Stevenson Trail - Stage 1

Itinerary & Hotels

• 1

  Arrival Le Puy day 1

  Summary

  Le Puy has a wealth of religious history and several beautiful buildings including the cathedral and the Romanesque chapel of St Michel de L’Aiguille perched 80m high on a pinnacle of rock - the Rocher St. Michel.

  Hotel

  • 
  • 

  Hotel Bristol
  Le Puy-en-Velay

  The 3 star Hotel Bristol, located close to the historic centre of Le Puy-en-Velay, is a great base for discovering the town's historic buildings and fascinating museums. It is just a short walk to the Cathedral where there is a daily service of blessing the pilgrims. A pilgrim stamp and créancile - passport is available from the cathedral sacristy. The ancient town is set in a volcanic landscape, dominated by rocky peaks rising from the valley floor. It is worth climbing the 267 steps to visit the one crowned by the Chapel of Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe.

  Facilities

  • Soundproofed rooms, some with air-conditioning
  • Flat screen TV with Canal + and Canal Satellite (3 channels)
  • Hairdryer and all hospitality products provided
  • Staff speak English
  • Good location for exploring the historic town

  Board

  • Half Board

  Cuisine

  A tasty buffet breakfast of croissants, pain au chocolat, crusty baguette, whole grain bread, toasts, crackers, cereals, plain and fruit yoghurt, ham, rosette, Cantal and Saint-Nectaire, plus butter, jams, spreads and honey. A wide selection of beverages including tea, coffee, chocolate, cappuccino, hot milk and juices.

  Maître-Restaurateur, La Table de Félix offers a traditional menu featuring regional dishes sourced from local producers when possible.

  Sample menu
  Mesclun de salads
  Foie gras en chemise de pain d’épices
  Brochette de faux-filet
  Cantal AOP et Bleu d’Auvergne

• 2

  Le Puy to Le Monastier day 2

  Summary

  Today’s walk starts with a climb out of the valley, encircled by extinct volcanoes, and then descends to cross the infant Loire, passing through some enchanting scenery.

  Hotel

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

  Hotel Le Provence
  Le Monastier sur Gazeille

  This is a typically French modern hotel in the centre of a pretty country village, with a good restaurant focusing on regional cuisine. Rooms are very comfortable, all with free WiFi.

  Facilities

  • Swimming pool
  • Family run hotel
  • Attractive village centre location
  • Excellent restaurant

  Board

  • Half Board

  Cuisine

  There is an excellent restaurant serving fine, unpretentious food and making good use of local produce. The wine cellar is well stocked with some gems waiting to be discovered.

  12 mi
  (19 km)

• 3

  Le Monastier to St. Nicolas day 3

  Summary

  Stevenson bought his donkey, Modestine, in Le Monastier. Cross the Loire river at Goudet and rise out of the valley. The author got lost here; he missed the Lac du Bouchet because it is uphill of the hamlet within a flooded volcano cone.

  Hotel

  • 

  Auberge l’Arrestadou
  Le Bouchet Saint Nicolas

  This is a chalet-style modern hotel, run by the Villeseche family with a restaurant focusing on produce from their own farm. You will be very warmly welcomed into this rural community and get a real sense of the village and its way of life.

  Facilities

  • Rural farm setting
  • Fresh, modern rooms
  • Hearty cuisine using locally sourced produce

  Board

  • Half Board

  Cuisine

  Sample Menu

  Entrees

  La traditionelle charcuterie de la ferme
  
  Le feuilleté aux cèpes

  Plats
  
  L'agneau "Noire du Velay"
  
  Les Lentilles vertes du Puy
  
  Les Patates au four
  
  La Potée auvergnate

  Dessert
  
  Les tartes au fruits rouges (en saison)

  16 mi
  (26 km)

• 4

  St. Nicolas to Pradelles day 4

  Summary

  Continue through wooded valleys and rough pasture, along cinder paths and farm tracks. Everything is made of local granite, from the houses and bread ovens to the crosses.

  Hotel

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

  Hotel de l’Arche
  Pradelles

  This friendly hotel can be found in the medieval centre of this charming village (classed as one of the most beautiful in France). Rooms here are very comfortable, all with free WiFi. The restaurant is excellent and breakfast is also served here.

  Facilities

  • Attractively located hotel, with easy access to this charming village
  • Comfortable modern rooms
  • Excellent restaurant

  Board

  • Half Board

  Cuisine

  There is a fine panoramic dining room - a great spot to enjoy spectacular sunsets. Meals here make good use of local produce and are accompanied by fine wines.

  16 mi
  (26 km)

• 5

  Pradelles to Cheylard L’Evêque day 5

  Summary

  Today’s undulating walk crosses the remote and vast plain of Margaride. The church bells here, like so many in the region, are not housed in a tower. This makes them louder, so in times of inclement weather the bells used to be rung to guide lost souls to the safety of the village.

  Hotel

  • 

  Auberge le Refuge du Moure
  Cheylard l'Eveque

  In the heart of the Mercoire forest, on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic trail, is the Refuge du Moure, an 18th century house built of granite with local-style 'lauze' roof. Comfortable, cosy rooms, decorated in warm colours and some with patchworks made by your hosts. Genuinely warm welcome.

  Facilities

  • Warm and friendly welcome
  • Locally sourced food
  • Magnificent location

  Board

  • Half Board

  Cuisine

  The passing seasons influence the hotel's chef to create delicious original meals, using local herbs such as marjoram, sage and cardamom. There are some delicious fish dishes, and also local veal served with mushrooms, or pork with elderberry. Desserts include tarts made with wild raspberries and blueberries from the surrounding forests. Breakfasts are generous buffets.

  10 mi
  (16 km)

• 6

  Cheylard L’Evêque to La Bastide day 6

  Summary

  Follow on the route of the Roman road that leads to Marseilles, via Regordane and enter the upper reaches of the attractive Allier valley.

  Hotel

  • 

  Hotel la Grande Halte
  La Bastide St. Laurent

  This is a friendly hotel located on Stevenson's route. Rooms are comfortable (all are en suite) and there is free WiFi. For more active guests, there is a small gym. La Bastide is a pleasant small town which has been visited by pilgrims and shepherds over many hundreds of years.

  Facilities

  • Friendly small hotel in good location
  • Comfortable well equipped bedrooms with free WiFi
  • Restaurant with terrace

  Board

  • Half Board

  Cuisine

  Sample Menu

  Entrees

  • Medaillon de Bloc de Foie Gras
  • Salade Gourmande
  • Panache de la Mer
  • Grenouilles a la Provencale

  Plats

  • Truite aux Amandes
  • Coq au Vin Maison
  • Confit de Canard

  Desserts

  • Fromage blanc et son coulis de fruits rouges
  • Fondant a la creme de marrons
  • Coupe de glaces au choix

  12 mi
  (19 km)

• 7

  La Bastide to Chasseradès day 7

  Summary

  You climb today to the highest point of this stage, opposite the source of the Allier. As you ascend over the Mourage hill you cross the watershed between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, then head down the valley to pretty Chasseradès.

  Hotel

  • 

  Hotel des Sources
  Chasseradès

  A friendly, family run hotel situated at the heart of the dramatic Margeride region, and close to the sources of the Allier, Lot and Chassezac rivers. This really is a delightful location offering a calm and pleasant stay.

  Facilities

  • Warm and friendly welcome
  • Good regional food
  • Quiet location

  Board

  • Half Board

  Cuisine

  The proprietor, a member of the "Tables Gourmandes" association, prepares a range of local specialities which discerning food-lovers will particularly appreciate.

  Sample Menu

  Entrees

  • Salade des Sources
  • Charcuterie de Pays
  • Assiette de saumon fumé
  • Omelette aux champignons de saison
  • Cuisses de grenouilles persillade
  • Tête de Veau ravigote
  • Ecrevisses à l'Amoricaine
  • Escargots - ma façon

  Plats

  • Boeuf bourguignon aux cèpes
  • Entrecôte grillée
  • Confit de canard
  • Poulet aux écrevisses
  • Viande du jour

  Desserts

  • Dessert aux choix (nougat glacé, coupe de glace, créme caramel, dessert du jour)

  8 mi
  (13 km)

Route & Location

Customise Your Holiday

• EXTRA NIGHT

  Add a night's B&B in Chasserades. Please call for details.

• COMBINED OPTION

  You can choose to combine this first stage with the second stage. Please call for details.