Activities

24-Oct-2011

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Activities

Walking

The Cevennes has the highest concentration of GR (Grande Randonnée, long distance walks) in the whole of France, and these routes are clearly marked and sign-posted.  In addition there are countless other paths, some marked, others not, which can be followed using 1:25,000 scale maps of the area.  With so many paths to choose from, it is easy to find walking routes of any distance or difficulty.  While you can do long, challenging walks, this is also ideal country for families with children to enjoy this most basic of outdoor pursuits.  Most of these paths were used until recently by local people and their animals, and are full of human as well as natural and scenic interest.   Any time of year is enjoyable for walking here if you choose your routes and times well, and we are more than happy to advise you on where to go. 

 

 
   

Cycling

We are both keen cyclists, and first discovered this area on our bikes.  Look at a detailed road map, and it is apparent that the Cevennes have an extraordinary number of very tiny roads.  Most of these were originally cart tracks and so have gentle gradients.  Many of them are single track and link very tiny villages, and so carry almost no traffic.  You could stay at our place for 2 weeks and do a different circular route every day.  Combine this with the extraordinary diversity of the area, and it makes for a fantastic place for a cycling holiday.   Ride south to vineyards and olive groves, north to granite uplands and panoramic views, east into endless hills and valleys, or west onto the open expanses of the causses (limestone plateaux).  As with walking, there is something for everyone.  While all rides involve some up and down, these are comparatively small mountains and many climbs are only in the order of a few hundred metres.  On the other hand if you are in training for a big race you could try the Tour de Mont Aiguoal , immortalised in The Rider by Tim Krabbé.   The possibilities for mountain biking here are enormous, with a huge network of tracks and unsealed roads.  One great advantage of the terrain is that the soils are all well-drained, so even in the rain you and your bike will not end up caked in mud as is usually the case in Britain.

  

   

 Cycling on the Causse (above)

  


Horse riding

We are right next to a friendly and well-run riding centre, which offers classes and rides for all levels.  Children can ride from 3 years of age.  The owners, Sandra and Patrice, specialise in endurance riding and Appaloosa horses.  Children and horses notwithstanding, the centre bustles with sheep, dogs, goats, chickens and Pig Peggy.

 		  


Swimming

Apart from your own private 8x3m pool, there are many superb spots to swim in rivers.   Choose from the Arre, Herault, Dourbie, Jonte and Tarn - it's usually possible to incorporate a river swim into a day out by car, bike or on foot.

The lower Herault (about an hour's drive) is the largest and warmest.  Please take care of current, rocks and rapids!  The sea is about an hour and a half away by car.  Most of the Languedoc coast is bordered by lagoons, separated from the sea by sand spits which form long beaches, many of which are unsuitable for development and hence remain in their natural state.
 

  

 

Claire's Spot (above) - Vallée de la Bueges

  


Food and wine

Local produce is excellent, and much of it is farmed organically (see section on markets in our region).   The four products for which the Cevennes are famous are sweet onions, apples, chestnuts and pelardon, a small goat cheese available at many different stages of maturity.  When you don't fancy cooking there are several good restaurants in the area, and we can provide evening meals by arrangement.  Languedoc (the wider region) is the largest wine-producing area in France, and home to many excellent wines, both red and white, many of them organic.  The region has suffered a certain stigma as the land of quantity rather than quality, but this is no longer the case.  You will find Languedoc wines are often very good value compared to those from the more famous regions of France, and we can recommend a wine shop in Le Vigan run by a friendly and enthusiastic expert.

 

  

Natural History

The biodiversity of this area is unusually high, due to its location spanning both geological and climatic frontiers, and a low human population density.  For information on the Cevennes National Park, designated by UNESCO as a world heritage biosphere reserve, visit the link below.

 

  

Rock climbing

Daniel is a lapsed climber, so the following is not based on first hand experience, only experienced eyes.  You won't find any famous climbs or venues nearby, but for adventure climbers in search of new ground the area offers considerable potential, both on limestone and granite.  The limestone in the Gorges de l'Herault and Vallée de la Bueges looks compact and of high quality, ranging from single pitch to routes of 100m or more, and there are some much bigger cliffs near St Guilhem le Desert.  Some of this is probably developed but I don't know.  Much of the rock is south-facing and it looks great.  Further south is the Pic de l'Hortus, Montpellier's crag, which is well developed.  The granite is closer to hand, and for the climber looking to do new routes on nice-looking rock in splendid surroundings and no other climbers in sight, it also looks good.  Mostly single pitch sized crags, again much of it south-facing.  Forget about guidebooks, bring trad rack, walking boots and a sense of adventure and this could be a great off the beaten track cragging holiday.

 

  
   

 

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This site was last updated 24-Oct-2011