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Park in the car parks at the Grotte de Naïs and the paddle steamer at the western entrance to Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans, Rue des Mariniers (there is another car park below, on the banks of the Bourne).
Red and yellow signposts
(S/E) From the car park, head east to Place de la Fontaine de Thaïs, where you will find the ticket office for the Grotte de Thaïs and the paddle steamer. Head towards the aqueduct and the Tourist Office to take the Passage de la Soie, which starts under the aqueduct. Climb the wide steps and turn right onto Rue Lafayette. Cross Rue du Poële and continue to the next intersection. Turn right onto Rue du Bourg Souverain and follow it to the aqueduct.
(1) Turn left onto Chemin de Cachenoix, which runs alongside the structure and climbs up to its canal at the entrance to the aqueduct (access closed). The path follows the canal for a while, then climbs into the woods to reach a paved road (signposted Chemin de la Draye). Turn right onto the road towards Tire-Vire, then turn left 30 metres further on onto an uphill path. Continue to a crossroads just before a gate leading to a vacant lot.
(2) Turn right onto the path. After a few hairpin bends and about 600m of climbing, you will reach a crossroads.
(3) Continue straight ahead towards Maison de la Luce, following Chemin de la Calagne (ignore the barely visible path on the left and the more obvious one on the right). The climb is straight but quite steep in places. When the slope levels out, pass Maison de la Luce at an old chestnut grove and head for the signpost of the same name.
Green-yellow signposting
(4) Take the path on the right, which is quite steep in places, and arrive at the Col des Bois Communaux.
Red-yellow signposting
At the pass, turn right towards La Cote/Le Belvédère and you will quickly reach the ridge and its sharp limestone pavement. There are beautiful views over the whole of Royans, the Rhône Valley and the Ardèche. Pass under a large pylon and descend into the woods, which are quite steep in places. You will arrive in the hollow of a combe at the La Cote signpost.
Green-yellow markings
(5) Head right towards Tire-Vire for about 100 metres, then leave the path and turn left onto a trail towards Le Belvédère. After a short climb, the trail continues along the ridge and arrives at a small viewpoint. Continue along the trail that branches off to the left and begins the descent into the woods. Join the valley at the Carrefour Vanille.
Red-yellow markings
Turn right and follow the path downhill towards La Madelanière. 20 m further on, at the signpost, turn right towards Les Massotiers (ignore the path on the left that goes downhill). About 400m further down, pass in front of a small cliff and come out behind a house. Pass between the house and its gas tank and join a tarmac road, which you follow to the right to quickly reach the Les Massotiers signpost.
(6) Turn right towards Saint-Nazaire. The path quickly becomes a trail and then approaches a canal. Leave a bridge on your left and continue along the trail, which climbs slightly. Cross two small walnut groves, then return to the canal and finally a bridge. Cross the canal and join the D532. Cross the road immediately (be careful, this is a busy road!) and turn right to follow it along the side of the road for about 100 metres.
At a small rest area, leave the road and turn left onto a stony path that descends. Climb slightly towards a car park at the side of the road and stay on the left-hand lane, which becomes Rue des Mariniers, where you will find the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Tourism professional
Easy 
