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

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)

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.

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.