Péreyres walks

The volcanic natural site of the Cascades du Ray Pic was classified as a natural site in 1931. The Bourges river springs from the middle of the basalt flows and falls from a height of about 60 m. The proximity of various streams provides a certain coolness and even the opportunity to bathe.

This is a fairly short climb that takes you to a summit offering a superb 360° panorama of the Ardèche mountains and the Alps. It is a simple round trip, most of which follows ridge paths with magnificent views. On the way back, take the time to visit the Ray-Pic waterfall.

The first stage of this two-day loop around the Rocher de Cheylard takes you from the edge of the Ray-Pic waterfall to Aizac, a small village in the Cévennes Ardéchoises, perched on a pass between Volane and Besorgues. Beech forests, broom-covered moors, chestnut trees, Roman roads, crystal-clear streams, passes with breathtaking views... you will walk from the Ardèche plateau to the lower Ardèche.

Two-day loop in the Cévennes Ardéchoises. The Besorgues and Bourges are two Cévennes rivers, or rather torrents, with crystal-clear waters.Between the two, a short walk from the famous Ray-Pic waterfall, the Rocher de Cheylard (1,412 m) offers a natural viewpoint over the surrounding landscape.On this two-day hike, you will discover these rugged landscapes, deep valleys, the edges of the Ardèche plateau, and small hamlets and villages nestled in the countryside.

A very pretty hike through mountains, moors and fords. Magnificent undergrowth dotted with beautiful shaded passages.

This lovely loop allows us to discover a section of the watershed on the heights of Burzet, at an altitude of 1,300 metres, which is very pleasant in summer when the valley is stifling. Along the way, we will discover a peat bog with the ruins of an old glassworks and the remains of a Strombolian crater.

From Burzet to Péreyres, paths lead down from the farms on the Ardèche plateau near the peatland-and-Goudoulet to the nearest town. The farmers of the plateau brought their butter and cheese to the markets. Here you will discover two types of paths: one designed for carts, the other for mules at best, but both were used for trade until the middle of the last century.

Hike with varied landscapes, the Bourges valley with its basalt flows, chestnut woods and blueberry fields, hamlets with old houses. Superb view from the summit.

Superb trails and landscapes. Between Burzet and Les Sausses, on the left bank, the old Lachamp-Raphaël road is one of the most beautiful paved slanting streets in the Ardèche. On the right bank, on the way back, the old peatland road also has a wide, well-preserved paved slanting street under the chestnut trees and leads to the Roman road.

Beautiful climb up knoll d'Ourseyres via Col du Pranlet.

This magnificent hike in Vivarais Cévenol follows trails and ridge paths offering beautiful views. The Bésorgues river, blocked by basalt flows, has shaped some remarkable sites. The ancient lava lake of Ranc Ranier and the prismatic neck of the Cheylard rock, from which you can enjoy a vast and exceptional 360° panorama, are geological curiosities not to be missed.

Superb hike on the Cime de Rouyon and the Rocher de Faux-Fay. Splendid panorama on the sides of the Bésorgues valley where paths, paved slanting streets, terraces and pastures draw the Ardèche mountain landscape: exceptional and wild landscape, magnificent basalt rocks, streams, torrents, impetuous waterfalls.

Around the knoll of Bauzon, a young Strombolian volcano, there are numerous hiking trails. This route combines the volcanic part of the area with the discovery of a section of the Atlantic-Mediterranean watershed.

This route takes you up the most famous knoll in the Ardèche. The effort required to reach the summit is rewarded with a magnificent 360° panoramic view of the surrounding volcanic landscape.

A free hike allowing you to discover the different sources of the Loire: "the authentic", "the true" and "the geographical". After climbing Mont Gerbier des Joncs, enjoy the 3km of this easy route.

The ancient Vestide du Pal volcano is what is known as a filled maar crater! Approximately 1,700 m in diameter and 150 m deep, it could be the largest maar crater in Europe. This route will take you along ancient Roman roads that connect the valley to the plateau, passing through various levels of vegetation. In addition to this first volcano, there are two others to discover along the way: Lac Ferrand (a maar filled with water) and Le Chambon, which is completely dry. A volcanic hike, then...

This trail goes around and climbs up the Gerbier de Jonc whose summit offers a view over the Ardèche mountains.

This is a beautiful hike through wild, unspoilt landscapes in the heart of the Ardéchoise mountains, with all their splendour and curiosities. The flora and fauna are rich and diverse, with some rare protected species. On a clear day, the summit of Montivernoux offers an exceptional panorama of the Cévennes, the Monts Lozère, the Tanargue, the knolls of the Ardèche plateau, Mont Gerbier de Jonc, Mézenc, Montfol, Mont Ventoux, the Alps and Mont Blanc.

Walk along the banks and heights of the Bourges River, which is well exposed to the south and offers beautiful panoramic views.

From Le Ranc to Aubignas, Aubignas to Le Libonès, and Le Libonès to Les Terrisses, there were once footpaths that were essential for life and trade between these hamlets. This hike offers the chance to rediscover these traces. You may have to search around a bit, either because the paths have been abandoned or because work has altered their course. The path between Cros du Libonès and Les Terrisses, long abandoned, is once again passable with a modified route.

Thanks to its geographical location, on the border between the southern Ardèche and the Monts d'Ardèche, Montpezat-sous-Bauzon is an ideal place to discover the astonishing lay and religious heritage of the area, from the fertile valley to the wild, rocky pastures, with remarkable views of the mountains and the Fontaulière plain. As you return to the valley, a rose garden awaits you for a moment of olfactory and visual pleasure.

A short walk from Montpezat to the hamlets of Les Grisières and Le Villaret, passing through a chestnut grove - the only slight difficulty on the route - and the humpback bridge, for a family outing.

The Champ de Mars is a superb viewpoint over the Ardèche mountains. Easy to access, it offers a 360° panoramic view with an orientation table allowing you to see all the surrounding mountains as far as the Vercors.

This hike on the Ardèche plateau is relatively flat and takes you to a summit with superb 360° views of the Massif Central and the Alps, and even Mont Blanc on a clear day. Please note: the route on the way there has been designed to showcase the beauty of the paths and landscapes. The paths are not marked and can sometimes be difficult to find. A good knowledge of the area and maps is necessary. The return via theGR® de Pays is easier and more direct.

At a height of 808m, the Aizac Volcano is of the Strombolian type: eruption, explosion, lava flows. It towers over the village from its height of 80,000 years. The basalt flow resulting from its activity has a remarkable prismatic structure, which can be seen in particular near Antraigues-sur-Volane. This is an easy, themed walk that is suitable for families and will interest children: information panels are placed along the route to educate young and old alike.

The Besorgues is one of many rivers, not to say "torrents" during Cévennes phenomena, which rises on the edge of the Ardèche plateau, then flows southwards down the steep slopes of the Ardèche Cévennes, ending its course in the Ardèche. Halfway along its course, north of Freyssenet (a small hamlet of Labastide/Besorgues), lies a little treasure, hidden away in the middle of unspoilt nature: secret swimming spots in a heavenly setting.

Second stage of this two-day loop around the Rocher de Cheylard, which takes you back to your starting point from the previous day via a different route: the Ray-Pic waterfall.After passing the summit of the Rouyon massif, descend towards the Besorgues river and climb up the other side towards the Ardèche plateau, where broom gives way to wild blueberries.

A beautiful walk through the chestnut groves on both the Volane and Besorgues sides. On the upper part, around the Cime de Rouyon, there is an unobstructed view of the Ardèche plateau to the north and west, and to the east and south, the Coiron, the Alps, the Cévennes and the Tanargue.

From chestnut trees to the moorland that precedes the Ardèche plateau, along beautiful paths with wide views, this is a relatively short but varied circular route with a slight elevation gain and a somewhat challenging start to the descent.

"Champ" is a deformation of "Cham": a rocky, bare plateau. From this plateau, the Monts d'Ardèche appear as if shaped by geological forces, at the centre of a gigantic amphitheatre formed by the Cévennes, the volcanoes of Auvergne, the Vercors and the Alps. Monumental landmarks in the history of the Earth. A grandiose scene where the presence of man seems very discreet, yet his mark is clearly there, engraved in the landscape. Wild valleys with crystal-clear waters.

Starting from the Pont de Veyrières silk mill eco-museum, climb towards Chirols and then the Sainte-Marguerite Chapel, a summit bristling with various antennas and the highest point of the route, offering a magnificent view of the Coiron and the Ardèche Cévennes. Return via the Revescu ridges, with views over the plateau, and descend via the hamlet of Aubignas to the starting point.

A very beautiful hike in volcanic Ardèche: magnificent scenery, rocky peaks, scree, clapas. The lava flow at Antraigues, from the young Aizac volcano (approximately 80,000 years old), invaded the Mas, Bise and Volane valleys due to the steepness of the terrain, leaving numerous traces of this eruptive period. The promontory on which the village is built, with its variety of colours and shapes, is surprising.

You will discover a magnificent view of the Hautes Cévennes Ardéchoises and the land of young volcanoes. The Château de Craux is located in the commune of Genestelle, at an altitude of around 650 m. It is built on the crater of the volcano (neck). It stands in the middle of vast meadows, surrounded by a superb chestnut grove, and overlooks the Volane and Sandron valleys. 6/10/2023 Moderator's message: at point (4) hike modified because the educational trail around the neck plateau has been closed.

Warning: do not attempt this hike until further notice (reopening scheduled for 2027)!The Cévenol storm in October 2024 caused a landslide above the point (4), which completely destroyed the communal path. A municipal notice prohibiting passage has been posted. There is no alternative route on this part of the circuit. A mid-season hike in spring or autumn starting from L'Air (or L'Herm), with varied landscapes and sections on quiet paved roads. Beautiful views of the Vauclare and Fontaulière valleys.

Located between Mont Gerbier de Jonc and Mont Mézenc, the Suc de Sara rises to 1,521 metres. The ascent via the south face and then the east ridge leads to the summit, which offers a 360° panoramic view of the surrounding knolls and valleys as far as the Vercors, Mont Ventoux and the Alps. During the ascent of the south face, the crossing of the scree slopes offers beautiful landscapes.

Between Gerbier de Jonc and Chartreuse de Bonnefoy, the Ardèche plateau offers numerous stone-slab knolls. This circuit between Aigue Nègre and Veyradeyre passes by four of them and at the top of three. In order, these are Séponet (tower), Montfol (summit), Lauzière (summit) and Taupernas (summit). From each of them, there is a beautiful 360° view of Mont Mézenc to the north, the Tanargue massif to the south, Gerbier and Areilladou to the east, and Haute-Loire to the west.