The stagecoach

Key facts

Distance: 14.2 km
Ascent: +727 m
Descent: −562 m
Estimated time: 4 hr 20; hiking
Difficulty: Moderate; official rating
Route: Loop; back to the start

Profile and gradient

under 10%
10 to 20%
over 20%

Surface and path types

Surface: Paved 44%
Dirt & gravel 54%
Unknown 2%
Path types: Trail 50%
Track 5%
Road 44%
Off-network 1%

Description

This walk takes you to the historical heart of the Cévennes: a rural life as harsh as it was intense, which forged a powerful spirit of resistance. Here, place names, castle, manor house, schist buildings all tell of the men and women who valiantly defended their freedom of worship. Signposts will guide you all along this route, as well as yellow painted waymarks. In the description below, the signposted place names and/or directions are given in bold italics between quotation marks: Starting from the car park "Peyrolles - Serre de Clayrac", turn right onto the Départemental road and, 200m later, - "La Planque", go downhill on the left on the small road towards - "Pont de L'Arénas", - "Vallée Obscure" and - "Château de vallée obscure". At “Château de vallée obscure” take the path on the right towards - "La Jasse", then - "Rouvière", and - "Col du Briontet". At “col du Briontet”, go towards "Col du Mercou" on a wooded path on your right, which goes uphill between two forestry tracks. - At “Col du Mercou”, take the path on your right towards - "Soucy".Turn right towards “Pont de l’Arénas” (2), then left towards “La Planque” (1) to return to the main road and the starting car park.

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Cévennes.

Before you go

Caution! Heavy rainfall will make crossing the ford at Pont de Vallongue impossible. Before committing yourself to a circuit, ensure that it is suitable for your activity level and ability. Remember that the weather changes quickly in the mountains. Take enough water.

Getting there

Start: Virage de la Planque, Peyrolles, Peyrolles-en-Cévennes (30).

Sources

Track: Parc national des Cévennes, Licence Ouverte 1.0, Licence Ouverte 1.0 (Etalab) (destination.cevennes-parcnational.fr/trek/73261-La-Diligence). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
Surface and path types: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, extract of 28 October 2026, matched to the track every 10 m (openstreetmap.org/copyright)
Official elevation gain: 727 m, Parc national des Cévennes