Walking tour in France - Stevenson Trail

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Trek the first half of Stevenson's seminal walking tour in France

Tour Highlights

  • Discover the first half of a top-rated literary trail
  • Enjoy alpine flora and volcanic plateau, AOC lentils and the Upper Loire Valley
  • Hike the south central massif's most fascinating fortified villages
  • Personalise the trek to suit your needs

Key Facts

  • Five-night tour, with arrivals any day from April to October.
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  • Self-guided, moderate, inn-to-inn trekking.
  • An all-inclusive transport tour, starting in Le Puy and finishing in La Bastide.
  • Nearest airport or TGV railway station is Lyon, with onward train to Puy-en-Velay. You can drive to Puy and collect your car at the end of your trip.There are train options from Nimes - please contact us for further details - or you can leave your car in Ales free of charge and collect it upon your return.
    Please click the headings below or scroll down.
  1. Theme
  2. Model Trekking the RLS trail Part One
  3. Accommodation
  4. What's Included
  5. Prices 2010
  6. Booking

1. Theme

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Stevenson Trail: Part One retraces the steps hiked by The Scot from Le Puy to La Bastide Puylaurent across the volcanic Massif Central - a journey of 105 kilometres or around 70 miles.

Stevenson chose to go hiking in France in order to get away from a female he thought he could never marry. En route, he found another in the shape of 'Modestine', a trusted female donkey.

He loved his creature comforts and wrote of his experience, "to come down off this feather-bed of civilisation, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints. Alas, as we get up in life, and are more preoccupied with our affairs, even a holiday is a thing that must be worked for."

Stevenson often slept out under trees in a prototype sleeping bag; whereas you will enjoy good food in comfortable hotels en route as part of one of the top-ten trekking tours in France.

Stevenson Trail: Part One crosses volcanic upland and descends down steep shale valley. It is guaranteed to delight your senses and fits comfortably into a week’s holiday. If you have never walked here before, this is your ideal introductory walking tour in France.

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2. Model 6-night Trekking the Stevenson trail, Part One

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Day 1. LE PUY.

Arrival and hotel check-in. A visit to Puy merits a day's stay in itself, so much history is there here to enjoy - get there early!

Day 2. LE PUY EN VELAY to LE BOUCHET ST NICOLAS.
14 miles-21 kms.

Taxi transfer (20 kms) to LE MONASTIER and the start of the trail. After a short descent into the Loire Valley, you climb over 400 metres, through charming hamlets and across volcanic plateau before arriving at Stevenson's first overnight stop.
Night in Le Bouchet.

Day 3. LE BOUCHET ST NICOLAS to PRADELLES.
12.5 miles-19 kms.

hiking provence It's more gradual and prolonged climbs or descents today as you walk the volcanic plateau en route to the granite 'City of High Prairies'.
Night in Pradelles.

Day 4. PRADELLES to CHEYLARD L’EVEQUE.
14 miles-22 kms.

You descend from the volcanic plateau to Langogne, and through a series of small villages en route to the medieval village of Cheylard, repleat with church, chapel and abbey.
Night in Cheylard.

Day 5. CHEYLARD L’EVEQUE to LA BASTIDE.
11 miles-16.5 kms.

You climb through a forest and have lunch beside a lake, before descending to the fabulous ruins of Luc castle. Then you follow a variant of the medieval Regordane Way.
Night in La Bastide.

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Day 6. End of your walking tour in France.

A memorable trek has brought you to La Bastide. Return to your starting point by train or head south to Nimes. We hope you will also return to take Part two of this exciting walking tour!

Note: a rest-day can be introduced to suit if required.

3. Accommodation

You will stay in five different places en route and a variety of comfortable and welcoming accommodation: hotels, auberges, chambres/tables d'hotes, gites d'etape that are of 'two-star standard.'

These are your 5 overnight stops:
1. Le Puy;
2. Bouchet-St-Nicolas;
3. Pradelles;
4. Cheylard;
5. La Bastide.
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4. What's Included


  • 5 nights B & B - leaving you free to purchase your meals according to your personal preferences and budget: relevant information is available in your dossier;
  • Luggage transfers¹ and taxi transfers integral to the programme, including transfer from Le Puy to Le Monastier;
  • Walking France Insight Notes™ that make orientation simple;
  • Themed vacation dossier;
  • Comprehensive travel notes & logistical information;
  • Emergency telephone help-line service with local British backup.

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    ¹ Important note: we have listened to our customers and developed our own luggage transportation network. This allows you to take one piece of luggage per person, without any weight restrictions. Other tour operators (wholesalers) limit you to 13 to 15 kgs, with supplements imposed once in France for even slightly-overweight luggage. Also, see our Backpackers' option, without luggage transfers. See rate below.

    5. Prices 2010
  • Price per person based on 2 persons sharing double room:
    • £420.00 or €465.00 or $720.00
  • Single person rate:
    • £645.00 or €715.00 or $1110.00

    Backpacking rate, with no luggage transfers:

  • Per person based on two sharing:
    • £375.00 or €415.00 or $645.00
  • Single person rate:
    • £555.00 or €615.00 or $955.00

    Click to go to Booking

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