Nature
The Boutières region and the Eyrieux, Glueyre, and Auzène valleys (among others) offer magnificent walks in the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Natural Park – a UNESCO Global Geopark.
When you enter the heart of the Ardèche via the D120 that follows the Eyrieux Valley, nature becomes increasingly present. Between the rocks, ancient trees, the very old riverbed (up to 330 million years old), and the scattered hamlets, the balance between human and non-human presence becomes harmonious.
In Echarleyre, our hamlet, we are steps away from an entrance to the Voie Douce (Greenway). This is a former railway line transformed into a 90km green path that runs along the Eyrieux, from the Rhône to Saint Agrève and Lamastre. It's a comfortable way to immerse yourself in the lush nature of Central Ardèche. From our place, you can reserve a spot on the bus with your bike as far as Le Cheylard, to then leisurely cycle back down to your gîte.
Our land borders the Eyrieux, and you can walk down to meet the river—the path takes about 15 minutes. A pleasant place to observe and let yourself be captivated by the water, its sound, its light.
Another walk on the property will take you from our spring water reservoirs up to Bouvier, a one-house hamlet to the north. You'll return at mid-mountain level via a small shaded path (marked by a red arrow) to Varenne, another one-house hamlet above Echarleyre. (Gluiras consists of one village and 101 hamlets!) You'll then descend via the small road that runs alongside our spring, back to the gîte. This walk takes about half an hour.
Several more challenging hikes start from the Dolce Via, marked with yellow signs. The Monts d'Ardèche Park offers a hiking app.
Once settled in your gîte, a 5-minute drive or 15-minute bike ride away, you can go swimming in the Glueyre at Fontugne Beach. Central Ardèche is calm, with rich biodiversity. There are also hikes to do on the La Montagne Ardéchoise plateau, just a 45-minute drive away. The plateau, at 1000m altitude, offers welcome coolness in summer, in addition to its spacious splendor with volcanic lakes, forests, and peat bogs. And of course, Mont Gerbier de Jonc and Mont Mézenc, accompanied by the sucs (volcanic peaks), in a magnificent volcanic massif.
The biodiversity and natural heritage page of the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Natural Park website is rich with information. The pages on geology are equally interesting. Discover the Geosites—there are 61 in the Park. We encourage you to consult these links on the Park's website, and you'll understand why we are listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
