On 22nd September, 1878, the young Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson, (RLS), set out on foot from Monastier sur Gazeille in the Haute-Loire with his donkey Modestine. 12 days, 220 kms and many adventures later, he arrived at Saint Jean de Gard. He had a twofold objective - to try and forget his love for Fanny Osbourne, the beautiful American woman who he in fact eventually married some years later - and to explore the countryside of the Camisards, the French Protestants, from the rugged and isolated Cévennes region of southern France.

He wrote an amusing account of his journey and a long distance footpath (GR 70) has been devised with the object of letting us walk in Stevenson's footsteps. We will read about Stevenson's adventures as we have our own.

This beautiful trail follows footpaths, ancient bridleways and drove roads and fits conveniently into a fortnight of walking. We start in the Velay area and then move through some of the remotest countryside in France strewn with beautiful old historic villages. After Velay we move into the Gévaudan area and then the Cévennes, protected by National Park status, and rising above the plains of the Languedoc and the Mediterranean. The Cévennes is a maze of deep valleys with winding rivers of clear waters and hill slopes covered in forests of sweet chestnut along with the mulberry which was planted in days gone by for feeding the silkworms bred in the mills called magnaneries. A country of rebellion and tradition, the Cévennes gradually reveals a bit more of itself at each bend in its glorious footpaths. In the latter stretches of the walk we arrive at the land of the Camisards, infamous for 100 years of fighting between Protestants and Catholics in the Middle Ages.

We will have at least two leaders, and a minibus to move your luggage while you walk. We will also be able to use the bus for shuttles on a couple of the longer days.

Dave Best is a renegade town planner, originally from London, but has been based in Australia now for almost 20 years. He has trodden many a path from France to Asia and New Zealand! He is a lifelong Francophile and speaks French like a native (of England)! He's been leading walks in France since 1994.

Peter Kellett trained as an historian before turning to Outdoor Education in 1978. Since then he has been leading outdoor courses and tours in various parts of the world. A keen canoeist and walker, Peter has had experience in North America, Nepal, New Zealand and Europe. He is an accredited walking leader & has been planning and leading walking tours in France for twenty years.

If you are unfamiliar with the Dave & Peter 'roadshow', think of it as adding the 'extra' to the 'ordinary', providing good value tours in France, enhanced with insights into the culture, history, cuisine and people of the destination.

Itinerary

MON 14 MAY: Arrive Le Puy-en-Velay. Transfer to hotel in Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille. (DBB)

TUES 15 MAY: Le Monastier to Le Bouchet Saint-Nicholas (22 km - 5.5 hours)
From Le Monastier, where RLS lived for some weeks, we set off across the lush volcanic plateau of the Velay. RLS was heading for the beautiful crater lake, the Lac du Bouchet, but became lost. (DBB)

WED 16 MAY: Le Bouchet to Pradelles (21 km - 5 hours).
From Le Bouchet the trail crosses rich farmland; fields of Puy lentils and grazing cattle. There are panoramic views of the Velay and Gévaudan. Pradelles is a walled town with an attractive medieval centre. (DBB)

THU 17 MAY: Pradelles to Le Cheylard-l'Évêque (20 km - 5 hours).
An easy walk to Langogne, a small town, and then through remote farms and forests of pine, beech and birch to the tiny hamlet of Cheylard-l'Évêque. (DBB)

FRI 18 MAY: Le Cheylard to La Bastide-Puylaurent (19 km - 5 hours).
Walking through mixed forest to Luc, with its ruined chateau, and then following the course of the Allier to La Bastide. (DBB)

SAT 19 MAY: La Bastide to Chasseradès (12 km - 4 hours).
Visit the monastery at Notre Dame des-Neiges where RLS stayed, and then over La Mourade, a high open plateau, with grand views to the small ancient village of Chasseradès. (DBB)

SUN 20 MAY: Rest day.
An opportunity to visit Mende, the capital of Lozère. There is a small cathedral and an interesting medieval centre. Overnight Chasseradès. (DBB)

MON 21 MAY: Chasseradès to Le Bleymard (17 km - 5 hours)
Pass under a century-old railway viaduct and ascend to Mt Goulet (1450metres). Views to Mont Lozère before descending to Le Bleymard, a small stone-built village near the base of Mont Lozère. (DBB)

TUES 22 MAY: Le Bleymard to Le Pont-de-Montvert (18 km - 6 hours).
Today we attain the highest point of the walk as we cross the Sommet de Finiels (1699 metres). Cattle are brought up here for the summer from the valleys far below. Magnificent 360 degree views take in the old province of Gévaudan to the north, the Tarn Gorges to the west, the Alps to the east and the Cévennes to the south. (DBB)

WED 23 MAY: Le Pont-de-Montvert to Florac (24 km - 6.5+ hours)
This is the longest day, but there are some options to shorten it if you wish. It is high walking with grand views. Florac is a delightful market town with medieval streets and fountains. (DBB)

THU 24 MAY: Florac to Cassagnas (16 km - 5 hours).
In the morning we walk up the Mimente Valley with some hills and 'balconies" but from St Julien d'Arpaon to Cassagnas we walk along a disused old railway line. Beautiful country all day. (DBB)

FRI 25 MAY: Cassagnas to Saint-Germain-de-Calberte (16 km - 5 hours).
Walking through pleasant woodland, forest and areas of chestnut trees. (DBB)

SAT 26 MAY: Saint-Germain to Saint-Jean-du-Gard (21 km - 6.5+ hours). (DBB)
An easy start is followed by an ascent to the summit of the impressive St Pierre, and after a last nostalgic look back at the Cevennes, we descend to our final destination, Saint-Jean-du-Gard.

SUN 27 MAY: Transfer to Alès station after breakfast.
From here you can easily reach the southern cities of Nîmes, Montpellier and Avignon.