Les Estables - Goudet

In Les Estables, head to the car park at the bottom of the village.

(S) Take the^GR®® (red and white markings) along the small road that crosses La Gazeille

(1) then climb towards Rocher Tourte.

(2) After more than a kilometre, you will reach the start of a path that leads to Rechausseyre.
At the edge of the woods, join a^PR®® marked in yellow and continue along it on the left at the edge.
At an altitude of 1376 metres, the trail joins a wide track; take it on the right, cross the Mézenc State Forest and descend, passing close to the beautiful Peyrot farm.
The track turns into a road and is joined by the Tour du Mézenc-Gerbier^GR®® country trail.

(3) After an isolated house, turn left with the^GR®® trails onto the contour path.
The trail joins La Grangette. From there, descend the small road to reach Freycenet-la-Cuche.

(4) Near the village, leave the^GR®® and the road for a path that leads to the church. Reach it and take the road on the left that climbs and quickly joins the^GR®®.
Climb this road until you reach La Ribeyre (elevation 1,247 metres).
Turn right and descend to the Ribeyre farm. Pass it on the right, taking a rough track that crosses the valley.

(5) Collance stream. Head back up towards the D535.
Cross it and enter the hamlet of Largentière.

(6) Leave the^GR®® de Pays trail, which climbs to the left, and continue straight ahead along a small road that turns into a track as it climbs.
Follow this track through the woods, turn left and pass close to the Barthe Redonde farm. Follow the access track to this farm for two kilometres until you reach the hamlet of Charbadeuil. Turn left onto the road and the^GR®® to reach the hamlet of Le Cher.

(7) Turn left, continue for about 500 metres and take a straight path on the right, an old Roman road, which leads through meadows to the village of Présailles.
Cross the road and continue along the straight Roman road, passing the church.

(8) Take the forest road on the left which climbs towards the Monts Breysse.
The road turns into a track.

(9) Leave the^GR®® and the track about 400 metres after the last house, taking a path marked in yellow and for mountain bikes. The path crosses the woods and joins the entrance to a quarry.
Leave the marked trail and take the access track to the quarry on the right.
When the track turns left, continue straight ahead into the woods (markings).

(10) At the three-way junction, take the right-hand branch. Continue straight ahead through the woods until you reach a second three-way junction.

(11) Continue right into a clearing, ignoring the markings.

(12) You will reach a track followed by the^GR®®40. Cross this track, ignoring the^GR®®, and take the path that descends into the woods opposite.

(13) Reach Malhac by turning left/right onto the D281 and find the^GR®®40at the bottom of the village, which you will follow to Goudet.
Take the small road that descends and then climbs again. Leave it on the left at a right-hand bend.
Go over a ridge, cross a road (D500) and then go through a pass between two knolls. Descend with the track towards Fugères.

(14) Take a grassy path on the left at the entrance to Fugères. Cross the road to take a wide path. Turn left at the first crossroads, then leave this path on the right at the second crossroads. Take a grassy path that descends more and more steeply before reaching the Côte de l'Ayre, which overlooks Goudet.

(15) Carefully descend the steep, stony path and reach Goudet.
Follow the small road on the right, then turn left to reach Place de l'Église. Continue along the road towards the Loire and reach the town hall (E).

Total hiking time: 7 hours.
Inn in Freycenet-la-Cuche shortly after (4).
Goat cheese at Barthe Redonde farm between (6) and (7).
Bar restaurant in Présailles.
Hotels, campsites and restaurants in Goudet.

Churches to visit in Freycenet-la-Cuche and Présailles.
The site of Goudet and the castle on its promontory are also worth visiting.