Mas de la Fontenette Mas de la Fontenette

Walks and hikes in the Ardèche

An infinite number of walks and hikes in the Ardèche

There are countless possibilities for walks and hikes in the Ardèche. Do you love nature and wide open spaces? Welcome to the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve. The GR4 passes right by Mas de la Fontenette. There are countless hiking trails starting from our gite with heated swimming pool, leading to various lookouts or to the bottom of the Ardèche Gorges. You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to taking in the sights. Join the path at the bottom of the gorges, which runs from Vallon Pont d’Arc to Saint Martin d’Ardèche / Aiguèze. Follow the GR4 with belvederes for the most extraordinary views. Descend into the Gaux cirque, etc. The routes are accessible to all, including children. Here are a few examples of hikes starting from Mas de la Fontenette as well as some other very interesting ones

Pont d’Arc walk

Magnificent hike with Mathieu Golin (mid-mountain guide) in an imposing landscape. We descend the right bank at the start of the Gorges, pass under the Pont d’Arc in a small tunnel and then climb back up the cliff with a fantastic view of the Pont d’Arc and the Ardèche. An unforgettable hike. Thanks to Mathieu and all the participants. This is just one of many walks and hikes in the Ardèche

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Hiking from the Gaud cirque to Gourmier

The descent into the middle of the Ardèche Gorge, on the right bank, is always a very interesting adventure. Here, we’re doing the route with Claire Bousquet (a guide with Ardèche Randonnées) between the cirque de Gaud and Gourmier. If you’re lucky, you may see Bonelli’s eagle, the Ardèche beaver, the griffon vulture or the circaète, an eagle whose menu consists mainly of snakes.

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Ranc de l’Arche walk

As you walk up the Ibie valley from Vallon-Pont d’Arc, you come across a beautiful creation of nature. A natural arch called the “Ranc de l’Arc”. Significantly smaller than the famous Pont d’Arc, it is nevertheless finer, more chiselled and well worth the diversions. The arch also offers a remarkable view over the Ibie valley. See our other walks and hikes in the Ardèche

Gorges de la Baume hike

We discover the Gorges de la Baume with Julien de la Rocca, (mountain guide, member of Ardèche Randonnées). He will take us first along the limestone plateaux known as “gras” or “grads”. We then follow a ledge path before descending into the gorges. The walk ends with a visit to the village of Labeaume, classified as a village of character.

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Arche du Chassezac walk

Clément Chaperon (from the association Découvrir en marchant) takes us on a tour of the left bank of the Chassezac. This bank is opposite the Bois de Païolive, another fantastic place to visit. Particularly well hidden is a magnificent and impressive natural arch, very thin, just above the cliffs overlooking the river Chassezac

Volcan de Jaujac hike

Claire Bousquet (a guide with Ardèche Randonnées) is proposing a new hike. From the ancient village of Chastelas to the volcano known as the Coupe de Jaujac. Jaujac is a beautifully restored old village in the Ardèche, on the left bank of the river Lignon. From the ground, the hamlet of Fau offers one of the best views of the volcano and its surroundings. The volcano is young in the sense that it is only around 12,000 years old, and its basaltic flow is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe

Hiking with a beekeeper

Julien de la Rocca, Mountain Leader, member of Ardèche Randonnées and also a beekeeper, takes us on a hike to discover his hives. The Ardèche is one of the departments with the highest number of beekeepers. It has to be said that the region offers many advantages. The diversity of soils and climates means that a wide range of honeys can be produced: acacia, heather, garrigue, chestnut, lavender and mountain. The walk ends with a tasting session. Our favourite honey is chestnut honey

Other walks and hikes in the Ardèche

In short, whatever your age, tastes or preferences, you’ll never get bored of walks and hikes in the Ardèche. These activities offer total immersion in varied and breathtaking landscapes, from majestic gorges to dense forests and mountains. Here are some more suggestions for walks and hikes in the Ardèche

Frequently asked questions about walks starting from Mas de la Fontenette

Can we go hiking from the Mas de la Fontenette?

The Mas de la Fontenette is a magnificent gite with a heated swimming pool situated on the edge of the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve. It offers access to many hiking trails in the area, including the famous GR4, which passes less than 300 metres away. Mas de la Fontenette is a hiker’s paradise. On our website you’ll find a number of walks starting from our gite in the Ardèche. We can provide you with GPX tracks of some of the most famous hikes, from the Pont d’Arc to the lookout point at the Cirque de Gaud, and many more

Most of the walks starting from Mas de la Fontenette can be done using the IGN maps and by importing the GPX tracks of the walks suggested by us onto your mobile phone. Your phone will then guide you like a GPS.

Walks accompanied by a guide are also very interesting because they will take you to places where you wouldn’t dare venture alone for fear of getting lost.

Where does the GR4 go?

The GR 4 is a very famous hiking trail. It passes 300 metres from the Mas de la Fontenette after crossing the village of Labastide-de-Virac. It is 1,470 km long and crosses thirteen départements, including the Ardèche: Charente-Maritime, Charente, Dordogne, Haute-Vienne, Creuse, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal, Lozère, Ardèche, Gard, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes

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