Rail holidays in France on Foot [L or M]

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Walk France by Train along a fabulous Mountain Railway

Tour Highlights

  • Discover France's finest railroad
  • Enjoy fine scenery from your seat and then walk it for yourself
  • Experience some of the Cevennes' and Lozere's best trails
  • Personalise the hikes to suit your needs
  • Visit fascinating medieval villages and explore the wonders of Lake Villefort.

Key Facts

    walking in france
  • Seven-night tour, with arrivals any day from April to mid-October.
  • Self-guided, light or moderate [L or M] walking to suit.
  • All-inclusive transport commencing in Genolhac and finishing in Villefort;
  • Best access airport or TGV railway station is Nimes. Then onwards to Genolhac by train (75 mins). Those driving can leave their cars free of charge near Alès.
    Please click the headings below or scroll down.
  1. Theme
  2. Model Programme: Walk France by Train
  3. Accommodation
  4. What's Included
  5. Prices
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1. Theme

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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.

hiking provence

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 Train

Day 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.

hiking cevennes

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.

walking lozere

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. hiking provence

3. Accommodation

You 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.

4. What's Included

hiking provence
  • 7 nights B & B in comfortable character accommodations -
    leaving you free to purchase your meals according to your personal preferences and budget:
    relevant information is available in your dossier;
  • All train tickets from Genolhac [start] to Villefort [finish];
  • Transportation and luggage transfers integral to the programme;
  • Tailored walks to suit your needs and capacity;
  • Walking Insight Notes™ that make orientation simple;
  • Themed vacation dossier & 1:25,000 scale maps;
  • Emergency telephone help-line service delivered by local British nationals.
  • 5. Prices 2012

    hiling in provence
  • Per person based on two sharing:
  • £520.00, €575.00
  • Single person rate:
  • £625.00 or €695.00

    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:

    1. Train Cévenol
    2. and
    3. Edouard Paris' site
    walking languedoc