The secluded Ardèche 5 days

D1 Arrival in Tournon

Things to see :
The Rhône Valley. Wines of the Côtes du Rhône: Hermitage and Croze Hermitage.

Dinner and night in a 3 star hotel.

D2 From Lamastre to St Cierge sous le Cheylard

According to the train schedule* :
Transfer with your luggage to station at Saint-Jean-de-Muzols (6km).
transfer aboard little train of the Vivarais to Lamastre (trip 1hr45).
On other days: taxi transfer from Tournon to Lamastre.

17,4 km with total uphill 400 metres (level 3/5). Duration about 4hrs.
This first walk along the former rail track is fairly long but has no major difficulty. The countryside is varied, giving a good idea of the nature of the Ardèche mountains.
There are many traces of the fine architectural civil engineering works of the former railway, along with stretches taking you through typical rural farms.

Dinner and night in a restored former farmhouse, now a fine hostelry.

*the train is running :

- Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday in april, may, june, september and october

- From Sunday to Wednesday in July and August

- Everyday from 4.08 to 19.08

D3 From St Cierge sous le Cheylard to Chalencon

21,2 km with total uphill of 940m. Level 4/5. Duration about 6hrs50.
This is the longest walk of the holiday. You need to be fit to complete it, so don't overestimate your capacity.It's a ridge walk with lofty passages and fabulous views. The descent to the Valley at the end of the day is the trickiest part.

The climb towards Chalencon offers wonderful panoramic views over the valley.
The itinerary takes you across terraces and through chestnut woods.

Dinner and night in 3 'épis' guest house in the heart of the village.

D4 From Chalancon to Ollières sur Eyrieux

18,2 km with total uphill of 500m. Level 3/5 Duration 5hrs30.
The way is mainly downwards, but by no means a long straight line as it follows hither and thither the maze of ancient terraces carved into the hillside. You have to be particularly careful along this particular itinerary, even if its along the GR (Grande Randonnée, the route of a long distance footpath) for most of the way! And you need to be well-shod given the sometimes tricky descent.

Dinner and night at the hostelry.

D5 Departure

Departure after breakfast. Transfer to Tournon at 9.30 am

Option : Alternatively, you may first like to do a 9.8 km walk with total uphill of 350m. Level 2/5. Duration about 2hrs50.
A somewhat shorter outing that brings into focus another facet of the area whilst helping you to recover from the treks of the previous days. The walk begins through the orchards, rising gently above the valley of the Eyrieux and continuing through decidedly Mediterranean vegetation before winding down through a majestic forest where broad-leaved trees, box and thorn bushes flourish side by side.

In this case, transfer to Tournon at 15.00 hours.