From €685 / pers.
with luggage transfer & journey back

Discovering the Stevenson Trail with short stages suitable for children
Distance
51km
Duration
7 days
Steps
Stages from 7km to 14km
La Loire à Goudet depuis le GR70

Stevenson Trail Initiation 

An invitation to a walking trip along the famous GR70, with short stages so everyone can enjoy the adventure of the Stevenson Trail… Perhaps it’s the perfect opportunity to travel with family and children!

Find our tips for preparing your hike.

A little extra: The L’Autre Chemin agency is located in Le Puy-en-Velay – 5 rue Grangevieille. This allows us to easily meet you upon your departure and provides us with extensive knowledge of the trail.

[WEBRESA]

Pros of your trek:

  • You travel independently and follow the provided travel diary.
  • Take advantage of our guide app to download to your smartphone (guidance, tourist information).
  • Your accommodations are offered on a half-board basis (dinner + night + breakfast)
  • Your luggage is delivered at each stop (one bag, max. 13kg/person).
  • Your return trip by minibus to the starting point is included in our packages.
Your journey
Découvrez les premières étapes du chemin de Stevenson en version allégée

Your itinerary:

  • Elevation gain 1,480m
  • Self-guided hike
  • Adventure for the whole family or almost (from 8 years old depending on comfort and motivation)
  • Accommodation: Private room (B&B, cottage, hotel, or alternative accommodation)
  • What’s the climate like? See our FAQ

Note: The steps are given for information purposes only and may be modified depending on host availability.

Ensemble conventuel du Monastier-sur-Gazeille - Place du Couvent
Day 1: Your arrival in Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille

Welcome to the small, characterful town of Monastier-sur-Gazeille, beloved by Sir Stevenson, where there's so much to discover!

Discover:
• Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille
> The Abbey of Saint Chaffre, which blends Romanesque and Gothic styles.
> The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste
> The circular fountains and wash houses
> Museum of Popular Beliefs
> School Museum
> The European Cultural Space (exhibitions)
> The Recoumène Viaduct
> Giant zip line over the Gazeille

La vallée de la Loire sauvage en Haute-Loire
Day 2: Le Monastier sur Gazeille - Goudet: 11km - 2h45 - D+275m

Hike the GR70 to cross the plateaus overlooking the Gazeille and Loire valleys. The route takes you to Goudet, a magnificent village on the banks of the Loire.

Discover:
• Saint-Martin de Fugères
> The church

• Goudet
> Stroll through the heart of the village center and discover the polychrome rooftops
> Walk along the path that runs along the Loire and leads you to wild gorges
> Beaufort Castle

Les  falaises volcaniques de la vallée de la Loire
Day 3: Goudet -Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas - 13km - 4h - D+520m

You'll need to be brave enough to climb the slopes of the Loire Gorges and reach the Devès volcanic plateau higher up. Pass the Péchay Maar crater to reach Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas, where, if you're feeling fit, you can reach the Bouchet volcanic lake.

Discover:
• Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas
> Bouchet volcanic lake

Fleurs et ciel bleu
Day 4: Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas - Landos - 7km - 2h -D+340m

Cross the cultivated plateaus of Devès, volcanic soil ideal for growing Velay green lentils.

Discover:
• Landos
> The washhouse and its fountain
> St. Félix Church
> The Marais de Ribains

Marche sur les pistes volcaniques du Devès sur le chemin de Stevenson
Day 5: Landos - Pradelles - 14km - 4h -D325m

Last stop in Haute-Loire, since Pradelles is located on the edge of the department. Lozère will be tomorrow, but you can already admire the Margeride / Gévaudan mountains in the distance.

Places to visit:
• Arquejols
> Viaduct
> Jagonas Castle

• Pradelles
> Village tour - Reservations available
> Vélorail - Reservations available
> Neo-Gothic church
> Aquatic center
> The view of Gévaudan
Photo: M. SCHAPPELER

Le lac de Naussac
Day 6: Pradelles - Langogne - 6km -1h30 -D+20m

A short, downhill section leads to Langogne, where you might enjoy the pleasures of Lake Naussac.

Discover:
• Langogne
> Lake Naussac – Water sports and swimming
> The Calquières spinning mill
> Museum of Sacred Art

La stèle Stevenson située dans le centre du Monastier-sur-Gazeille
Day 7: Journey back to Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille

In the morning you will be picked up by a shuttle to reach Monastier-sur-Gazeille and your vehicle unless you came by train, in which case it will be the SNCF station of Puy-en-Velay.

As an option, L’autre Chemin offers:

The Stage Book

A veritable passport to be stamped at each stage of your hike. We offer an optional stage book, which will be a nice souvenir of the Stevenson Trail. Price: €7 / stage book when booking your stay.

Arriving by train in Le Puy-en-Velay ?

If you’ve chosen to travel by train to Le Puy-en-Velay, we can arrange your transfer from the train station to Le Monastier. Price: €30 per person.

L’Autre Chemin has developed numerous partnerships with guesthouses and small traditional hotels to offer you comfort and authenticity, ensuring that each stage is an opportunity to discover the architecture, the art of living, and the gastronomy, as well as a moment of exchange and encounters. Note: The stages along the trail are determined by the walking pace that we feel is most appropriate. We strive to offer you stages that offer comfort, discovery, and authenticity in hotels, guesthouses, cottages, or unusual accommodations.

However, the Stevenson Trail offers a range of amenities. Generally, bathrooms are integrated into the rooms, but they may be located on the landing or shared in some accommodations.

This price includes:

  • Accommodation in a twin, double, triple, multiple, or single room according to the reservation with half-board basis
  • Tourist taxes,
  • Luggage transport (maximum 13kg/person)
  • Your digital travel and guidebook The guidebook (1 copy per group of 3 travelers)
  • The journey back to Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille by minibus
  • Telephone assistance

Extras:

  • Multi-risk cancellation insurance
  • Single room
  • No journey back from Chasseradès
  • Stay log 7-day stay with the last night omitted
  • Last night in Le Puy-en-Velay (bed and breakfast) replacing the one in Chasseradès

This price does not include:

  • Transportation and transfers to the starting point,
  • Meals other than those specified in the chosen package,
  • Car parking
  • The stage log
  • Drinks
  • Pocket money
  • Possible visits or activities
  • GPX tracks (we do not provide GPX tracks – app-based guidance)
  • Multi-risk cancellation insurance,
  • More generally, anything not listed in the “this price includes” section

Administration fees :

  • €12/person if ordered online
  • €15/person via quote

By train

The town of Monastier-sur-Gazeille is not served by train. You can arrive in Le Puy-en-Velay and we can offer you an additional transfer from the train station to Monastier-sur-Gazeille.

By car

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is accessible by road, notably via two main roads: the RN88 from Saint-Etienne/Lyon or Aubenas/Mende, or via the RN102 (Clermont-Ferrand). There are suitable parking lots on site, but we’ll explain everything in your travel diary!

  • Paris: 520km
  • Lyon: 140km
  • Marseille: 300km
  • Toulouse: 350km
  • Montpellier: 250km

Where to park in Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille?

In Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, there is a long-term parking lot located near the cemetery. Parking in Le Monastier is free but unattended. Do not park in front of the post office (weekly market) or in Place du Vallat in early August (Monastier Festival).

Whether you’d like to book your Stevenson Trail Introduction stay or have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.








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