Th Ajude woods, Ibie cliffs and Gour de la Sompe at Lagorce

From Lagorce, the route climbs to the Notre-Dame d'Ajude chapel, through holm oak woods to the Ibie cliffs, past the Gour de la Sompe (waterfall and plunge pool), and returns to the village through more open farmland. This hike requires a good awareness of the environment, reading IGN maps and/or GPS indications.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 251 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 259 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 308 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 149 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access / Start: Arriving from Aubenas on the D1, as you approach the village of Lagorce just after the old wine cooperative, turn left onto the road leading down to the church perched on the cliff (signposted car park and crypt). Park in the car park.

(S/E) From the car park, join the road, following it to the left until the first crossroads on the right, just after the bridge. In the middle of the fork, take the botanical path. Climb up to the Notre-Dame d'Ajude chapel. Go around the chapel to the right, then downhill to join the royal road linking Villeneuve-de-Berg to Lagorce.

(1) Join the royal road to the right for around 20m, to cross the Notre Dame d'Ajude stream, then take the path to the left for around 100m. At the crossroads, fork right. At the crossroads, fork left again and climb the steep slope to the plateau.

(2) Stay on the left-hand path, which soon heads due North. After about 800m, at the fork, take the more open path on the right. At the next crossroads, turn left, then right again after 100m, heading due North. 400m further on, take the right-hand path down to Pertus de Fabria.

(3) At Pertus de Fabria, a narrow passage between rocks, briefly joins a yellow/white sign. Follow this sign to the left, up between the rocks. At the first crossroads, after about 100 m, take the path on the right. After 500m, on the right, look for a small path leading to the viewpoint of the Ibie cliff.

(4) Retrace your steps and take the main path on the right. At the next crossroads (approx. 700m away), turn left to rejoin the royal road (200m away).

(5) Follow the royal road to the left for 300m and, at the first crossroads, take a smaller path to the right. After a couple of hundred meters, before the path bends sharply to the left (not shown on the IGN map), look out for the little path which changes direction very slightly to the right, gently downhill at first, then much steeper to the stream (you'll see green fluorescent markings on the ground).

(6) Head uphill. Ignore the paths that join on the right when you're about flat, then take the path on the left, again downhill towards the stream. Reach the first hairpin bend to the left, then another to the right at the bottom of the ravine.

(7) Follow the bottom of the valley until you find a path which climbs up on the right to Gour de la Sompe.

(8) Climb up to the road.

(9) Take the road to the left. Passing the hamlet of La Chadenède, leave the road to the right and take the track that continues opposite, joining the D1.

(10) Cross the D1, curve right around the hamlet of Chadeyron, go downhill until you reach the next road, which you follow on the left until you rejoin the D1.

(11) Cross the bridge to the right, and immediately left onto Route du Bouchet. Before the hamlet, which you leave on the left, take the path down into the woods, keeping the same direction to reach the cemetery.

(12) Go around the cemetery to the left and follow the road back to the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 157 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 1.15 - alt. 233 m - Royal Way
  3. 2 : km 1.63 - alt. 293 m - Notre-Dame d'Ajude wood
  4. 3 : km 3.68 - alt. 275 m - Pertus de Fabria
  5. 4 : km 4.45 - alt. 302 m - Viewpoint over the - Ibie (rivière) - Affluent de L'Ardèche
  6. 5 : km 5.48 - alt. 304 m - Royal Way
  7. 6 : km 6.29 - alt. 260 m - Ravine, stream
  8. 7 : km 7.07 - alt. 237 m - Back to the ravine
  9. 8 : km 7.8 - alt. 219 m - Viewpoint - Gour de la Sompe
  10. 9 : km 8.08 - alt. 215 m - Labeaume
  11. 10 : km 9.29 - alt. 217 m - Departmental road D1
  12. 11 : km 11.42 - alt. 170 m - Bridge over the D1
  13. 12 : km 12.03 - alt. 159 m - Cemetery
  14. S/E : km 12.87 - alt. 157 m - Car park

Practical information

Access / Start: Arriving from Aubenas on the D1, as you approach the village of Lagorce just after the old wine cooperative, turn left onto the road leading down to the church perched on the cliff (signposted car park and crypt). Park in the car park.

Gears / Terrain: Don't forget water, especially in hot weather. There are some very good forest paths, but also some rough or stony sections. Good hiking boots are essential.

⚠️Waymarkers: The whole route is mostly unmarked, so don't rely too much on the yellow/white markings and don't be concerned by the yellow/white crosses. Between (5) and (8), unofficial fluorescent green markings (hunters?) mark the route. A GPS may be useful, but a recent IGN map is highly recommended. Avoid this hike if you wish to blindly follow the signs.

Prudence at the edge of the cliffs (viewpoint over the Ibie valley and Gour de la Sompe). There are sheer drops of several metres, even dozens of metres.

The term "stream" used in the description could be misleading. The term "wadi" would be more appropriate. Even in the Ibie, there isn't always water. But beware of stormy weather.

Note ⚠️ : Caution during hunting season. Ask the first hunter you meet.

In the nearby area

To start with, enjoy walking through the holm oak forest, especially between (1) and (5).

In (3) briefly, and especially in (4), appreciate the wide, magnificent view of the Ibie valley, the surrounding cliffs and the immense holm oak forests above.

(8) The Gour de la Sompe is a spectacular site. You can approach it for a better view with a bit of climbing, but be careful in the rocks and at the top of the sheer cliff. From the top, you can access the (possibly dry) stream bed at the top of the upper waterfall, where two climbing loops are fixed to the rock.

(S/E) From the car park, you can access the Crypt, a cultural hall, and climb up to the ancient village on the cliff.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 37 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Azur42
Azur42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

There were 4 of us adults, and we followed the GPS route through typical Ardèche heath that was beginning to smell of spring; there were a few beautiful viewpoints for those who looked up a bit and took their time. Of course, the Gour de la Sompe remains the essential point of the hike, but everything has to be earned...
In any case, thank you to those who suggested this hike, as we had an excellent day.

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boninmi
boninmi

To each his own, Ginielanomade.
Other hikers enjoyed this tour.

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Ginielanomade
Ginielanomade

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

The only attraction of this hike is the Gour de la Sompe, which is very beautiful. But everything else is heath, heath and more heath, and not the most beautiful. A tiring hike, with no viewpoints. There are certainly shorter and less boring ways to see the Gour!

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leontia
leontia

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very pleasant walk, easy to follow with the app.
Mostly shady, with two fine viewpoints over the Ibie valley.

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Laurent.GIRAUD
Laurent.GIRAUD

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Nice hike on 13/06/2024.
Mainly undergrowth up to point 9, so not too many views.
Make the most of the panorama at point 4! (don't miss the fork marked by a cairn). Be careful, it's right on time...
The signposting is not always obvious (lots of paths in all directions), but no problem with the app or a GPX viewer.
About 200m before point 8 (Gour de la Sompe), we didn't take the path that climbs steeply to the right, but crossed the dry riverbed to take a path that runs alongside the Sompe and climbs towards the Gour. We arrived straight at the Gour (you have to go down some fairly steep paths if you took the normal route).
There wasn't much water, the waterfall was dry, but it was a really nice spot! We were alone with a few trout in the waterhole...
Quite a steep climb back to the path, possibly passing over the top of the waterfall.
The rest of the route is a mixture of tracks and small tarmac roads, not much of interest apart from the scenery...
Visit to the village of Lagorce, and a well-deserved Ardéchoise cuppa on a terrace facing the hill.

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Kwiss07
Kwiss07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

No particular difficulties were encountered, as the heavy rain in May had the advantage of providing the waterfall. Quite a few people headed for the waterfall in particular.
Thanks for the track

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Mesirfo
Mesirfo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Distance slightly greater than advertised on the map

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vareille. nicolas
vareille. nicolas

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk
It's a good thing there's GPS, not easy to find your way around with all these paths.

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rochenadine1
rochenadine1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We did this walk in sunshine and ideal weather, after heavy rain the week before.
A bit slippery in places, but the Gour de la Sompe with so much water is magnificent. We met around thirty people.
As for the route, it could do with a bit more marking as we sometimes did it a bit by feel.
We've already done this walk in 2021 and we hadn't followed the right path.

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Shalva
Shalva

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice hike with a variety of fittings. I really liked the view of the Ibie valley, the Gour de la Sompe and the mossy wood where you could see elves emerging. You need to follow the GPS route carefully as there are few landmarks in the first part.

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Rodger0è
Rodger0è

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Hello
Very nice, varied walk, easy to follow with the GPS track. Nice sights, panoramic view of the Ibis valley, Gour de la Sompe...
Thanks to the author for offering us this quality hike.
roger

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SEYTRE Gérard
SEYTRE Gérard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Combined with the Ranc de l'Arc route. See comments on its page

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baroulaïres
baroulaïres

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A fine route. Not very busy except around the Gour de la Sompe.
No orientation problems.

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JCMAILLARD
JCMAILLARD

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very nice trail, but it needs a few markers to avoid having to geolocate to find the right path, as well as markers on the trees. And the botanical trail could do with a facelift, as many of the descriptive signs have deteriorated.

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MATHIEU BERNARD
MATHIEU BERNARD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very reliable GPX route. We allowed ourselves to modify our return from point 9 to avoid walking on the road. So we went back up to the north: admittedly it took a bit longer, but at least we weren't doing anything but footpaths. At the end, we opted for the southern variant of the botanical trail from point 1, so we returned to the same starting point. Very nice spot though. It's worth pointing out that it's a good idea to respect the parking instructions BELOW the church: parked on the square at the top of the village, the climb back up was not very welcome (our fault ... but we were coming from Vallon).

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