Balade dans les pins

An easy and charming walk among pine trees, heather and striking sandstone formations. We love its small hamlets, its paths through the undergrowth and the beautiful viewpoints that open up onto the surrounding hills.

This is a leisurely walk that we readily recommend to discover another side of the area around Aubenas. Here, there are no great peaks: you walk along gentle hills covered with maritime pines, ferns and heather, in an atmosphere that already has a hint of the South.

What truly makes this loop so charming is the sandstone. It's everywhere: beneath our feet, in the houses of the small hamlets, and in the form of rocks with sometimes astonishing shapes, sculpted little by little by erosion. This stone also tells a surprisingly ancient story: in the surrounding area, dinosaurs left their footprints in the sandstone around 220 million years ago. More recently, the locals quarried this particularly abrasive rock to make millstones.

The walk pleasantly alternates between sandy paths, passages under pine trees, sandstone slabs, and crossings through hamlets. At times, the landscape opens up, revealing the surrounding hills and valleys. The walk ends back at the village and its Romanesque church, a lovely finale to this family-friendly hike, which presents no major difficulties but offers plenty to see along the way.

> View the step-by-step guide

Your questions about hiking

Where can I park near the starting point?

Parking on rue du Patio, and departure from the INFO RANDO sign nearby.

Is the route marked?

Yes! On this hike, you will find PR (yellow and white) markings.

Is this hike suitable for children?

Yes, we recommend it! This walk is ideal for families: no really tricky sections, no particular difficulties. If all goes well, the kids won't have time to get bored in 130 minutes. If they're really not used to walking, make sure they're capable of covering the 7km without complaining 😉.
For toddlers, a baby carrier rather than a stroller will be necessary.
Do you want more family hikes? 👉🏻 It's this way.

Are dogs allowed on the trails?

Of course Rex is welcome on all the trails in the Aubenas-Vals region!
You will just be asked to keep him on a leash: you will come across other groups of hikers who, unlike you, do not necessarily have the codes to make your beloved pooch obey.
There's also the possibility of encountering herds of livestock on some of the local trails. Sometimes there will even be a sheepdog. Here we explain how to ensure everyone remains calm.
As for Kiki, don't forget to bring enough water for him too. There aren't always streams or other water sources along the trails. In hot weather, remember to moisten his paw pads from time to time.
Finally, it costs nothing to carry a few small dog waste bags in your pocket. It's the kind of thoughtful touch that the Ardèche region loves 😍.
Do you want other activities to do with Toutounet? 👉🏻 It's this way.

Will I have cell service on this hike?

Mobile coverage is pretty good in our part of the Ardèche, but by clicking here, tu pourras visualiser précisément la couverture sur Saint-Julien-du-Serre.

Can you follow the hike with your phone?

Yes, you have 2 options:

→ Either you download the GPX track onto your smartphone before leaving and open it in a hiking app We explain everything here).

→ Either you install the Ardèche Mountains hiking app, on which you will find all our hikes (and many more).