Pont-de-Montvert - Florac

Your starting point is the bridge over the Tarn at le Pont-de-Montvert.

(S) Take this bridge in the direction of Saint-Julien-d'Arpaon. Immediately after the bridge, turn left (direction l'Hermet). Barely 20m farther on, opposite the Auberge des Cévennes, you take the small lane (direction Foyer de ski de fond) which leads to the starting point of a path that climbs the hill, which at this point looks like a beautiful rock garden when the flowers are in bloom. At the foot of the path, it's not unusual to see one or other of the hiker's donkeys waiting for its master after a night's rest. Follow the winding path up the mountain to the Cham de l'Hermet plateau. After a tough climb, the terrain gradually softens to reach the plateau. You've covered 2.3km when you come across a path on your right.

(1) Ignore it and continue straight ahead. The same goes for the next one a little farther on. After another 700m or so, you come to a small wood on your left.

(2) Immediately after this, the GR^®70 with official signposting goes off to your left (we're going to take a shorter, less steep route). Ignore the direction of the GR^® and continue ahead for another 200m to reach a small road leading to the right to the hamlet of Hermet, which you take to the left, in the opposite direction to the hamlet. Follow this road for about 1.4km, ignoring the paths on your left and right, until you reach the road from Grizac on your right.

(3) Close by, you meet the D20 on a curve. At this point, the junction between the different roads leaves a triangle of vegetation with a few large conifers and a picnic table. From here, take a path that starts on your right, opposite this triangle of vegetation. The entrance to this path is blocked by a barrier and a sign indicating that motor vehicles are prohibited. The path descends into the forest for 1km, following the course of a stream.

(4) Just as a path comes in from the right, you cross the stream by turning left. Shortly after crossing, the path turns left and gradually rises. A path joins it on the right, but you continue ahead. Follow this path, which follows the contour line, leaving a path to your left. Approximately 900m after crossing the stream, you come to a barrier in front of a path that intersects yours, in an open space. Take the path on your left and 100m farther on, you're back on the D20.

(5) Follow the road to the right (little used at this point), which wanders through the Ramponenche state forest for about 3.4km.

(6) As you leave the forest, you come to the Col du Sapet (1,080m), which gives you a fine view of part of the Cévennes that this stage has taken you into. This spot is marked by a raised stone on your left and information panels on flora and fauna on your right. Here you join the official route of the Chemin de Stevenson, which arrives from the left and continues along the track to the right. Take this path to follow this part of the official route. Follow this track, descending gently for almost 4km to the Col de Perpau, leaving various paths to the left or right.

(7) At the Col de Perpau, you'll find a few rustic benches where you can sit and rest. Another track leads off to the left at a Y-junction. Keep to your track, which takes the right-hand branch, ignoring the other paths which descend more steeply to the right. You're still on the GR^®70 route. Continue for another 2km or so on the main track, leaving the paths and tracks that can go off to the right or left.

(8) You come to a point where the GR^®70 descends in the opposite direction to the right, while a path opens up at right angles to the left. The signposts tell you that this is the path taken by the GR^®68 when it splits off from the GR^®70 (warning: you're going to take this direction as it's the shortcut to Florac). The path continues to descend slowly, following the contour line for 1.2km.

(9) You come to a small open space in the forest, with a small path leading down to your right which you ignore. Your path splits into two branches, both of which bend to the left. You take the first one, which remains the GR^®68 (you ignore a path which also descends steeply to your left).

(10) After just under 1km, you come to a new crossroads at the foot of Mont de Lempézou. Two paths to your left, one to your right, and another path in front of you which bends to the right. Take this one (warning: its route is uncertain in places and does not follow the IGN map exactly). Follow the GR^®68 signposts for about 2.3km, ignoring the paths that escape to the right or left. After a final bend to the left, it comes to rest on the N106 just opposite the bridge over the Tarnon.

(11) Cross the N106 and take the bridge to enter Florac via the Quartier de la Bécède. Follow this street to the first roundabout. Turn right onto Rue du Thérond, which you follow until you reach Place Boyer. Opposite, take Rue Armand Jullié. 50m further on, turn right into Rue des Remparts, which leads to Rue Tour de L'Église, where you will arrive at the Florac church, the finish point of this stage (E).

You'll find shops and accommodation in both (S) Pont-de-Monvert and (E) Florac. But there won't be any others between the start and finish points.

(S) Pont-de-Monvert: bridge, belfry and old houses.
Rich flora and fauna all along the route, on the edge of meadows and in forests.
(E) Florac: old quarter, waterfall and river crossing