Rosières – Chapias – Ruoms (Peyroche) – Labeaume

Park in the small car park on the right just after the entrance to the Camping des Oliviers, in the Vernades district of the commune of Rosières.

(S/E) Take the path opposite (marked by a trail sign and a few white and yellow^PR® markers) up a very steep slope that climbs the stony cliff face. When you reach the first flat section (viewpoint on the right over the plain and the River La Baume), keep straight on the path, which leads to a wider track. Follow this path as it climbs gently, passing a meadow on the left, until you reach a crossroads, where you turn left. At the next junction, ignore the access road to Maison Valla.

(1) Immediately afterwards, take the path on the left, which is barely visible, running alongside a fence (pass between the fence and a mulberry tree). You’ll soon enter a wood and, a little further on, come to a wider track. Take this to the right, passing in front of the Unal house, also known as Maison Bulles, which is a listed building. Continue straight on, join a small road and take it to the left until you reach the next crossroads.

(2) Turn left for a return trip (optional) to the 12-metre-high Chapias Tower. There’s an exceptional view of the surrounding area, with an orientation table at the summit.

(3) Turn back to the previous junction.

(2) Turn left onto Chemin des Rossignols, pass the Chazalis house and, at the first bend, take the path straight ahead which leads into the woods and comes out onto a small road.

(4) Follow it to the right, ignore the first junction, and continue straight on until you reach a left-hand bend in the hamlet of Le Trible, at a multi-way junction.

(5) Ignore the road on the left and take the small path heading south-east, downhill between the two houses, marked with white and yellow signs. At the end of the descent, cross a stream that is almost always dry and follow the gently sloping path uphill; take great care about a hundred metres further on, at the crossroads.

(6) At the 201-metre mark, continue straight on and follow the white and Yellow Cross markings until you reach a junction with a road. Turn left and follow this road to reach the hamlet of Faveyrole. At the very start of the hamlet, you’ll come to the corner where the boundary wall of the house on the right meets the wooden telephone pole.

(7) Turn right onto the uphill path, which runs alongside the fences and winds pleasantly through the oak and boxwood woodland. Pass a house on your left. Caution! When you reach a gravel clearing, follow the path leading into the woodland on the right to join a road. Turn left onto this road to reach the D345 at the end of Chemin de Fayerolle.

(8) Follow it to the left for about 500 m, following the white and yellow markings, until you reach a junction shortly after the sign marking the end of the 50 km/h speed limit.

(9) Turn right onto the road, then take the white and yellow-marked path, passing a beautiful house, and join a wide track (Chemin du Serre de Logère), then a small road heading east, until you reach a fairly sharp bend to the left.

(10) Take the path opposite, blocked by a rocky chicane and marked in white and yellow. At the signpost for Champlotier, turn right, pass a small wash house, then some steps carved into the rocks to rejoin a wide track and subsequently a small road. Turn right onto this road towards the hamlet of Peyroche and join the D208.

(11) Watch out for traffic. Head right for 150 m.

(12) Head down to the left towards the open-air café and reach the River La Baume. (This is an option, not compulsory)

(13) Turn round and head back to the D208.

(12) Turn left, cross the bridge over the river and continue for 100 m until you reach the start of the footpath on the right, marked by a signpost.

(14) Take the path on the right uphill until you reach the first junction. Go straight on through the hamlet of Bizac.

(15) At the three-way junction, walk past the entrance to No. 85 and join a path leading to the Chavetourte campsite. At the crossroads, carry on straight ahead along a small tarmac road, passing a large house on the left (lodge) and, after a bend to the left, you’ll find the start of a path on the right at the corner of No. 165, a very beautiful house.

(16) Turn right onto the descending path (be careful, the descent is steep). You’ll reach the submersible bridge crossing La Baume, then arrive at the Place du Sablas in Labeaume.

(17) Turn left onto the path running parallel to the river. Don’t worry – there are paths everywhere – but try to stay as close as possible to the north-facing cliff. The path is marked in white and yellow; pass the Jardins du Baou, then a rockfall. Rejoin the path that winds between the cliffs and the river (still marked in white and yellow). Continue straight on along the path, which climbs very gently towards the top of the cliff, curving to the right. Take great care.

(18) Turn left onto a path leading downhill overlooking the river. In places, it is protected by low walls. Follow it until you come to a small gate with a ‘private property’ sign. Follow the dark green bypass markings until you reach a much wider path.

(19) To see the hanging gardens (this is optional), continue straight on (caution: naturist area), keeping to the paths on your right. Walk for between 300 and 400 metres, and when the path descends steeply towards the river, keep to the higher path to pass under the old stone walls. There is a huge hole in the cliff with a water reservoir and gardens on either side, featuring canals and small ponds.

(20) Return along the same route to the previous junction.

(19) Take the path leading uphill to the left; after three hairpin bends, head due north to reach the hamlet of Le Trible at the multi-way junction you passed on the way out.

(5) Take the^first path on the left (west) beneath a mission cross (without arms). The gently sloping path, marked with white and yellow signs, leads to a road. Follow it straight on, heading west, and at the first road junction, turn right and continue for a good hundred metres.

(21) Follow the wide path to the left, ignoring the paths branching off to the left as you go, until you reach a road with a house on the right.

(22) Turn left, pass a house on the right with a colourful caravan in the garden, and rejoin the original fork at Maison Valla.

(1) Opposite, retrace your steps along the path you took on the way there to return to the car park (S/E).

Do not undertake this hike in wet weather, as there is a high risk of slipping.
For greater peace of mind, take the GPX track with you (there are lots of narrow paths).
Viewpoints after the first climb: views over the La Baume valley, Le Tanargue, Rosières, Joyeuse and the surrounding area.
La Maison Bulle, a listed site well worth a visit.
(3) Chapias Tower, offering a 360° view and, according to legend, a view of twenty different church spires.
(13) On the edge of La Baume or at La Guinguette.
(20) Hanging gardens.
Expect a climb of around 600 m and a walking time of approximately 7½ hours.