Located in central, southern France, the Massif Central is the most extensive area of upland country in France. It’s 85,00 square kilometres in area (about 15% of France), with much of that lying at an altitude of between 800 and 1,300 metres.

Prior to the 20th century, the area was difficult to access and, as a result, remote, sparsely populated and little-known. Today, it is still an area of relative remoteness and small towns and villages. But it’s known, valued and protected for its open landscapes, forests, rivers, lakes and mountains. And today, hundreds of kilometres of waymarked trails give walkers plenty of tantalising opportunities.

The Massif Central houses a number of ranges or upland areas that are well-known in their own right - the Auvergne, the Velay, the Cevennes and the Quercy - to name just a few. Attractive small cities or towns with rich historical heritages include Le Puy en Velay, Cahors, Rodez and Millau.

One of the most popular walks in the Massif Central is the GR 70 (grande randonnee) which is also known as the Robert Louis Stevenson Trail or the Chemin de Stevenson. This trail roughly follows the route that the Scottish author took in the 1870’s and described in his first successful book, Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes. The walk passes through the the Auvergne, the Velay and the Cevennes.

Another notable long-distance path in the Massif Central is the GR 65 which starts from the small cathedral city of Le Puy en Velay and crosses the Massif Central in a south-westerly direction. The GR 65 is also known as the Way of St James (France) or the Camino Le Puy as it is one of the French pilgrim routes that lead to the Spanish pilgrim routes that lead to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

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Stevenson’s Trail

Follow the route that Robert Louis Stevenson took with his donkey, Modestine, and described in his book Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes. The walk traverses the Auvergne, the Velay and the Cevennes regions of the Massif Central.

Way of St James (Camino Le Puy) (GR 65)

Follow part of arguably the most scenic of the French pilgrim routes that lead to the Spanish pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Starting at the attractive cathedral city of Le Puy en Velay, the trail spends its first 100 kilometres traversing the Massif Central.