Walking The Ceze Valley [2] |
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A walking tour in France, an enchanting valley and alternative lifestyles
When enjoying this walking tour in France, Walking the Cèze Valley, you follow the river towards its source and get acquainted with some beautiful countryside on the eastern flank of the Cevennes and Mont Lozere. Late sixties hippies have built alternative lifestyles here, and wooden solar-powered eco-homes inhabit the same valley where many houses are still bereft of running water.
Fact File:
• All-inclusive transport, starting and finishing in Alès;
• Self-guided, moderate walking;
a) Theme
Walking the Cèze Valley is one of our Operations Manager’s favourite walking tours in France. The chance to immerse yourself in a charming rural world of isolated homesteads and ‘alternative’ farming. Don’t bring your laptop, this is a ‘Broadband-free zone’ and hill-walking paradise. There is, however, at least emergency mobile network coverage. A real chance to get away from 'normal life', then.
As if untouched by time, you have the opportunity to visit the only surviving chestnut-drying house still functioning in France; an organic farm and an organic wine grower of ‘illegal’ Clinton grapes, whose wine still cannot be sold commercially; a water mill being meticulously restored, and search some of France’s purest river waters for cray fish. The imposing Cheylard castle is never far away, keeping a watchful eye from its hilltop vantage point.
Some sixties hippies settled in the area and established alternative lifestyles amidst a movement to re-populate rural villages. Their products are on sale in many of the Valley's markets. Optional activities include the chance to visit Le Chateau Cheylard (restricted opening), visit an organic farm or an organic wine grower of ‘illegal' Clinton grapes (by arrangement) or visit La Clede - a chestnut- drying house.
b) Further Information
• For a 4-night version of this France hiking tour, see Ceze Valley Walking.
• Alternative walking tours in France to consider are:
Walking and Riding the Cevennes Railway
Walking the Cevennes
  c) Model Programme: Walking the Cèze Valley
 Day 1. Alès
Arrive in Nimes and take The Cevenol from Nimes to Ales. Check in to centrally-located hotel with gourmet restaurant and a short walk around the town.
Night in Alès.
Day 2. Tour de Castillon - 9 miles-14 kms.
Morning tour briefing and transfer to Besseges. This opening walk takes you into the world of repopulated hamlets, meticulously preserved and with their alternative lifestyles.
Night in Besseges.
Day 3. Le Ronc Rouge. 7 miles-11kms.
This was one of the first walks we ever did in ‘La Cevenne ’ and it got us well and truly hooked. A microcosm of Gardoise life is to be found – dolmen, capitelle, grotto, a secluded twelfth century chapel with Roman vestiges (complete with visiting book and annual pilgrimage), remains bearing testimony to the industrial revolution and mining plus some outstanding views over the surrounding countryside and the Ceze Valley.
Second night in Besseges.
Day 4. La Cham Bonnevaux. 10.5 miles-16 kms.
Morning transfer to Aujac. You are higher up today walking some ancient drovers’ trails and enjoying some fabulous views. You will start by climbing a steep marble-coated path, level off to enjoy the view before plunging into a pine forest, descending into a forgotten hamlet and then, rather unexpectedly, extending yourself once again – but its well worth it - in order to reach the village of Bonnevaux. Is this the smallest Marie in France?
Night in Aujac.
Day 5. Aujaguet. 9.5 miles-14 kms
A memorable walk that takes you across an impressive dam built to stem the 'Gardonnades', over bridges, past a water mill, into the water itself (optional swim), through two contrasting villages, an organic farm and illicit Clinton-grape vines - and all under the watchful gaze of Cheylard castle.
Second night in Aujac.
Day 6. Bordezac. 8 miles-12 kms.
This route follows the watershed as you descend 700 metres to Bordezac and back to Besseges along the Cevenol and Upper Ceze Valley Grande Routes de Pays.
Night in Besseges.
Day 7. End of your walking tour in France
Breakfast and transfer to Ales.
¹ Option by car, leaving vehicle in enclosed parking near Ales at owner’s risk.
 
d) Access
Your holiday starts in Ales, with easy and convenient access from either Nimes airport or railway station.
Alternatively, from Montpellier airport, you take a taxi to the rail station for connections to Nimes and onward to Ales. Your train to Nimes takes 30 minutes. Please ask us for details.
For those wishing to bring their own car, there is also the option of leaving your car in Ales in an enclosed private parking space at owner's risk. Ask us for details.
e) Accommodation
You stay:
• One night in Ales
• Two nights in Aujac
• Three nights in Besseges
Your accommodation is:
• a '3-star standard' character hotel.
• a 2-star character hotel with gourmet restaurant.
And one of the following:
• a welcoming, unclassified walkers' inn with restaurant, or a
• Self-contained gite option subject to availability.
f) What's included in Walking the Cèze Valley
Included
• 6 nights B & B
• 2 dinners (Aujac) and 4 picnic lunches
• All travel and luggage transfer costs that are integral to the programme, commencing and terminating in Ales
• Pre-tour & post tour briefing
• For those bringing their own car, enclosed private parking is available in Ales*
• Hiking Insight Notes™ that empower & make orientation easy
• Themed vacation dossier
• Emergency telephone help-line service with local British backup
• Loan of mobile phone for non-European customers where required - subject to availability.
* parking is at owner's risk.
Not included
• Remaining meals - i.e., options abound for dinners in Ales and Besseges.
• Single rooms – unless booking at single person rate
• Any entrances to optional cultural visits and sightseeing programme
• Travel, walking and personal insurance
• Personal expenses.
g) Prices 2010: Walking the Cèze Valley
Price per person based on 2 persons sharing double room: £530.00 or €590.00
Single person: On Request
Extra nights On Request
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