Trekking the Robert Louis Stevenson trail: Part One

Key Facts

• Stevenson Trail walking tour length for Part One:
  seven nights, with arrivals any day and options to condense the tour by one or two nights - ask us for details.

• Self-guided, moderately-challenging, inn-to-inn trekking trails. Some longer hikes punctuated by some of shorter length. The level of physical effort can be reduced by taking rest days or by the reduction of the standard walk lengths.
  Note: if you would like a guided version of this tour for your group, contact us with details.
• Luggage transfers included.
• Walking tour available from April to October.
• Nearest airport or TGV railway station is Clermont Ferrand/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.
• Theme
• Model 7-night Trekking the Robert Louis Stevenson trail Part One
• Accommodations
• What's Included
• Prices 2008.
• Booking

1. Theme

Trekking the Robert Louis 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.

Robert Louis Stevenson chose this hiking trail across the Cevennes in order to get away from a female 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 this memorable inn-to-inn hiking tour. If you have never hiked a long distance path before, this is your ideal introduction.

Click to read our background article on Robert Louis Stevenson

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 MONASTIER SUR GAZEILLE.
13 miles-19 kms.

Climb over 300 metres to the start of the Stevenson Trail.

Day 3. LE MONASTIER to LE BOUCHET ST NICOLAS.
14.5 miles-22 kms

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.

Day 4. LE BOUCHET ST NICOLAS to PRADELLES.
9 miles-13.5 kms.

Day 5. PRADELLES to LANGOGNE.
3 miles-5.5 kms.

You commence this 'rest day' day with a urban walk around this impressive and historic village before you continue the short walk onto Langogne, which also merits more than just a passing look.

Day 6. LANGOGNE to CHEYLARD L’EVEQUE.
10.5 miles-16 kms.

You walk the volcanic plateau to the medieval village of Cheylard, repleat with church, chapel and abbey.

Day 7. CHEYLARD L’EVEQUE to LA BASTIDE.
16 miles-23.5 kms.

A slight descent of 100 ms takes you through Luc and along an ancient Roman trail, that many confuse with the Regordane Way!

Day 8. End of Tour.

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

Note: We reserve the right to alter parts of the above programme.

These are your 7 overnight stops:
1. Le Puy;
2. Le Monastier;
3. Bouchet-St-Nicolas;
4.Pradelles;
5. Langogne;
6. Cheylard;
7. La Bastide;

4. What's Included

¹ One piece of luggage per person up to 15 kgs. Supplements apply for more or heavier luggage.

Click to go to Booking and Costs