Walk France by Train along a fabulous Mountain Railway
Tour Highlights
Key Facts
 1. Theme
If you enjoy rail holidays in France, then this holiday is for you. Walk France by Train is a fascinating criss-cross journey across valleys and over viaducts on the "line of 100 tunnels." This is your chance to enjoy an eco-friendly walking tour complemented by stimulating short train-rides along a mountain railway line. Le Cévenol is a diesel train linking Nîmes to Clermont-Ferrand. For those that want to get away from the car, there isn’t a better way to do your walking in France. Enjoy the picturesque scenery from your modern and comfortable SNCF seat, delight in the changing Cevennes landscape and get a sense of what you are about to experience upon arrival at your next destination - and with hiking options to suit! Built over a century-and-a-half ago to facilitate the transport of wine and coal to Paris, the line bears testimony to man's engineering ingenuity as it wends its way up its course from Alès to Villefort to La Bastide, through innumerable tunnels and across some breathtaking viaducts. Walk France by Train brings you memorable hiking in and around the land linked together by Le Cévenol. 
As far as participating in this train holiday is concerned, The Cévenol runs all year round, although Walk France by Train is available from April to late October - unless you enjoy hiking with snow shoes! 2. Model 7-night tour: Walk France by TrainDay 1. Genolhac. Arrival and first night in Genolhac. Take The Cevenol from Nimes via Ales or Paris via Clermont-Ferrand – last train leaves Nimes at 18.00 and arrives in Genolhac at 19.30; or best option from Clermont is mid-day, arriving in Genolhac at 16.30¹. 
Day 2. Montclar Pass. 10 miles -15kms with shorter option. You commence with a fine walk into the heart of Huguenots country; zig-zagging up an ancient drovers' trail to a picturesque plateau, a scenic pass and a descent into ‘Protestant’ villages and hamlets. Second night in Genolhac. Day 2. Notre Dame de Neige Abbey. 8 kms-5 miles, with optional extensions. Morning train to La Bastide [35 mins]. Check in and Hike to Notre Dame de Neige Abbey, celebrated for its liquor and where RL Stevenson stayed whilst trekking the Cevennes in 1879. Approx. 6 miles with options. Night in La Bastide. Day 3. Tour de l'Lozère. 14 kms-9 miles. If you like heights, then you can reach the giddy altitude of 1361 ms today at the Moure des Estombes via the Stevenson Trail. Alternatively, you depart for la Coulet de Pecoyol (1264 ms) and a panorama on the Cevennes Ardéchoises and the Alpes. Night in La Bastide. Day 4. Medieval Pradelles. 11 kms- 7 miles. Take the morning train to Langogne [20 mins], check in and enjoy an historic hike to the fascinating medieval fortified town of Pradelles. Night in Langogne. Day 5. The Regordane Way. 10 miles-16 kms. Take the morning train back to La Bastide [20 mins], from where you enjoy an unforgettable walk through French history; along hill crest and volcanic plateau to a medieval village on the Chaussezac gorge and then onto Villefort. Night in Villefort.
Day 6. Lake Villefort. Walk options from 6 kms-4 miles to 14 kms-9 miles. Today you enjoy a 4-mile hike round the lake with optional extensions to Castanet castle or via the Mont Lozere trail. Second night in Villefort. Day 8. End of your hiking holiday France. Breakfast followed by transfer to SNCF station and onward train: to Nimes via Ales arriving 12.45 or to Clermont, arriving 13.40¹. ¹ Train times are non-contractual and subject to change. Please check the options and times for your arrival and departure before booking.
3. AccommodationYou will stay in five different places en route, in four comfortable 2-star hotels and one excellent chambres/tables d'hotes.These locations are: 1. Langogne - one night;
2. La Bastide Puylaurent - two nights; 3. Villefort - two nights; 4. Génolhac - two nights.
5. Prices 2012
Read our article on Le Cévenol. Read our article on The Cévennes. For a 4-night walking tour in France of the same theme, see Eco-friendly walking in France Lozere For an alternative approach to hiking the Cevennes, see Walking France's Cevennes. Click to go to Booking For more fine photos of Le Cevenol Railway, please visit: 
|
||
