Hulklefou
Hulklefou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely two-hour hike. There was a lot of traffic towards the end on the road section of the return journey (probably due to roadworks in Privas).

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vansco
vansco

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Nothing to write.
Be careful at point 7, we made a mistake, take the descent to the right instead.

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julioboiss
julioboiss

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A nice little hike to stretch your legs or enjoy some views of the Ouvèze river or Privas.
The return trip along the road is a bit risky, as there is no pavement or kerb.

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serakterre
serakterre

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,

A beginner's hike to get to grips with the mountains and elevation changes. Beautiful views.

I recommend it for those new to hiking.

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akella
akella

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

This hike should be avoided in summer as it starts in full east and offers very little shade.
The view is interesting but nothing more, overlooking the Ouvèze valley and then Privas.
The return route from point 7 is not marked at all on the ground and the descent is along a very stony and unstable path, which is not very interesting and hard on the knees.
You then come out into a housing estate, with 2.5 km left to walk along a fairly narrow road with heavy traffic.
This is a walk I will not do again and would not recommend to friends; there are so many other beautiful walking routes in the area!

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domi266
domi266

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Shaved

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bibi
bibi ★

Thank you for your feedback. Does the route on the map not match the route you took?

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benard michel
benard michel

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The signposting to return via the Gruas Pass is poorly done, adding an extra 5 km.

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