Vineyards and wild valley south of Tournon-sur-Rhône

Hike south of Tournon, climbing up a wild, wooded valley. The descent is easier, with a final circular loop through the vineyards. This hike has three circular routes, so you can adjust the route to suit your preferences.

Details

91503006
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.54 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 399 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 399 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 416 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 120 m

Description of the walk

There is a small car park at 420 Chemin de Saint-Vincent, Tournon-sur-Rhône.

(S/E) Follow Chemin de Saint-Vincent southwards, which runs alongside the railway line and further on becomes Chemin des Rivoires. Continue to the bridge over the Ruisseau de Lay.

(1) Take Chemin des Champs (tarmac road) on the right.

(2) Look for the track on the right that you will take on the way back, and continue straight ahead, staying on the road. Leave a small steep road on your left and, a hundred metres further on, take the track on the left: white and yellow markings on a post. You will reach a crossroads.

(3) Leave the white and yellow markings (this will be the descent). Take the path on the right that goes around a private property, then find a trail before the turning area near the stream. Follow this well-maintained path, which runs alongside the stream. At first, it is fairly flat, then the slope becomes steeper as the path turns to the left. Finally, you will come out onto a small meadow above Charay: there is a park with dogs and sheep next to the path. Continue for another 20 metres to reach the small road leading to the hamlet.

(4) Turn right and follow it for about 600 metres, passing the Carmes pig farm.

(5) Take a path on the right and follow it in a circular route to return to the road leading to Charay.

(4) Head left towards the farm buildings, then take the only path on the right that descends and crosses the property's meadows: horses, sheep, etc. This path is lined with barriers and was laid out by the owner. Continue along the path until you reach a fork at the edge of the woods.

(6) Keep left and follow this path, which follows the contour line and then descends to the Charay circular junction.

(3) Take the opposite path to the one you took on the way there, turning right, and return to the fork you saw on the way there.

(2) Turn left onto the downhill track, cross the bridge over the Ruisseau de Lay and climb steeply opposite through the vineyards to reach the top, at the end of the Chemin de Saint-Joseph: admire the view, there is a bench.

(7) Follow the Chemin de Saint-Joseph (actually a small road) to the bottom, turn right and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 128 m - Saint-Vincent Path
  2. 1 : km 1.25 - alt. 127 m - Lay Stream
  3. 2 : km 1.62 - alt. 149 m - Common junction A/R
  4. 3 : km 2.33 - alt. 191 m - Crossroads of the Charay circular loop
  5. 4 : km 4.29 - alt. 378 m - Circular Carmes junction
  6. 5 : km 5.22 - alt. 413 m - Les Carmes
  7. 6 : km 7.3 - alt. 335 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 10.34 - alt. 213 m - Chemin de Saint-Joseph, bench
  9. S/E : km 11.54 - alt. 128 m - Saint-Vincent Path

Notes

No water sources.
Walking sticks recommended: some steep sections on the way up and stones on the way down.
This hike has three circular loops, so you can adjust it to suit your needs.

(6) You can also go to the right. You will then arrive 200 m below (2), on the road. It is also marked and easy to follow.
There are therefore three paths to climb to Charay, named "Charay 1, 2 and 3" by the locals.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
BadinD
BadinD
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I can confirm that there is private property on the path just after No. 3; a new, wide path goes around it. This path ends at a turning area near the stream. The right path is to be found before this area on the left. It is a well-maintained trail which, once taken, allows you to walk along the stream, which is particularly pleasant at this time of year with its waterfalls. The walk is very pleasant. We only did the first circular loop, and the view of the Rhône Valley and the Vercors is exceptional. Note that the climb through the woods is a bit challenging!
I had no problems at point 6; between 4 (on the way back) and 6, we walked along the sheepfold enclosure and then turned left at the crossroads to pick up the stony path at the top of a hill, which took us back to the starting point.

Machine-translated

Denis26
Denis26 ★
• Edited:

Thank you for your comments. I have just modified the route accordingly to avoid private property.

Machine-translated

BRUNO48
BRUNO48

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

PLEASE NOTE: the GPX track does not correspond to the description; it passes too far north and is not possible (between 2 and 3) because there is private property with a gate and digital code lock. The map representation is correct, but between points 3 and 4, do not follow the main path; instead, turn left onto the smaller, uphill path.

Machine-translated

Ted1958
Ted1958

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting, enjoyable and varied hike with beautiful panoramic views, completed in 3 hours.
The guidance is well done, and it is recommended to follow the route on the map in the app.
I would like to point out that at point (6), it says "At the end of the meadows, turn left and follow the path for a short climb". However, at this point there are padlocked gates before and after the path and rather aggressive dogs present, preventing passage. To avoid them, I had to climb over fences a little further on to cross a field without the dogs, then go straight up through some rather wild areas and follow little-used and poorly maintained paths, passing through barriers until I reached the path that descends to point 3. From there, there were no more problems. To stay safe and avoid acrobatics, it is advisable to follow the advice given in the practical information: "You can also go straight ahead. You will then arrive 200 m below point (2), on the road.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.