An easy family walk to the "Forêt des sens" (forest of senses), arboretum and interpretive trail created under the impetus of the municipal children's council. A few welcome benches punctuate this playful and instructive walk for all ages.
Park at the Combettes car park, below the D902.
(D/A) If you're looking at the houses overlooking the car park, climb to the right on the square and turn right on the Rue du Fort, after the Caisse d'Épargne. Follow this for about 150m up to a trails signpost.
(1) Turn right on the Grande Rue, pass the Place des Capucins and a house with blue shutters and continue straight on until the crossing with the Rue de la Couronne (new trails signpost).
(2) Turn right until the ford, which you cross. The route is marked by small yellow signs "Forêt des sens". Continue up until you reach a barrier on your left: the signs and "white-yellow" markers invite you to climbs to the left.
Continue climbing straight ahead and keep going on the path opposite on the first intersection.
(3) Continue straight on until the top of the hill. Enjoy a great view of the village toward the end of the climb.
(4) You'll now be at the arboretum and the start of the "Sentier des sens", which is very well marked indicating which path to take (yellow arrows on a black background).
Extract from the leaflet:
...." ' Using your five senses, and with the help of six pulpits, a xylophone(!) and a landscape table, you'll discover the natural, historical, cultural and landscape heritage of the Devois hill and its extensive environment'''. "...
Follow this path. After the xylophone pulpit, take a quick return trip to the right to get to the orientation table and then continue up until you cross the path you took on the climb.
(3) Continue straight on, follow the track that is partially and pleasantly lined with trees, and which curves left around the Devois hill leading to an asphalt track just below a parking area.
(5) Turn left and go down the asphalt track up to the Saint-Andéol-de-Berg road (D259).
(6) At the trails signpost, turn left, go past the forester's house and then take the trail on the right (white-yellow markers) which descends back down to the river "Ibie". Cross the ford and walk back up straight toward the town centre via the Rue de l'Ibie which then continues as the Basse Rue Roger Vallos
(2) Continue straight on. Immediately after the Place des Capucins, turn right on a vaulted passage (Rue Émile Froment) to reach the Place Emile Froment.
(7) Cross the square diagonally to take the Rue Saint John opposite which takes you out next to the church bell tower.
Fork left, cross the square and then take the Rue du Fort opposite and to get back to the car park(D/A).
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 317m
1 : km 0.25 - alt. 324m - Rue du Fort, take the "Grand Rue" on the left
2 : km 0.49 - alt. 312m - Rue de la Couronne, turn right
3 : km 1.96 - alt. 414m - Intersection of 4 paths, continue straight on
4 : km 2.17 - alt. 434m - The top of the hill, Forêt des sens
5 : km 4.71 - alt. 401m - Asphalt track, turn left
6 : km 5.15 - alt. 367m - D259, signpost, turn left
7 : km 6.44 - alt. 323m - Place Emile Froment
D/A : km 6.67 - alt. 317m
Add a good 30 minutes to the indicated time to enjoy the pulpits in the Forêt des sens.
No water-filling points, wear good shoes with studded soles, headgear, optional poles.
2 fords to cross
Trails signpost: a pole with a small yellow cone on top and directional signs
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Details of the walk:
http://www.villeneuvedeberg.fr/decouvrir...
Free leaflet available from the town hall located just a few meters after point(1) continuing straight on (stairs)
Website about Olivier de Serres often mentioned on the trail
http://www.olivier-de-serres.org/
Point (1) : the birthplace of Olivier de Serres
Point (4) Arboretum interpretive trail
This lovely hike offers magnificent viewpoints over the Montmirail Dentelles, Mont Ventoux, the Baronnies, the Vercors, the Montagne Ardéchoise, the Coiron, the Necks of Sceautres, of Roche Chérie, of Roche, and a 360° panoramic view from the summit of Croix Juliau.
The superb medieval hamlet of Roche is well worth the detour.
A route starting at a hilltop village, Saint-Laurent-sous-Coiron, with a wonderful, panoramic 180° view over the Ardèche mountains and plains, from Villeneuve de Berg to the Col de l'Escrinet (the Cham du Cros, Rocher d’Abraham, Montagne Sainte-Marguerite, Mont Lozère). In addition, educational panels depicting the history, geology and life on the Coiron adorn this hike.
The Plateau des Gras is a limestone plateau crossed by rivers, situated between the Bois de Païolive woods in the southwest and the slopes of the Coiron in the northeast. The northwestern edge of the plateau overlooks a depression extending from Aubenas to Les Vans. The footpaths along this edge of the plateau offer unspoilt views of the Monts d'Ardèche hills at the eastern edge of the Massif Central. The walk also takes you along beautiful paths amid oak trees and to a viewpoint overlooking the village of Balazuc.
The high point of Basse-Ardèche, this promontory (719 m) offers a beautiful panorama of the Cévennes, Mont Lozère, the Alps, the Baronnies, Mont Ventoux and the Ridge of Montmirail.
A hilly walk through green oaks between Pradons and Lagorce. Beautiful views of the Ardèche cliffs on the final descent.
A splendid medieval village, a hermit and his cave, a valley in the limestone hills and the views of the Rhône Valley and Mont Ventoux.
Prepare yourself for a nice, family-friendly hike, which will suit everyone.
A beautiful hike with a great diversity of the volcanic Coiron landscape. The top of this volcanic peak offers a view over the Castle of Rochemaure and the Rhône Valley, the Lavezon valley, the Baronnies, Mont Ventoux, and the Vercors.
A walk amid holm oaks along the capricious Ibie river, whose water doesn’t always flow overground.
For more walks, use our search engine.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.