The Chemin de Stevenson on a self-guided hike: from Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-du-Gard

Arrival at Le Puy en Velay

Arrive in Le Puy-en-Velay during the day and settle into your accommodation in the late afternoon.
Take the opportunity to explore the town and its heritage by visiting the Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe Chapel, perched atop its volcanic rock.
Dinner and overnight stay in Le Puy-en-Velay.

5 hours of walking. Distance: 19 km. Elevation gain: +550m / -230m.

You begin this trail by climbing onto the plateau, offering a panoramic view of the entire Le Puy-en-Velay basin. Known for its rich terroir, you may spot fields of verbena and green lentils along the way. Before ascending to a second plateau, you can take a refreshing break in the Loire Valley.
Finally, you arrive in Monastier-sur-Gazeille, a charming historic town featuring its 11th-century abbey church.
Dinner and overnight stay in Monastier-sur-Gazeille.

6 hours of walking. Distance: 24 km. Elevation gain: +650m / -350m.

Today, you walk once again on a plateau where you'll be able to spot the volcanic chains of Devès. You then explore the many small rustic villages along the Loire Gorge. By the end of the day, you arrive at Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas. We recommend visiting the village, known for its old house adorned with bas-reliefs and the former church dating back to 1586.
Dinner and overnight stay in Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas.

6 hours of walking. Distance: 21 km. Elevation gain: +250m / -315m.

You enter the territory of Gévaudan after crossing the Allier River. Throughout the day, you'll encounter traces of rural life from the past: old washhouses, roadside crosses, ancient ovens... You will also pass through Landos, where the Romanesque church is worth a visit. In the afternoon, you will finally arrive in Pradelles. Once a regional capital in the Middle Ages, remnants of this era can still be seen today: old ramparts, doorways, arcades, and a 17th-century castle...
Dinner and overnight stay in Pradelles.

6 hours of walking. Distance: 22 km. Elevation gain: +390m / -420m.

Today, as you cross the Margeride, you'll notice a change in vegetation, with heathlands, small groves, and granite rocks. This is where the legend of the Beast of Gévaudan was born—a fierce creature resembling a wolf that is said to have terrorized the inhabitants for over 100 years. Don't miss the charming village of Langogne, where the old town houses a magnificent church adorned with 85 sculpted granite capitals.
Dinner and overnight stay in Cheylard-l'Évêque.

6 to 7 hours of walking. Distance: 27 km. Elevation gain: +655m / -760m.

Following in the footsteps of Robert Stevenson, you walk along the ancient Régordane Way, which once connected Paris to the southern Languedoc through the Massif Central. You pass through various typical villages, such as Luc. Despite several wars, the village has been well protected, and to this day, remnants of the castle remain, including its keep topped with a grand statue of the Virgin.
Dinner and overnight stay in La Bastide-Puylaurent.

3 to 4 hours of walking. Distance: 13 km. Elevation gain: +350m / -200m.

You begin your last day of hiking with the ascent to the summit of Mourade, a climb rewarded by a panoramic view of the Gardille plateau before descending to Chasseradès through the Gardille forest. Chasseradès is a small hamlet with winding streets, crossed by a small stream. We recommend visiting the village's sturdy church, whose robust appearance will surely surprise you.
Dinner and overnight stay in Chasseradès.

5 to 6 hours of walking. Distance: 17 km. Elevation gain: +610m / -690m.

After a hearty breakfast at your accommodation, you set off on your adventure along the Stevenson Trail. Today, you cross the Goulet forest and mountain, with its summit at 1,450 meters above sea level. On the Goulet plateau, you'll be treated to a panoramic view of a new, pastoral and forested landscape, with yellow carpets of gorse blooming.
Dinner and overnight stay in Le Bleymard.

6 hours of walking. Distance: 19 km. Elevation gain: +820m / -1015m.

You explore the highest point of the Stevenson Trail by climbing Mont Lozère to the "Sommet de Finiels" at 1,699 meters above sea level, covered with grasslands and heath. On a clear day, you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the entire region, from the Tarn Gorges to the Alps. In the evening, you will arrive at Pont du Montvert, where you can visit its church and the Mont Lozère Eco-museum to learn more about the Camisards.
Dinner and overnight stay at Pont du Montvert.

7 hours of walking. Distance: 28.5 km. Elevation gain: +690m / -940m.

After Mont Lozère, you cross the Bougès mountain, reaching an altitude of 1,421 meters. The northern slope, covered with forests, gives way to heathlands, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. You will also pass through the charming village of Bédouès, with its old buildings and imposing collegiate church. Your day ends in Florac, a village at the confluence of four rivers, home to the Cévennes National Park Visitor Center.
Dinner and overnight stay in Florac.

4.5 to 5 hours of walking. Distance: 17.5 km. Elevation gain: +340m / -180m.

Today, you ascend the Mimente Valley, following the old railway line that once connected Florac to Chamborigaud. Through a chestnut forest, the path leads you to the Cévennes village of Saint-Julien-d'Arpaon, where the ruins of an impressive 13th-century castle can be found. Your final destination is Cassagnas, one of the few communes in France that has a temple rather than a church.
Dinner and overnight stay in Cassagnas.

5 to 6 hours of walking. Distance: 24 km. Elevation gain: +350m / -450m.

The hike from Cassagnas to Saint-Étienne-Vallée-Française explores the schistous Cévennes, with their landscapes of sharp ridges and deep valleys. As you ascend toward the Plan de Fontmort, you are surrounded by shades of green and black, punctuated by the yellow of blooming gorse or the purple of heather, depending on the season. By the end of the day, you will arrive in Saint-Étienne-Vallée-Française, a former village of deserters during World War II.
Dinner and overnight stay in Saint-Étienne-Vallée-Française.

4 to 5 hours of walking. Distance: 13 km. Elevation gain: +480m / -600m.

Capping off Robert Louis Stevenson's journey, the final stage takes you up the last pass of the trip, the Col de Saint-Pierre, before following the Gard River through a valley covered in vineyards and mulberry trees, all the way to Saint-Jean-du-Gard. This charming village is full of historical gems, both for its past and its architecture. We recommend visiting the castle, the Gardon bridge, and the "Maison Rouge," which houses the Cévennes Valleys Museum.
Dinner and overnight stay in Saint-Jean-du-Gard.

End of your stay

End of service after your breakfast.