The three valleys: Volane, Sandron and Oize

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Back from this hike, two points to note:
1) Point 9 from Aizac to St Julien, km 13.17: do not turn right to take the shortcut to the road, but do go round as indicated by the signposting. The track is closed, with several no-entry signs, a dead-end sign and a fence. It seems the owners aren’t too keen on seeing hikers... It’s impossible to ignore the warnings...

2) Much of the walk is on roads (at least 20%), which are admittedly almost never used by anyone other than the residents of the houses they serve, but there are houses everywhere! And very (too) often you pass right under people’s windows...
This is particularly true for the section from St Julien to Aizac. You can’t really say you’re always in the forest or far from civilisation.

Otherwise, it’s still pleasant, especially the return leg. The Kaisaco restaurant in Aizac, right next to the inn, is definitely worth a visit, both for the quality of the produce and that of the chef! Unlikely in a place like this!

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Date of your route : Sep 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, a lovely, challenging and enjoyable hike. Thank you!!

Be careful, however, on the route between KM 32 and KM 33 (between stage 22 “Pont de Sandre” and stage 23 “Carrefour 4 Routes”): the route indicates you should take a path. When we found ourselves on it, a dog attacked us, baring its teeth. Its angry (and clearly very bitter) owner explained to us that this section was now private property, telling us that she lives in the Ardèche precisely so she doesn’t have to see anyone, that I should put away the mobile phone I was holding (which I use as a map), and that she is a true environmentalist, unlike us phone-wielding Sunday hikers. Yet this is the only way to reach the road, and the private nature of the path has not been properly marked (no gate! etc.). She deliberately took a long time to come and calm her dog down, as if she wanted him to bite us. We clearly felt our physical safety was under threat, simply for having walked along a path. She also threatened to call the police because our presence on this path—which she claims to own, though it is quite a distance from her house—annoyed her.

I am therefore leaving this comment, as we agreed with her, so that other walkers do not find themselves on her path again. Perhaps the route needs to be reviewed, or diverted further upstream? Because I maintain that, despite this experience, we had an excellent weekend.

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Date of your route : Sep 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely route, pleasant in early September and offering stunning views

Please note, however, that some landmarks are no longer there and require careful attention.

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Date of your route : Jun 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The scenery is beautiful in spring. However, the walk was made difficult by the tall weeds and the rain (the descent was slippery on the stones). The second half was tough, and we didn’t have time for a swim near the Sandre Bridge.

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