Stevenson’s Trail

Highlights:

  • Mountains vista atop Mont Lozere

  • Cevennes National Park

  • Ancient town of Le Puy-en-Velay

  • Unspoilt areas of natural beauty

Brief:

⏱ Duration: 10 - 12 Days
🗺 Distance: 225 km
⛰ Difficulty: Moderate - Challenging
🗓 Best Time: April - October
🛏 Accomm: Auberges/Inns/Small Hotels

 
 
 
 

Walk Overview

This wonderful trail follows in the footsteps of Scottish author and travel writer Robert Louis Stevenson who is best known for his works “Treasure Island” and “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”. In 1878, Stevenson walked this route with a pack donkey called Modestine. His walk diaries from that trip formed the basis of his first bestseller “Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes”. Today, Stevenson’s travels in the Cevennes have been immortalised in the form of a Grand Randonee, the GR 70.

Stevenson’s Trail explores some remote and authentic parts of central rural France and traverses some wild mountain territory. However, the Cevennes mountain range is more rounded than some of the mightier French mountains and thus more accessible. The trail starts in the volcanic plateau of the Velay region, to the north of the Massif Central. The medieval town of Le Puy-en-Velay is a fascinating town to wander around and is dominated by three towering volcanic plugs. The local Cathedral Notre-Dame is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and marks the start of the Camino Le Puy pilgrimage trail heading to Santiago de Compostela.

The route encounters ever-changing landscape featuring a beautiful mixture of tranquil woodlands, river valleys, mountain streams, ancient footpaths, traditional stone villages, pastures of wildflowers and colourful heathlands. The walk follows a winding path southwards across the Cevennes National Park which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The headquarters of the park is located in the town of Florac. A particular highlight is reaching the highest point of the trail atop Mont Lozere at Finiels Summit (1,699 metres). From this splendid vantage point, walkers can enjoy the stunning panorama known as the “Sea of Mountains”.

For those with time constraints, there are shorter versions of the walk available which concentrate on the major highlights of Stevenson’s Trail. Whichever version you undertake, there is the absolute reward of escaping the crowds and immersing yourself in rugged remote authentic French countryside. In the words of Robert Louis Stevenson -

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move”.

Further information:

  • For more information on walking in the Massif Central, click the button below.

  • For assistance in organising a walking holiday on Stevenson’s Trail, click the button below.