The Stevenson Trail is a route steeped in literary atmosphere, retracing the historic journey of the great Scottish writer.
Robert-Louis Stevenson
In 1878, Robert-Louis Stevenson set out on foot with a donkey, crossing parts of the Auvergne and the Cévennes as he headed south.
The journey lasted 12 days, covering a total of 252 km, and was chronicled in his personal diary. It was thanks to this diary, titled “Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes,” that today’s GR 70 has been reconstructed: a route of about 250 km with 14 main stages (following those of the writer’s adventure), traversing central-southern France.
This cultural journey, between Auvergne and Languedoc-Roussillon, links the Massif Central to the Cévennes mountain ranges.
On foot, by bike, or with a donkey
You can walk, cycle, or travel on a donkey—just like Stevenson did. The path starts from Puy-en-Velay and finishes in Alès, passing through the Haute-Loire, Ardèche, Lozère, and Gard departments. Along the way, you’ll discover village gems from times past, amid volcanic mountains, fir woods, and lush grazing lands for cows and sheep—an authentic countryside vibe that’s increasingly rare to find.
Points of Interest:
- Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille: a town with remarkable historical and artistic value. Its ancient castle now houses a museum and a music school.
- Pradelles: ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, where you can admire the “porte de la Verdette,” listed as a historic monument since October 22, 1971.
- Lac de Naussac: a 1,050-hectare lake, perfect for outdoor activities such as windsurfing, catamaran sailing, canoeing, kayaking, kitesurfing, and fishing.
- Le Pont-de-Montvert: located in the heart of the Cévennes National Park, this village stands at the foot of Mont Lozère. Its name comes from the scenic bridge that defines its landscape.
- Pic de Finiels: the highest point of Mont Lozère.
- Florac: a beautiful town with a 13th-century castle. Florac is a “stone and water crossroads,” where four rivers converge.
Practical Info:
- Country: France
- Official website for the Stevenson Trail
- Trail length in km: 250
- GPX: yes (gps)
- KMZ: n.a.
