Between basalt and limestone in southern Ardèche

Between limestone plateau and volcanic relief, this hike reflects the diversity of the southern Ardèche, including crossing areas that are still agricultural, from the impressive fortified village of Saint-Laurent-sous-Coiron, which dominates the route, to the inevitable dolmens, passing by magnificent views of the Louyre gorges.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 356 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 358 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 585 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 259 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the Jastres oppidum.

(S/E) Walk about 150m towards Lussas to find the hiking sign and turn sharply left towards Saint-Laurent-sous-Coiron.

(1) Turn right (signposted). At the next three-way junction, keep right and at the next one, under the power line, turn left. Walk on relatively level ground to reach the wide path overlooking the Louyre gorges.

(2) Follow this path to a wide esplanade crossroads with an information board.

(3) Keep left on the wide path and continue straight ahead.

(4) Cross a first road near a cross and continue straight ahead. You will arrive at the Saint-Laurent-sous-Coiron road at a slightly complicated crossroads where you continue straight ahead.

(5) Begin the long climb up the road (there isn't much else) towards Saint-Laurent. The view at the top is well worth the effort.

(6) Just below the village, before the Auches farm, at a transformer, a path on the right allows you to cut across a long hairpin bend. Climb up the narrow streets to the castle (ruins).

(7) Descend via a small path south of the castle, then down to the church and around the village to rejoin the arrival route. Descend to the left.

(6) Turn left to reach the junction with the Saint-Laurent road.

(5) Then take the D324 on the left heading east and then south.

(8) Leave the road when it turns left and continue straight ahead along the vineyard path. Continue straight ahead to the hamlet of Maisonneuve. Turn right in front of a large building and continue straight ahead at the next junction to reach a new crossroads.

(9) Turn left. Ignore the road to Comdamines and keep right at the next three-way junction. After about 50 metres, continue straight ahead on the wide road heading south-west.

(10) Before Eyriac, turn right onto Chemin des Renges, then left onto Chemin des Combasses. Before reaching the junction with the D259, and to avoid a very busy area, take the first street on the right to enter Eyriac.

(11) At the junction with the D259, turn briefly left then right (signposted). Follow the road almost due south to Les Rieux, passing under a power line.

(12) Turn briefly left then right towards Mias. Keep right at the next crossroads.

(13) In Mias, turn right, look for the "Dolmen" sign on the left, pass between the houses and follow the path, still heading south-west, to the dolmen (see below).

(14) Then return to the village of Mias.

(13) Continue along the road on the left heading north-west. At the bend, turn left and follow the wide path uphill, which curves northwards, ignoring the turnings on the left. Continue almost due north to reach the D259.

(15) Follow this road to the left to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 315 m - Car park at the Jastres oppidum
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 320 m - Fork to the right
  3. 2 : km 1.47 - alt. 319 m - Chemin de Saint-Laurent-sous-Coiron
  4. 3 : km 2.35 - alt. 343 m - On the left at the large esplanade crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.25 - alt. 361 m - Junction with a road (cross), opposite
  6. 5 : km 3.92 - alt. 395 m - Route de Saint-Laurent (D324), on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.72 - alt. 529 m - Transformer
  8. 7 : km 6.12 - alt. 583 m - Castle ruins
  9. 8 : km 9.49 - alt. 339 m - Access to the vineyards
  10. 9 : km 10.68 - alt. 311 m - Turn left at the crossroads.
  11. 10 : km 11.48 - alt. 287 m - Turn right onto the Chemin des Renges.
  12. 11 : km 12.07 - alt. 292 m - D259, left then right
  13. 12 : km 13.28 - alt. 262 m - Les Rieux, on the left then on the right
  14. 13 : km 13.78 - alt. 266 m - Mias
  15. 14 : km 14.36 - alt. 283 m - The Four Stones
  16. 15 : km 16.9 - alt. 327 m - Junction with the D259
  17. S/E : km 17.22 - alt. 313 m - Car park at the Jastres oppidum

Notes

The hike is relatively long, so bring food and water.

The paths are mostly good, but there are some stony sections and it can be muddy, especially after Mias. Hiking boots are useful.

Below the castle, just before the church, there is a semi-circular area that is ideal for a picnic halfway along the route.

Worth a visit

As the hike is quite long, you will probably need to come back for more in-depth exploration.

The first point of interest nearby is the oppidum of Jastres, next to the car park.

Enjoy the view of the Louyre gorges. At the point (2), a path leads down to the Baume de Chabannes, a cave that you can enter. Please note that caving requires information, practice and equipment.

Take the time to visit Saint-Laurent-sous-Coiron (7): stroll through the narrow streets, see the castle ruins, the porch of the Romanesque church and the viewpoint.

The Mias dolmen area is quite extensive. A detailed description can be found in the book Dolmens de l'Ardèche, by Bruno Marc and Gary Duchez, published by Les Presses du Languedoc, if you wish to spend some time hunting for dolmens, an eminently peaceful sport...

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Grappa26
Grappa26

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This route includes many paved sections, but it is interesting for its visit to the village of St Laurent sur Coiron and the passage to the dolmen (path ascending to the left).

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Kwiss07
Kwiss07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It was announced, but I agree with the previous comments: too much tarmac for me. The dolmen is worth the detour and the views are varied and pretty. Thank you for this route.

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celestine
celestine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice hike but a bit too much tarmac. A shame.

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boninmi
boninmi

Hello Yves,

Thank you for your response. It's true, there is some road walking, as advertised. To hike in certain interesting and little-known areas of the Ardèche, it's difficult to avoid. There is also quite a bit of tarmac on the Way of St James .

Best regards,

M. Bonin

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yves.faucard
yves.faucard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very interesting route with superb and varied landscapes.
However, there is a lot of driving on roads, which are certainly not very busy, but nevertheless, this left us with a slightly sour taste in our mouths.

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mamyvonne79
mamyvonne79

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike completed with a group of 22 people
The signposting, directions and route are very reliable
The climb to Saint Laurent sous Coiron is long and the road in full sun is not very pleasant, but the view is worth the detour
We shortened the route at Eyriac by taking the pleasant, shaded forest path that brought us back to the starting point We went as far as the oppidum
Thank you for this route.

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achettejc
achettejc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 08, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely walk

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gerard mounier
gerard mounier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk, without any difficulties

The village of St Laurent is worth seeing

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