Ibie valley, Lagorce loop, Vallon-Pont-d'Arc

Park by the church, in the centre of Lagorce. See practical information.

(S/E) With your back to the church, turn left and follow the D1 towards Vallon-Pont-d'Arc until you reach the first street on your left, Rue des Écoles.

(1) Drive carefully down this road (gravel and slope), bear left and join a side road (Chemin du Salastre). Turn right and follow this road due south until you reach the end of Chemin de Bourgnolle.

(2) Turn right (Route de la Vallée de l'Ibie, D558), and join the D1. Be careful, this is a dangerous exit: there is no view and the traffic can be heavy.

(3) Turn left onto the D1, towards Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, and come to a roundabout.

(4) Continue straight ahead on the D390 to the next roundabout.

(5) Turn right onto Allée du Chastelas and follow it to the end.

(6) Turn right onto Route du Pont d'Arc, towards Centre Ville, and continue until you reach Rue du Miarou.

(7) Turn left-right onto Chemin du Mas de Boule, and reach a four-way crossroads with a stone cross.

(8) Turn left into Chemin Bas du Coucouru, then immediately right into Vieille Route de Lagorce. Follow this road for quite a long time (almost 3 km), leaving behind all the paths and roads on the left and right. Pass Paraloup and, just after it, find the start of a track on the left, a few metres before a small bridge and before the junction with the D1.

(9) Take this small, stony track, which is slightly rocky in places. Leave the first track on the right and climb steeply until you reach a fork in four directions.

(10) Turn right and continue straight ahead. Continue on the Chemin du Rieuret (tarmac), and follow it to the camper van park, located a few metres before joining the D1.

(11) Just before this service area, turn left onto the Chemin des Termes, which runs alongside the fields on your right. Go straight ahead, on the country lane, then tarmac, leaving the lanes and roads on the left and right, due north, until you reach the crossroads at the end of Chemin des Termes.

(12) Turn right, then quickly right again onto the D1, signposted Lagorce. Follow this road as far as the village church (S/E).

As it's a loop, if you can't find parking in the centre, park below near the sports fields.

Some sections are particularly stony and even slightly rocky, so you'll need a mountain bike, possibly electrically assisted.

There are places to eat in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and also at the finish (cafés and restaurants).

Visit the living Musée du Ver-à-Soie in the centre of the village and explore the old village on the site of the old castle, opposite the church, on foot, given the number of staircases.

And of course, don't miss a visit to Grotte Chauvet 2 (a brilliant replica with superb 36,000-year-old drawings) and the Gorges de l'Ardèche.