Stevenson's Trail

Some of the daily walks are relatively long over rough tracks and the terrain is very hilly in some parts. You will need to be in good physical condition to complete the walks on this itinerary. You will need to be surefooted. Where possible the route avoids paved roads.

Before your tour, we recommend hiking regularly and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to check the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

The route features ascents and descents.

The route follows ancient footpaths, sheep tracks and drove roads over basalt, granite, schist and limestone and in some sections the rocks can be loose underfoot. You will therefore need to be surefooted. Where possible the route avoids paved roads.

This tour is graded moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests, with a few sections leaning more towards moderate-strenuous.

Accommodation is a mixture of B&Bs, auberges and small hotels, all offering a warm welcome to walkers and traditional hospitality. Occasionally, due to availability and the nature of this walk, there may not be accommodation right on the path, in which case you'll be collected and transferred to your accommodation for the night, or in some cases you may stay in the same hotel as the night before.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Single room availability is limited throughout the route, so we can't guarantee multiple single rooms at every stage - where sharing becomes necessary, a discount is applied. On Stevenson's Trail specifically, the solo supplement matches the single room supplement, which makes solo travel on this particular tour comparatively good value.

The delicious French food and wine available locally is undoubtedly a highlight of this tour. A continental breakfast is included each morning, with tea, coffee or hot chocolate, homemade jams, local bread and a choice of yogurt, cheese, fruit or ham depending on local availability. Dinner is included on most nights, usually served from around 7.30pm and consisting of a set meal of the day - most accommodations don't offer a choice of menu unless you pay a supplement. Lunch isn't included, but your hosts will prepare a packed lunch if you let them know a couple of days in advance, or you can pick up a baguette, local cheese and fruit to picnic en route. Be sure to set off each morning with a full water bottle.

This tour is available to start on any day between mid-April and the end of October. Spring in Southern France is delightful, though a late winter can mean snow on the highest points of the route and blustery gales. April, May and June are lovely, with wildflowers at their best, and September and October bring an autumnal palette of reds and golds, chestnuts to gather in the south, and a lazy late-summer feel to the views, alongside the occasional spectacular thunderstorm. July and August can be very hot, so you'll want to start early to miss the heat of the day, though the towns are at their busiest and most lively then.

Your bags will be transferred between your accommodation each night by a local luggage handling service, so you can walk with just a day pack.

You'll be following the GR70 (Grande Randonnée), which is clearly waymarked with the well-known red and white stripes, whether on a passing tree, rock or post. Heavy rain, wind and fog can sometimes affect sections of the trail, and in winter the higher ground can be snow-covered at the start and end of the walking season. Occasionally, our tracks may deviate from the official route to avoid main roads and heavy traffic, though in some newer guidebook editions these alternative tracks align with the preferred countryside paths.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Recommended Reading
Although not essential, if you'd like more information on the route, we recommend:
Cicerone - The Robert Louis Stevenson Trail

If you choose the Stevenson's Trail Complete or Stevenson's Trail North tour, your tour starts in Le Puy-en-Velay. Lyon Airport is the closest airport: a fast train (30 minutes) runs from the airport to Gare de Lyon Part-Dieu, and from there a TGV via Saint-Etienne-Chateaucreux reaches Le Puy in around 2.5 hours. You can also reach Le Puy by train from Nimes, Clermont Ferrand and Montpellier. Check the SNCF website for train times and schedules, and where possible avoid travelling on a weekend or public holiday, as French train connections are harder to make on those days. If you're driving, you can leave your car in the underground car park at Place du Breuil in Le Puy-en-Velay, open daily except Sundays and public holidays from 6:30am to 8pm. It's secure and costs around 22 euros for a week, with full details in your Tour Info.

If you choose the Stevenson's Trail South tour, your tour starts in Chasserades. The best airport to fly into is Clermont Ferrand, around a 4-hour journey from there, with connections available from London or Paris. Chasserades has its own train station with connections from many places, so check the SNCF website for exact times and schedules, and avoid weekends or public holidays where you can. Parking in Chasserades is straightforward, as it's a very small place.

If you choose the Stevenson's Trail Complete or Stevenson's Trail South tour, your tour ends in St Jean du Gard, close to Ales Train Station. Buses run between St Jean du Gard and Ales, though infrequently, so we recommend taking a taxi instead for this short distance (full details are in your Tour Info). From Ales you can take a train to Nimes, where you can pick up a TGV to Paris, or carry on to Lyon if you're flying from there. If you'd like to return to Le Puy-en-Velay, the transport company La Malle Postale runs a shuttle bus along the full trail between April and mid-October: book as early as possible, as it gets busy during peak season. We can also arrange a private transfer if you'd prefer.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

You don't need to speak French to enjoy this tour, but a few words go a long way. A simple 'Bonjour' and 'Merci' will be warmly received by your hosts along the route, and if you ever get stuck, an enthusiastic 'Ooh la la' tends to help too.

We'd suggest booking as soon as your plans are finalized, as this trail has limited accommodation and luggage handling capacity. Starting on a weekday rather than a weekend can also make things easier, though it isn't essential.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation