Charray Mountain and ruins of the former Priory

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, but the first part is on a forest road with no view, which is a bit boring. If I go back, I'll do the round trip on the beautiful balcony trail to the viewpoint over Privas.
A small variation: at Col du Renard, before starting the climb, take a small path heading north which, 150 metres further on, leads to a rocky promontory overlooking the Mézayon valley.
At the top, the markings lead directly to the ruins and then cross them to descend on the other side, but the descent is very steep, so it is better to retrace your steps as suggested in the description.

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Date of your route : Sep 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with superb views. Do it in June when there is an abundance of flowers and butterflies, then do it again in September.
The "difficult" rating is, in my opinion, due to a steep hill in the middle of the hike, but it is entirely doable.

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Date of your route : Oct 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The start of the hike isn't particularly interesting or exciting, but as soon as you start climbing, you begin to see beautiful things and there are several stunning viewpoints.
There's not much left of the ruins, but it's still quite an incredible place when you think about it, lost in the middle of the forest at the top of the pass.
It took us 1 hour and 40 minutes without pushing ourselves too hard and with a few short stops.
For parking, I recommend taking the road to the start of the hike by car. There are several places where you can park (if your car isn't too low). Parking in the two small areas means you have to walk along the busy main road.

There was a hunt going on, so I came across quite a few hunters and dogs... I'm not a big fan of them, but it's not a problem if you stay on the path, and the hunters I met were friendly and considerate.

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Date of your route : Aug 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, even in hot weather, as it is very shaded (except for the return via the balcony).
The steep but very accessible climb to the right at the Col du Renard is just before you reach it and is indicated by signs that are slightly hidden by trees (then follow the yellow and white markings); the path to the right just at the pass is full of brambles and leads nowhere.
A small yellow sign on the right (with indecipherable inscriptions) on the way up to point 3 indicates the path to the ruins of the priory (a shady and restful spot).
The return to the Col de l'Arénier via the balcony is open and offers superb views of the valley.

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Date of your route : Nov 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, very accessible. One big climb and sections along the mountainside. Worth doing again and again! Very pretty view of the Mezayon Valley and the Privas Basin.

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Date of your route : Oct 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route along the forest track from the start to the Col du Renard is fairly unremarkable.
However, there are some beautiful views once you reach the ridge via the fairly steep but not very long path; the more exposed trail is then very pleasant.
The ruins are worth a detour, but you'll have to use your imagination!
The author Albin Mazon devoted a few pages to this monastery (available online) in his 1882 book "Voyage autour de Privas" (Journey around Privas).
During the hunting season, this is a wild boar hunting area, but it is well signposted.
Duration: 2½ hours, including time spent exploring the ruins of the monastery, which is the destination of the hike.

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Date of your route : Aug 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with superb views. Today, the route is marked in yellow and white and the signs are clearly visible. We completed it in 1 hour and 40 minutes.

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Date of your route : Jan 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Not a very difficult hike in the end, and with a great view of the mountains.

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

A superb little walk on a slightly cloudy day, but with sunshine nonetheless!
The ruins site was really beautiful, under a thick carpet of leaves and with the sun's rays filtering through the trees. The return trail offered some really beautiful views.
Thank you for this truly lovely walk!

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On this hike, I can only see three crossing points!!! Is this the right hike?
Kind regards

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Date of your route : May 03, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

If we correct the numbers in the description to match the map, we can then find our way around:
(2) Approximately 625 m.
(2) → (3)
(3) → (4) Col du Renard
(6) → (5) Priory

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Hello,
I think you should definitely consult the satellite map (IGN map viewing option on Visorando), which clearly shows the small car park on the right-hand side of the road as you arrive from Privas, very close to the start of the hike.
The small path leading up to the ruins is not marked by a signpost, but simply by a sign on a tree, which is quite visible. Perhaps the vegetation has grown and hidden the sign?
The place names indicated on the signposts do not always correspond to those on the IGN maps and sometimes only indicate a direction. (I will modify the description based on your comment).
Best regards.

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Thank you, michelarmand.
Let's give the author time to review the details you mentioned so that they can improve the description.

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Hello,

First of all, there is no car park as indicated. You have to take a small road that goes down to the right (coming from L'Escrinet) at the Col de l'Arénier sign (marked Cardenal) and park as best you can at the side of the road. The forest track is almost opposite this road (you have to cross the D104). It is signposted "after 625m at the crossroads": there is no crossroads, it is a three-way junction, so you have to turn left. Then watch out for the Col du Renard (just a small clearing), the hiking signpost is on the right, hidden by the trees. This is where you need to take the steep path. After that, it is better signposted, follow the balcony path after a good climb. However, we did not see any path leading to the ruins (and no signposts).
This fairly easy hike is nevertheless enjoyable and offers beautiful views.

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Thank you, michelarmand
Initial feedback is always important. In this case, it would be helpful if you could give us some suggestions for improving the description.

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