|
The first half of Robert Louis Stevenson's ground-breaking hike
Key Facts
Please click through the following points or scroll down the page. Alternatively, click the flyer image below to download and read the tour in pdf format.
a) Theme
The Stevenson Trail is, according to Forbes Traveler, one of the world's most famous travel adventures. Part One retraces the steps taken by The Scot from Le Monastier to La Bastide, across the volcanic Upper Loire Valley and into Gevaudan - a journey of 93 kilometres or around 58 miles. Robert Louis Stevenson decided to do this trek in order to get away from a female he thought he could never marry. En route, he found another in the shape of 'Modestine', a female donkey to whom he became much enamoured.
Stevenson liked his creature comforts and wrote of his experience, "to come down off this feather-bed of civilisation, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints. Alas, as we get up in life, and are more preoccupied with our affairs, even a holiday is a thing that must be worked for." Stevenson often slept out under trees in a prototype sleeping bag.
One hundred and thirty-two years on, what was work for him will be sheer, unadulterated fun for you. When hiking The Stevenson Trail, you will enjoy good food in the most comfortable hotels the trail has to offer.
b) Further Information
c) Model Programme: The Stevenson Trail, Part One.
Day One: Le Puy.
Arrival and hotel check-in. A visit to Le Puy merits a day's stay in itself, so get there early!
Day Two: Le Monastier to Goudet. [6.5 miles-9.5 kms, approx. 3 hrs, +190 ms -325 ms]
Taxi transfer (20 kms) to Le Monastier, where RLS started his trek. Take a look around for yourself before commencing your descent into the Upper Loire Valley.
Day Three: Goudet to Le Bouchet St Nicolas. [8.5 miles-12.5 kms, approx. 4 hrs, +400 ms]
You climb through charming hamlets and across volcanic plateau, before arriving at Stevenson's next overnight stop.
Day 4: Le Bouchet St Nicolas to Pradelles. [12½ miles-19 kms, approx. 5 hrs, +285 ms -375 ms]
Very few climbs or descents today as you enjoy the views from the volcanic plateau en route to the 'City of High Prairies'.
Day 5: Pradelles to Langogne. [3.5 miles-5.5 kms, 1½ hrs, -200 ms, plus 3 kms round trip to the lake.]
Enjoy a walk around this impressive historic village before you continue the short walk down to Langogne. Our lunch spot is on the banks of Lake Naussac.
Day 6: Langogne to Cheylard l’Eveque. [11 miles-16 kms, approx. 4 hrs, +320 ms -150 ms]
You walk the volcanic plateau to the medieval village of Cheylard, replete with church, chapel and abbey.
Day 7: Cheylard l’Eveque to La Bastide. [12.5 miles-19 kms. approx. 5 hrs, +240 ms -380 ms]
Descend to your lakeside lunch-spot and onwards to Luc castle. Then head south through linear settlements and across the Allier.
Day 8: End of Tour.
Breakfast and onward journey by mountain railway. We hope you will return to take Part Two of this exciting walking tour.
d) Access
Nearest airport or TGV railway station is St Etienne/Lyon, with onward train to Puy-en-Velay. You can drive to Puy and collect your car at the end of your trip. If you prefer to access via Nimes or Montpellier, there is a train option available - please contact us for further details - or you can leave your car with us in Ales and collect it upon your return.
The easiest departure from the tour is by train from La Bastide to Nimes via Ales.
e) Accommodation
• four 2-star and one 1-star hotel, plus two fine auberges;
• En-suite facilities.
Note: we reserve the right to slighty alter the above, depending on availability, whilst maintaining the same general quality level of accommodation.
f) What's included in The Stevenson trail, Part One
Included
-
7 nights B & B
-
5 picnic lunches and 6 evening meals - leaving you free to choose where to eat dinner in le Puy and buy packed lunch in Le Monastier - several options are available.
-
Luggage transfers¹ and taxi transfers integral to the programme.
-
Cell-phone loan for non-Europeans if required, subject to availability.
-
Car parking in Ales for the duration of your trek where required*
-
Comprehensive walking dossier, 1:25,000 maps & Hiking Insight Notes™ in plain English.
- Emergency telephone help-line service with local British backup.
Not included
-
Remaining meals
- Personal expenses
-
Entrances into optional cultural visits and venues
-
Travel, walking and personal insurance
-
Single rooms – unless booking at single person rate
¹ Important note: You are entitled to take one piece of luggage per person, each weighing up to 16 kgs. Supplements are payable for extra or overweight luggage.
* Parking is at customer's risk.
Prices 2010: The Stevenson trail Part One
Price per person based on 2 persons sharing double room: £665.00 or €785.00
Single person rate: £845.00 or €940.00
|
|